Potent forwards set up exciting North Final pairing
It began with four and now there are two remaining as title holders Moneygall take on Borrisokane in the delayed North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling final next Saturday.
GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Final Preview
MONEYGALL v BORRISOKANE
MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan
Saturday 4th September
Throw-in @ 4.00pm (E.T. & Res)
Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)
By Liam Hogan
It’s two years since Moneygall defeated Kiladangan in the most recent North Intermediate final in Borrisokane and a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then.
In the absence of a North championship last year Moneygall reached the quarter-final in the county but lost to beaten finalists Moyne Templetuohy by three points.
They will be favourites going into this game and that is based on their performances so far this year. Unbeaten in league and championship they collected a Division 4 County League title last month when they defeated Shannon Rovers and repeated the win against the same opposition in the North semi-final three weeks ago.
Last Sunday they overcame Carrick Davins in the opening round of the county championship with an impressive 3-18 to 1-17 win as they continue to produce high scoring.
That’s why they are favourites and with a forward line of Ger Kirwan, Niall Maher, Sean Kenneally, Joe Fogarty, Eoin Whyte, and Adam Hogan they are probably the best set of forwards in this neck of the woods.
If there is concern, then it’s their defence where they have conceded high scores as the gams against Shannon Rovers and Carrick Davins suggest.
What of Borrisokane? Similar to Moneygall they reached last year’s county championship before they fell to Boherlahan-Dualla. Their performances this year so far have been a mixture of good and bad, but they resurrected their year with a good win over Shannon Rovers in the group stage before securing a nine-point victory over Ballinahinch in the North semi-final in Puckane. However, they lost their opening round of the county championship to Moyne-Templetuohy last Saturday.
Injury worries continue to haunt them, and they must wait and see if Conor Ryan, Oisin Larkin and Colm Larkin can make the grade for Saturday’s final.
This is a contest between the last two winners of the North Championship with Borrisokane the winners over Ballinahinch in 2018.
As we said Moneygall are favourites based on their performances so far but on any given day Philip Austin, Conor Ryan, Garry Ryan and Liam Cleary can be match winners. It must be on the day, but I will stick with Moneygall.