Oranmore/Maree’s rising stars back in the big time

Killimordaly 1-15

DARREN KELLY IN GORT

ONE positive from the newly-introduced round-robin All-Ireland senior football championship series this season was the excitement almost guaranteed when three teams advance from a group of four.

The same effect has filtered down to club level and this was evident last Sunday as Oranmore/Maree came from the pack to take first place in Group 1 ahead of Clarinbridge and Killimordaly.

Ronan Heffernan’s side needed a seven-point victory against their previously unbeaten opponents to reach a first county senior hurling quarter-final in 50 years and they managed that in the closing stages as supporters kept pens and paper at the ready.

For Killimordaly, they dropped from first to third despite having two wins. While the jury still deliberates on too many qualifiers at inter-county level, it would have been a massive setback for Gary Earls’ team were they not afforded the chance to learn from this in two weeks time.

Oranmore/Maree knew what was required and laid down the foundations in the opening 11 minutes. Patrick Burke split the posts inside 20 seconds befote Jack Grealish’s long delivery found Niall Burke a minute after and he rattled the net for an early head start.

Evan O’Rourke got on target on two minutes making it 1-2 to 0-0 before Paul Concannon’s ball found Brian Concannon who pointed. But Oranmore/Maree added the next three scores through Patrick Burke (2) and Rory Burke.

Pictured: Killimordaly's Adam Brett gets to the ball ahead of Oranmore/ Maree's Eoghan Geraghty during Sunday's Senior Championship Group 1 clash in Gort.  Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.