Port and Ros aim to be first winners of Liam Devaney Cup

By Shane Brophy

North Championship silverware has been infrequent for Portroe and Roscrea in recent years so both will be keen to get their hands on the Liam Devaney Cup as the first ever winners of the North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday in Nenagh at 1.30pm.

Roscrea are the third on the roll of honour of senior championship winners with thirteen, but their last came in 2004 which was the last time they appeared in the final. Indeed, this is the first year they are outside the senior grade in their history following their relegation last year and they will be keen to make their stay a short one as they will feel they are a senior calibre club.

Maybe, it was the proverbial kick up the behind the club needed and have left no stone unturned to be ready to hit the ground this year with Liam England coming home after guiding Moyne-Templetuohy to intermediate glory last year and with a backroom team that includes former great Paul Delaney, you get the sense Roscrea are all-in this year.

Their route to the final hasn’t been smooth, firstly being far from convincing in the quarter final win over Newport, and then needing extra time to get past a tiring Silvermines side in the semi-final, who were playing their second extra time game in seven days.

Evan Fitzpatrick’s eight points from play was one of the noteworthy performances in that game, while Luke Cashin has contributed 2-25 in two games so far, so Portroe have been warned about conceding frees. They have gotten to this stage without Alan Tynan who recently had surgery on a foot problem which prevented him from linking up with Tipp, but should return later in the campaign if Ros go deep into the county championship.

Portroe’s path to the first North Premier Intermediate final is similar to that of the Tipperary minors, leaving it very late in their quarter and semi-final wins over Ballina and Burgess respectively to hit the front. However, being in front at the final whistle is all that matters for a team who have been evolving in recent years with Anthony Burke, and Sam Madden, making a great impact.

They still have a core of experience from Justin Conroy, through Robert Byrne, Colm Gleeson, Kevin O’Halloran, and John Sheedy in attack, while AJ Willis is one of those players who, if he has a strong club campaign, should be on Colm Bonnar’s radar for the Tipp panel as he has size, can win his own ball, and score.

Portroe’s first team has won just nine North adult hurling titles in their history, four in intermediate and junior respectively, plus that one never to be forgotten senior success ten years ago. How they would dearly love to be the first winners of the Liam Devaney Cup.

The creation of the new Premier Intermediate grade within the divisions has created another avenue of silverware for teams before they set out on the quest to win the O Riain Cup later in the year.

How Portroe and Roscrea would love to have a North title, and with it, a preliminary quarter final ticket stamped, if their group campaign doesn’t go so well.

That won’t be in their thinking this week as they prepare for Sunday’s final with getting their hands on a trophy the only thing on their minds. Verdict: Roscrea