In a weekend of high-stakes action in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Carlow Senior Hurling Championship, Saint Mullins and Mount Leinster Rangers emerged victorious in their respective matches.
Saint Mullins narrowly edged out Ballinkillen with a thrilling scoreline of 3-23 to 4-17, putting Ballinkillen’s championship aspirations in a precarious position.
The Road So Far
Ballinkillen currently sits on 3 points after a hard-fought journey in the championship. They secured an impressive victory against Bagenalstown Gaels and managed a draw against Mount Leinster Rangers. However, their narrow defeat to Saint Mullins leaves them in a vulnerable spot. The team has shown resilience, playing four consecutive weeks of intense hurling, and now they finally face their rest week. Unfortunately, their fate is no longer entirely in their own hands.
Dependence on Other Results
Due to the removal of Naomh Bríd from the championship, each team received a rest week. Ballinkillen’s rest comes after an arduous four-week stretch of matches, but this week off might not provide the respite they need. Depending on the outcomes of next weekend’s matches, Ballinkillen might have played their final match of the season. The upcoming fixtures see Mount Leinster Rangers, the defending champions, facing off against Naomh Eoin at 5:00 PM, followed by St. Mullins taking on Bagenalstown Gaels at 6:30 PM. Should Bagenalstown and Naomh Eoin triumph in their respective games, Ballinkillen will be eliminated from the championship. Meanwhile, both Rangers and St. Mullins have already secured their spots in the semi-finals.
Manager’s Perspective
Following the nail-biting match against Saint Mullins, Ballinkillen manager Stephen Dormer shared his thoughts:
“The big thing for us is we’re watching the other results now. We were hoping to get a win against St. Mullins and guarantee our semi-final position, but now we’re depending on other results. It’s kind of a tough one, but we’re happy. After the Myshall match the first day, we were probably struggling a little bit confidence-wise and everything, but the boys bounced back, and they’re hurling really well. They’re hurling well; we are just not getting there, but we are nearly there.”
Upcoming Fixtures
This weekend’s matches are crucial for determining the final semi-finalists:
- Mount Leinster Rangers vs. Naomh Eoin: 5:00 PM
- Naomh Moling vs. Bagenalstown Gaels: 6:30 PM
Join KCLR for live commentary and updates on these decisive matches. Commentary is made possible by Ray Whelan LTD, Carlow’s leading skip hire and waste disposal company. For more information on their services, visit raywhelan.ie.
Ballinkillen’s supporters will be listening intently, hoping for favorable results that keep their championship dreams alive.
