Who will stay standing?

By Shane Brophy

And just like that, it’s down to the do or die stage and the final round of group games in the FBD Insurance County Senior, O Riain, and Intermediate Hurling Championships next weekend.

The build-up to the championship is so long that it is cruel in a way that a teams’ season can be over in the space of four weeks. For the twelve teams that finish third in their respective groups, that will be their fate as they won’t be good enough to make the quarter finals, while they will just be relieved not to be going into the relegation playoffs.

For the remaining 36 teams, their seasons will go on in one shape or another after next weekend, the majority still harbouring the dream of county championship success, while for twelve there is the relegation playoffs to “look forward to”, which bring an al-together different type of pressure which no club wants.

Senior

As things stand, holders Kiladangan and Kilruane MacDonaghs are through to the quarter finals as group winners as they cannot be over-taken on head-to-head, even if they lose their final group matches. Thurles Sarsfields have one foot in the quarter finals after two wins also, but their score difference is so strong, a defeat to Upperchurch/Drombane shouldn’t scupper their chances of making the last eight, and even at that they are guaranteed a preliminary quarter final as Mid champions.

Effectively, there are twelve teams battling it out for the six knockout berths left with two juicy games in particular between Loughmore/Castleiney v JK Brackens on Friday night, and Borris-Ileigh v Nenagh Eire Og on Sunday, which will have the TG4 cameras at Semple Stadium.

Toomevara are almost there but need at least a draw against Mullinahone to confirm their place but a loss and a Clonoulty/Rossmore win over Holycross/Ballycahill will see the group decided on score difference with very small margins between the three teams.

If Clonoulty prove to be the odd team out, they will play in a preliminary quarter final as they are West champions, as will Killenaule, as South champions, despite them playing in the O Riain Cup.

In terms of relegation, Roscrea and Moycarkey/Borris are guaranteed to be involved, with Holycross and Drom & Inch currently placed to join them, but they still have a chance to extricate themselves with wins in their final games against Clonoulty and Eire Og Annacarty respectively.

Seamus O Riain Cup

Gortnahoe-Glengoole, Templederry Kenyons and Thurles Sarsfields have reached the quarter finals. Thurles are guaranteed as winners from group 1 and will be joined by the winner of Carrick Swan v Kiladangan, with Burgess the heading for the relegation playoffs. Killenaule, Newport and St Mary’s look the next best places teams to reach the knockout stages but need at least a draw from their final games.

Group 4 always looked the toughest and is living up to its billing with St Mary’s with full points, Cashel and Portroe on two, with last years runners-up Lorrha propping up the table with two losses. However, the Lower Ormond men can still qualify with at least a five-point win over Cashel, which would at least keep them out of relegation. Then it would come down to how Portroe do against St Mary’s.

At this stage there is the potential for the relegation playoffs to be made up of all North teams with Burgess, Ballina, Silvermines and Lorrha all bottom of their groups, but all bar Burgess still have a chance to get themselves out of that situation.

Intermediate

The Intermediate Championship is living up to its “open” billing as only Moyne-Templetuohy have booked a place in the knockout stages.

Only Cappawhite in group 1 cannot qualify at this stage, however, as West champions they are guaranteed a preliminary quarter final, so it means all clubs are still in the running for the county title. However, Cappa will have to win the county title to avoid being in the relegation playoffs.