RedFM Hurling League: The winners and losers after the last round of fixtures

While there are still some fixtures to be fulfilled before Thursday’s final deadline for the end of the RedFM Hurling League, the finals and relegation places are decided in all seven divisions.

Holders Sarsfields will contest the Division 1 final, having finished second to hold off Blackrock, and table-toppers Charleville made sure of their place in the decider by winning at home to Carrigtwohill. Sars’ win over Ballincollig meant they couldn’t draw level on points with Kanturk to avoid relegation while Na Piarsaigh also drop to Division 2.

Carrigaline finished top of Division 2, having received a walkover from Éire Óg in their final match, but, despite Midleton winning their first seven matches, they will not be involved in the decider or playing in Division 1 next year. The Magpies went into their last match away to St Finbarr’s two ahead of the city side and defeat in Togher meant that they lost out to the Barrs on head-to-head record.

At the other end of the table, there was a similar scenario – Fermoy went into their last match at home to Courcey Rovers two points behind their opponents and needing a win to survive but goals from David Lardner, who scored 1-8, and Pádraig de Róiste helped them to a 2-12 to 1-8 triumph, sending the Ballinspittle/Ballinadee side to Division 3 with Bride Rovers.

Scoring difference would have come into play if Newtownshandrum had lost to Erin’s Own but their 2-19 to 3-15 win gave them a fifth-placed finish, two points clear of safety. The Newtown goals were scored by Jamie Coughlan after his introduction as a substitute while Jack Twomey contributed five points. The Erin’s Own goals were scored by James O’Carroll, Shane Irwin and Cormac McDonald.

The two sets of Rovers will be swapping places with a pair of south-east sides, Ballymartle and Valley Rovers.

Ballymartle had been assured of top spot in Division 3 before last weekend and that was perhaps a factor in their defeat to Valleys. It meant they finished on 15 points while their Innishannon opponents moved to 13 – Newcestown had also begun the weekend on 11 but lost at home to an Inniscarra side battling to avoid relegation.

Unfortunately for the Mid-Cork outfit, their 2-16 to 0-13 was not enough to avoid the trapdoor, while Bishopstown had already been relegated.

The Division 4 decider between Lisgoold and Russell Rovers had already been determined before the last set of fixtures while Milford are relegated. Bandon face Kilworth on Tuesday night and a win would put them level on points with their opponents and Ballyhea, making scoring difference the decider. A four-point win for the Lilywhites would keep them up.

The top three in Division 5 all won – a walkover in the case of leaders Watergrasshill – meaning they face Tracton in the final as Aghabullogue narrowly miss out. Cloyne and Argideen Rangers are relegated.

Erin’s Own’s win over Kilbrittain in Division 6 last Thursday night ensured that the Glounthaune club’s second team made the final – and it will be against Kilbrittain, who had already qualified.

Na Piarsaigh and Barryroe drop to Division 7, swapping places with Ballinascarthy and Kinsale – the latter finished level on points with Ballinora after the sides drew at the weekend, bringing scoring-difference into play.

REDFM HURLING LEAGUE RESULTS Wednesday, June 26 Division 7: Meelin 2-21 Kilshannig 0-19.

Thursday, June 27 Division 1: Na Piarsaigh 0-15 Blackrock 3-18.

Division 3: Ballinhassig 1-20 Castlelyons 1-20.

Division 4: Ballyhea 3-15 Bandon 0-22.

Division 5: Mayfield 1-22 Dungourney 1-13.

Division 6: Kilbrittain 1-14 Erin’s Own 4-21.

Friday, June 28 Division 4: Youghal 3-7 St Catherine’s 1-21.

Division 6: Ballygiblin 0-23 Na Piarsaigh 0-13.

Saturday, June 29 Division 1: Blackrock 2-17 Bishopstown 1-16.

Division 4: Kildorrery 1-27 Russell Rovers 2-15, Cloughduv 0-19 Kilworth 4-12.

Division 5: Watergrasshill scr. Castlemartyr w/o, Aghabullogue 2-23 Argideen Rangers 2-17, Tracton 2-17 Midleton 1-9.

Division 6: Barryroe 3-7 Glen Rovers 0-18.

Division 7: Ballinascarthy 3-15 St Finbarr’s 0-11, Douglas 1-16 Nemo Rangers 0-13.

Sunday, June 30 Division 1: Charleville 5-19 Carrigtwohill 0-14, Glen Rovers 2-20 Douglas 1-14, Sarsfields 1-23 Ballincollig 1-17.

Division 2: Éire Óg scr. Carrigaline w/o, Fermoy 2-12 Courcey Rovers 1-14, Newtownshandrum 2-19 Erin’s Own 3-15, St Finbarr’s 1-22 Midleton 0-15.

Division 3: Mallow 1-20 Blarney 5-21, Newcestown 0-13 Inniscarra 2-16, Valley Rovers 3-16 Ballymartle 1-16.

Division 4: Milford scr. Lisgoold w/o.

Division 5: Ballygarvan 2-19 Cloyne 1-17.

Division 7: Ballinora 2-14 Kinsale 1-17.