Slieve Bloom set for another relegation final following defeat to Clonaslee St Manman's

Clonaslee-St Manman's beat Slieve Bloom in Group B of the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon in Mountmellick. Two goals from Cian Callaghan and one from Willie Young helped Clonaslee on their way to a routine victory in the end.

It was a sluggish sort of game throughout; Slieve Bloom never managed to find their footing, while Clonaslee-St Manman's never got out of third gear. Last year's beaten finalists, Clonaslee, started their campaign with an impressive win over Clough-Ballacolla. 

Clonaslee-St Manman’s 3-13 

Slieve Bloom 0-8

They have one final group game left when they face Ballyfin next Thursday. It will be a battle for the semi-finals with the winners joining Portlaoise, while the losers will face Rathdowney-Errill in the quarter-finals.

Slieve Bloom, meanwhile, had lost both of their opening fixtures in this group. They therefore knew that anything other than a win here would see them finish bottom and go into a relegation playoff against Camross.

It was a dour first half, filled with mistakes and wides from both sides. It was just a point apiece after 10 minutes, but the game looked like it might take off after quarter of an hour when Clonaslee-St Manman's found the net through Cian Conroy.

But the stop-start nature of the half continued. Clonaslee added just one point in the second quarter, while Slieve Bloom scored 0-3, including two frees from Kelvin Burke. 

1-2 to 0-5 at half time.

The highlight of the game came in an off-the-wall three minutes right after the break. Cian Callaghan found the net just 20 seconds after throw-in; Tom Smith landed a point and seconds later Clonaslee were in again. Willie Young raised the green flag as Clonaslee were suddenly seven points ahead. 

Three wonderful sideline scores followed, one after another - two from Kelvin Burke and one from Cian Conroy. But the game then went ten minutes without a score before Shay Foynes and Tom Smith extended the Clonaslee lead.

Slieve Bloom pulled one back through Fergal Burke, but Clonaslee-St Manman's dominated the final period, closing out the game with seven unanswered scores. They will have to improve before they face Ballyfin; but have booked a place in the quarter-finals at least.

In a game where no one covered themselves in glory, Liam Senior made his presence felt in the half-back line, especially in a difficult first half. He was far from his best - but that was true of everyone in this game - yet he still showed how important he can be in terms of leadership in this Clonaslee-St Manman's side.