It was an action-packed weekend of hurling all over the country.
St Finbarr's dumped out of Cork Championship
Having ended a 29 year wait to win the Cork senior hurling championship in 2022, a young St Finbarr's side were tipped to dominate.
Young players like Brian Hayes, Ben Cunningham, Ethan Twomey, Jack & Conor Cahalane were expected to inspire them into a successful era but it hasn't gone to to plan since.
Managed by former Cork goalkeeper Ger Cunningham, the Barrs lost the semi-final to Midleton last year before exiting this year's championship in the group stages.
The Togher club have had injury problems this year with Billy Hennessy, Twomey and Conor Cahalane all in bother as their campaign ended prematurely.
A one point loss to Blackrock in the first round put them on the back foot before fourteen men Fr. O'Neill's stunned them on Saturday evening.
The tight-marking Ger Millerick held Brian Hayes scoreless on the night, with Fr. O'Neills holding out for an 0-18 to 0-15 win.
Three losses in three games from Brian Cody's James Stephens
It's been similarly disappointing for Brian Cody's James Stephens side in Kilkenny.
A heavy 5-19 to 1-18 defeat to Bennettsbridge made it three losses out of three for them in the Kilkenny League championship.
Having taken over his home club last year, Cody's side qualified for the semi-finals where they were comprehensively beaten by a rampant Ballyhale Shamrocks.
They can still qualify for the knock-outs in Kilkenny where the relegation semi-final (contested by the bottom two teams in each group of six) acts also as a first round championship game, but relegation is also a worry.
Ballyhale Shamrocks have also made a slow start in Kilkenny, losing to Clara at the weekend by 4-17 to 2-17.
It's Ballyhale's second loss of their campaign having lost to Graigue Ballycallan first time out but they will hardly panic - they were in the relegation semi-final last year before reaching the county final.
Abbeyside stun Mount Sion in Waterford
The 11-in-a-row remains on for Ballygunner in the Waterford SHC with 0-13 (0-9 frees) from Pauric Mahony helping them past Passage in the semi-final at the weekend.
Their opponents will be Abbeyside with Waterford senior Michael Kiely having inspired them past Austin Gleeson's Mount Sion, scoring 2-2.
It will be a daunting task for Abbeyside in the final with Ballygunner now back at full strength after injuries to Philip Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald earlier in the campaign.
2019 All-Ireland finalists face relegation dog-fight in Tipperary
2018 Munster club champs Borris-Ileigh are in a relegation dog-fight having finished at the bottom of their group in Tipperary. 0-13 (0-9 frees) from Drom-Inch's Seamus Callanan helped the mid-Tipp side get the better of their neighbours, sending Borris-Ileigh into the relegation play-offs with fellow north teams Lorrha, Roscrea and Templederry.
30 August 2020; Brendan Maher of Borris-Ileigh looks dejected following the Tipperary County Senior Hurling Championships Quarter-Final match between Borris-Ileigh and Drom and Inch at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Score-difference had Borris-Ileigh on top of the group at half-time of Saturday's match but such are the tight margins that they are now scrapping for survival.
All-Ireland champs defeated in Galway
A late Ronan Muprhy goal sealed the deal for Tommy Larkins as they overcame All-Ireland champions St Thomas' in the second round of the Galway SHC. St Thomas' are still in the mix having defeated Killimordaly first time out but it certainly bodes well for Tommys, for whom Jason Flynn was also on-form.
In-form sides Loughrea and Turloughmore also made it two wins from two with impressive showings as the sharks begin to circle around St Thomas' in their seven-in-a-row bid.
Rory O'Connor's rampant form continues in Wexford
O'Connor has been on fire for St Martin's in their bid for a first county senior hurling championship since 2019 and he continued that form on Friday night as they dismantled last year's beaten finalists Oylegate Glenbrien by 5-20 to 0-15.
Who needs a hurl when you have Rory O'Connor in the team! pic.twitter.com/ZusvUC5598
— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) August 25, 2024
St Anne's continued their unbeaten run in the other group, drawing with last year's champs Naomh Eanna.
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