Dromtariffe fancied to complete hat-trick of wins in JBHC

DROMTARIFFE go in search of a three in a row of Duhallow JBHC titles on Saturday, facing up to Kilbrin at Banteer.

Very much the dominant forces in the grade, Dromtariffe seek to retain their status as kingpins within Duhallow yet Kilbrin will have their own aspirations, their second string keen to complete a double and quickly follow up on their A title won against Banteer.

Last season, Dromtariffe overcame Meelin in the final by seven points, no argument about the outcome, the champions much more enterprising and good enough to stave off a late Meelin offensive.

Dromtariffe success hasn’t been replicated in the all county championship, defeated by Ballyclogh in the 2014 final after a replay, they came a cropper to Bantry Blues in last season’s semi, a similar fate this past summer on a loss to eventual champions Whitechurch.

Dwelling on this campaign, Dromtariffe pulled away from Banteer in a semi final. Following a tame opening half, Domtariffe picked up the tempo on the restart with Neil Galvin, Jack Murphy Seán Howard, Eoin Dennehy and Daniel O’Keeffe to the fore and record a comfortable win.

After bettering Meelin in a quarter-final, Kilbrin put together a display of style and substance to overcome Newmarket in an entertaining clash.

The power and fluency of Kilbrin’s hurling emerged exceptional in the opening half and it provided the platform to assume a 13 points interval advantage. Central to their game is the involvement of Gene O’Sullivan, Michéal Sheahan, Bobby Power and Jeoffrey O’Callaghan with Neilus O’Reilly and Damien Crowley prominent up front.

With their sights on a possible double last achieved in 2013, Kilbrin will strive might and main towards completing their task. However Dromtariffe’s younger side are gaining experience and they appear to be well equipped to collect the silverware.

The opening semi-final of the Kanturk Credit Union Junior A Hurling League brings together Newmarket and Freemount to Tullylease on Sunday. So near and yet so far for both sides having run champions Kilbrin so close in the JAHC.

Indeed both sides appeared to be strong positions to obtain wins over Kilbrin in their respective quarter and semi-finals but neither could raise their consistency levels to the extent required during the latter stages of key battles.

Their league semi-final clash is a chance for redemption by either side and it makes for an interesting clash to determine who plays Kilbrin or Banteer in the final.