Clubs learn their fates for county championships
The draws for the group stages of the 2019 Tipperary Water Senior & Intermediate Hurling and Football Championships took place at the Sarsfields Social Centre in Thurles on Monday night.
Defending champions Clonoulty/Rossmore have been grouped with Toomevara in a repeat of last years semi-final with Borris-Ileigh and Seamus O Riain Cup runners-up Moycarkey/Borris making up a very competitive group.
Defeated finalists Nenagh Eire Og also have a very tough group, including perennial contenders Loughmore/Castleiney and Upperchurch/Drombane who have Michael Ferncombe and Alan O’Connor on board and look to be going for it this year. It looks a tough ask for Burgess who make up the group.
It probably came as no surprise to Kilruane MacDonaghs to see them paired with Thurles Sarsfields once more with the magpies paired also again with Eire Og Annacarty and Killenaule whom they were pooled with in 2018.
Group 4 has a North flavour to it with Kiladangan, Roscrea and Portroe being joined by Drom & Inch.
The schedule of games has yet to be confirmed but the first round will be played over the weekend of 7-8 April, similarly for the Seamus O Riain and Intermediate hurling championships.
In the O Riain Cup, Group 1 looks the toughest with Templederry and Lorrha grouped with Carrick Swans who came down from the Dan Breen Cup with intermediate champions Thurles Sarsfields making up the group.
Silvermines, Newport and Ballina drew the short straw in being drawn into the three team groups with 14 teams in the championship this year and with no relegation once more and the two intermediate finalists coming up once more, the three team groups should be done away with next year when numbers are up to sixteen.
The same goes for the intermediate hurling championship where four of the five North division teams were top seeds, with Kiladangan finding their way into a group that contains Moneygall, Sean Treacys and Lattin Cullen Gaels. Shannon Rovers look to have the toughest group of the North sides.
In senior football, Kiladangan have been paired with last years runners-up Ardfinnan, Ballyporeen and JK Brackens with the championship beginning on 14-15 April, while 2018 intermediate football semi-finalists Borrisokane will face Cashel, Clonmel Commercials whom they faced last year with Moycarkey/Borris completing the group.
Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1: Nenagh Eire Og, Loughmore/Castleiney, Upperchurch/Drombane, Burgess
Group 2: Toomevara, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Borris-Ileigh, Moycarkey/Borris
Group 3: Thurles Sarsfields, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Eire Og Annacarty, Killenaule
Group 4: Kiladangan, Drom & Inch, Roscrea, Portroe
Seamus O Riain Cup
Group 1: Carrick Swans, Templederry Kenyons, Lorrha, Thurles Sarsfields
Group 2: Silvermines, Holycross/Ballycahill, Newport
Group 3: Mullinahone, Ballina, Ballingarry
Group 4: JK Brackens, Clonakenny, St Mary's, Cashel King Cormacs
Intermediate Hurling Championship:
Group 1: Ballinahinch, Moyne-Templetuohy, Kilsheelan/Kilcash
Group 2: Shannon Rovers, Drom & Inch, Galtee Rovers, Knockavilla Kickhams
Group 3: Borrisokane, Gortnahoe/Glengoole, Cappawhite, Boherlahan-Dualla
Group 4: Moneygall, Sean Treacys, Lattin Cullen Gaels, Kiladangan
Group 5: Golden/Kilfeacle, Ballybacon/Grange, Moyle Rovers
Senior Football Championship
Group 1: Clonmel Commercials, Arravale Rovers, Galtee Rovers, Moyne-Templetuohy
Group 2: Ardfinnan, Ballyporeen, JK Brackens, Kiladangan
Group 3: Loughmore/Castleiney, Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Cahir, Aherlow Gaels
Group 4: Moyle Rovers, Killenaule, Eire Og Annacarty, Upperchurch/Drombane
Intermediate Football Championship
Group 1: Golden/Kilfeacle, Moyle Rovers, JK Brackens, Loughmore/Castleiney
Group 2: Borrisokane, Clonmel Commercials, Cashel King Cormacs, Moycarkey/Borris
Group 3: Grangemockler/Ballyneale, Rockwell Rovers, Clonmel Og, Fr Sheehys
Group 4: Drom & Inch, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Carrick Swans, Fethard