This was a tough battle from the throw-in but Clonmore started well and, despite missing a couple of goal chances, were leading by 0-7 to 0-4 approaching half-time. Our points coming from Gavin Byrne (3 frees), Shane McGrath (2), Kevin McCarney and PJ Byrne.
Then on 27 minutes Ballon scored what proved to be the winning goal. This gave Ballon heart and Clonmore’s confidence never recovered. Ballon tagged on two points before the break to lead by 1-6 to 0-7 and went on to lead by 1-9 to 0-7 on 50 minutes.
With time running out Clonmore rallied and points from Jamie Walsh, David Mulvany and Gavin left just two points between the teams. After winning a free in front of the posts, indicipline resulted in the ball being thrown up and the chance to reduce the margin to one point was lost. In injury time, Ballon went down the field to score another point to give them a three point win.
This makes next Sunday’s match against Grange a ‘must win’ game after Grange beat Eire Og by 2-11 to 0-8 in Pairc Ui Briain last night. If Clonmore beat Grange and Fenagh beat Ballon, there will be 5 teams on 10pts. The County Board has decided that if five teams finish on 10 points, one of the 5 teams will be drawn from a hat and go straight into a semi-final and the other 4 will play one another with the two winners going into the semi-finals.
Team: Paddy Byrne, Paul Hogan, Willie Rooney, John Kelly, David McCarney, Ronan doyle, Mark D Byrne, Gavin Byrne(0-4,4f), David Mulvany(0-1), Paul Byrne, Kevin McCarney (0-1), Jamie Walsh (0-1), PJ Byrne (0-1), Shane McGrath(0-2), Jordan Kane. Subs: Darren McGrath for Paul Byrne (inj, 31mins), Willie Byrne for Jordan (47mins), Owen Coleman for Kevin (56mins).
| Team | Pld | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points | Still to play |
| Ballinabranna | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 54 | 70 | 14 | St Patricks (h) |
| Grange | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 97 | 73 | 24 | 10 | Clonmore (h) |
| Éire Óg | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 114 | 91 | 23 | 10 | Finished |
| Ballon | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 81 | -12 | 10 | Fenagh (h) |
| Clonmore | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 101 | 78 | 23 | 8 | Grange (a) |
| Fenagh | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 79 | 9 | 8 | Ballon (a) |
| Naomh Padraig | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 46 | 105 | -59 | 4 | B’branna (a) |
| Railyard GFC | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 44 | 82 | -38 | 2 | Finished |
| Leighlinbridge | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 79 | 119 | -40 | 0 | Finished |
