Knockout picture becomes clear in Galway Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

The biggest results of the weekend came in Group 3 where Rahoon-Newcastle shocked Pearses, and Ballygar ended Ballinderreen’s unbeaten run, earning both victors places in the final 12.

That preliminary play-off draw matches Kilnadeema-Leitrim with Mullagh, Kilconieron against Ahascragh-Fohenagh, Portumna take on Rahoon-Newcastle, and Ballygar battle Killimor.

The four winners will advance to challenge the four group winners in October.

GROUP 1

KILCONIERON 3-18 MULLAGH 0-15

Kilconieron left no doubt about second place in this group in Loughrea on Sunday with three goals either side of half-time.

Stephen Keane got their first on 24 minutes as Ollie Bergin’s side went 1-10 to 0-4 up at half-time.

Shane Caulfield and Sean Connaughton got the others by the 40th minute. Conor Dolphin top scored for Mullagh with five points.

SKEHANA-MOUNTBELLEW-MOYLOUGH 1-14 BEAGH 0-13

Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough secured their third victory in Loughrea on Sunday with Ger Flahive’s 18th minute goal proving decisive.

That made it 1-5 to 0-4 but Daithi Keane and Stephen Diviney helped Beagh reduce arrears and they were all square entering the final moments.

But Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough finished with unanswered points from Oisin and Tiernan Lohan, Sean Hansberry and Conor Laffey to close out the four-point win.

GROUP 2

MEELICK-EYRECOURT 3-21 AHASCRAGH-FOHENAGH 1-23

Finn Gohery’s 63rd minute goal settled this contest in Duggan Park on Sunday as Meelick-Eyrecourt secured maximum points.

Ahascragh-Fohenagh made the perfect start, with Darragh Gavin finding the net after just 20 seconds. Jimmy Browne’s men led 1-2 to 0-1 before Gohery’s first goal helped Meelick-Eyrecourt overturn the deficit.

Nathan Earner got their second goal for a 2-9 to 1-10 interval lead, but Ahascragh-Fohenagh stayed in touch through Luke Kennedy and Cathal Mannion. However, when Gohery delivered his second green flag, Meelick-Eyrecourt finally got the job done.

PORTUMNA 3-16 KINVARA 0-14

Portumna marched into the knockout stages in Gort on Sunday with this impressive victory over last year’s runners-up.

Kian Pyne’s opener was the only time Kinvara led as Declan McLaughlin hit back with the first Portumna goal. Iarla Kelly got the second major for Andrew Smith’s charges as they raced 2-11 to 0-5 clear at half-time.

Portumna’s advantage was never seriously under threat though Kinvara get the first four scores after the break.

That was as close as Gerry Fahy’s team got even if they did add another five points with Tadhg Heavey, Luca Danjou and Darragh Helebert on target.

Joe Canning kept the umpires busy at the other end before substitute Ronan O’Meara struck the third goal, leaving Kinvara to fight for survival after three defeats.

GROUP 3

BALLYGAR 1-20 BALLINDERREEN 0-20

Ballygar built on from their second half comeback the last day against Rahoon-Newcastle for their first win in New Inn on Saturday.

With Robbie Meehan prominent, Ballinderreen, already through to the quarter-finals, went 0-7 to 0-2 but John Hanley’s team reduced that to 0-11 to 0-8 by half-time.

All changed early in the second half as Harry Holmes’ goal on 36 minutes put Ballygar ahead while Cathal Maloney converted his second sideline cut.

Pearses keeper Harry Mitchell produced three saves from Holmes, but they couldn’t find scores to maintain their 100% record.

RAHOON-NEWCASTLE 1-19 PÁDRAIG PEARSES 1-16

Rahoon-Newcastle displayed resilience in Tuam Stadium on Saturday as they sent Pádraig Pearses into relegation.

After conceding a 10-point lead last week, few saw the city side stepping up again, but Kevin Hayes’ team were ready.

Bertie Keane, Jordan Ruffley and Cian Cloherty helped Rahoon-Newcastle lead 0-11 to 0-8 at half-time but they still couldn’t shake off Pearses despite Keane’s goal on 44 minutes.

With Jonah Donnellan landing frees, Shane Raftery’s crew stayed in touch and were given a lifeline when Dean Reilly found the net on 49 minutes.

Neither could afford to lose, and they were all square entering injury time with the draw favouring the Gurteen-Ballymacward men.

But when needed most, Keane stepped up with three winnings scores for Rahoon-Newcastle.

GROUP 4

TYNAGH-ABBEY-DUNIRY 4-17 KILNADEEMA-LEITRIM 1-23

This battle for top spot in Duggan Park on Friday didn’t disappoint.

Kilnadeema-Leitrim got the first goal from Shane Lawless before Johnny Conroy hit back with a green flag. However, with Colm Molloy and Eanna Kenny sharing 11 scores, it was Kilnadeema-Leitrim who led 1-16 to 1-9 at half-time.

Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry responded as goals from Conroy and Conor Jordan by the three-quarter mark finally reeled their opponents in.

One more would be critical and after Lawless’ shot was saved by Darragh Glynn, Shane Fitzpatrick got the fourth Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry goal to send them straight into the quarter-finals.

KILLIMOR 3-14 CARNMORE 1-17

The teams traded early scores in this shoot-out in Gort on Sunday, leaving it 0-3 apiece before Cian Treacy got Killimor’s first goal.

However, he left injured straight away and even though Aidan Ryan’s team went seven clear, a Ciaran Fahy goal turned momentum Carnmore’s way, and they were level 1-9 apiece at half-time.

It could have been better for Aaron Fox’s side as they were rewarded a penalty only for Conor Flaherty’s effort to be saved by Sean O’Grady.

Eoin McEvoy punished that miss with a 36th minute goal but Carnmore didn’t yield as Cormac Feeney’s point put them 1-17 to 2-11 ahead.

But Killimor concluded with 1-3 unanswered. Eoin Horan’s dropping ball fell over the line for the crucial third goal.