Intermediate Hurling Championship preview

By Liam Hogan

Sixteen teams divided into four groups of four will commence their quest for County Intermediate Hurling Championship honours this weekend.

As heretofore the teams that finish first and second in each group will enter the knockout stages. Then there is the added bonus for the divisional winners, who for some reason don’t make the top two can negotiate the preliminary quarter final. The four are Knockavilla Kickhams - West, Kilsheelan/Kilcash - South in Group 3 plus Lorrha - North and Boherlahan-Dualla - Mid in Group 4.

Looking at the strength of the four groups and the quality of these teams suggests they won’t be a need for the prelims. Let’s have a look at the groups.

GROUP 1

Ballybacon/Grange v Cappawhite at Cahir on Friday @ 7.30pm

Two clubs who are struggling to get a foothold on the path to honours. Cappawhite, who were once the kingpins of West Tipp, would certainly welcome a return to big time but since they stepped down to Intermediate grade, they have struggled to put in good performances back-to-back. In last year’s county championship, they lost all three group games, but as West champions then featured in the preliminary quarter final where they lost to Moneygall by seventeen points. As a result of that defeat, they required a relegation semi-final win over Moyle Rovers to stay afloat. In 2022 they were beaten in the West semi-final by Golden-Kilfeacle. Nevertheless, the return of Brendan Murphy and Sean Ryan (Wall) will strengthen the side’s prospects.

Ballybacon-Grange needed penalties to get over Arravale Rovers in the relegation semi-final last year but last month they came close to upsetting Carrick Davins in the South quarter final, but lack of consistency is their downfall, and we can see no change here. Verdict: Cappawhite

Ballingarry v Moneygall in Templetuohy on Sunday @ 1.00pm

A repeat of last year’s quarter final clash which Moneygall won 1-19 to 1-16 before they lost to Kilsheelan/Kilcash in the semi-final and since then they have done okay in the County League but their hopes of doing well in the championship received a blow due to the loss of players through retirement, injuries and players heading over the pond. Joe Fogarty is one of those players and his absence, along with that of Sean Kenneally, Paddy Fogarty and Michael Ryan was felt in their North semi-final defeat to Lorrha. The return of Kenneally will boost their chances against a Ballingarry side that recently lost to Kilsheelan in the South final 2-17 to 1-12 but will feel they have the talent to help them reach the quarter finals at least, which they did last year. Verdict: Moneygall.

GROUP 2

Knockavilla Kickhams v Ballinahinch in Kilcommon on Saturday @ 7.30pm

A repeat of a County League game which Ballinahinch won but since then the scales have tipped towards the new West champions Knockavilla Kickhams who defeated Golden-Kilfeacle in their divisional decider last Sunday. Former Tipp under 21 panellist Kieran Breen remains their biggest injury worry while Michael McCormack’s absence will also hit Kickhams.

Ballinahinch reached last year’s quarter final losing to Kilsheelan, but the summer of 2022 has not been kind to the Men on the Hill due to so many absentees, through injuries, retirements, and emigration. If Shane McGrath were to return from early retirement and Donnacha McGrath is fit enough after missing the North Tipp quarter final defeat to Borrisokane then they might have a chance. But as things stand, I feel it’s going to be Knockavilla’s day. Verdict: Knockavilla Kickhams

Borrisokane v Skeheenarinky in Boherlahan on Sunday at 12 noon.

A repeat of the Division 4 County League semi-final last May when Borrisokane won but with a struggle. They are likely to repeat same. Conor Ryan’s absence will leave a huge void while there are injury worries about Shane Nevin and Seody Cleary while Philip Austin remains on the road to recovery. Losing a North semi-final to Shannon Rovers didn’t help but they should have enough here to get over the 2021 County Junior champions. Meanwhile they were absentees in the recent South Tipp intermediate semi-final. That won’t help their cause coming in cold. Verdict: Borrisokane

GROUP 3

Shannon Rovers v Kilsheelan/Kilcash on Saturday in Templetuohy @ 7.30pm

After failing to field in two County League games, Kilsheelan/Kilcash rebounded with a win in the South final thanks to a 2-17 to 1-12 win over Ballingarry. Ideal preparation for the 2021 county final runners-up who lost that decider to Moyne-Templetuohy by the narrowest of margins. Mark Kehoe and company will want to go one better.

Shannon Rovers were well beaten by Lorrha in the North decider last Saturday. A set-back for the Reds who relished their North semi-final win over Borrisokane. It will be a tough ask for a team to face the two strongest teams in the championship in an eight-day span. Verdict: Kilsheelan/Kilcash

Arravale Rovers v Drom & Inch in Dundrum on Sunday @ 12 noon

Arravale enjoyed promotion to intermediate grade in early 2021 but their stay was hazardous as they needed a four-point win over Moyle Rovers in the relegation final to stay in the grade.

Drom & Inch on the other hand reached the quarter finals last year but lost to Knockavilla Kickhams. In fact, earlier in the group stage they beat Cappawhite in the first round; drew with eventual champions Moyne Templetuohy in round two before sharing the spoils with Borrisokane in round three which is an indication the amount of talent this club has. Can they maintain it? They lost the Mid final to Boherlahan last Sunday. Verdict: Drom & Inch

GROUP 4

Boherlahan-Dualla v Golden-Kilfeacle in Cashel on Friday @ 7.30pm

Another repeat pairing from last year when Golden Kilfeacle won 1-9 to 0-6. The win put Golden through to the quarter finals where they lost heavily to champions Moyne-Templetuohy. Their campaign so far this year has not been ideal. Operating in Division 4 they failed to make the top two and indeed lost to Boherlahan along the way. They defeated Cappawhite in the West semi-final but succumbed to Knockavilla Kickhams in the decider last Sunday and in the defeat, they suffered the loss of Jack Leamy, Tipperary under 20 hurler in 2022.

Boherlahan enjoyed a nice league campaign and were crowned Mid champions with victory over Drom & Inch. it was the ideal preparation for this young team who failed to make the knockout stages in last year’s championship. Verdict: Boherlahan-Dualla

Carrick Davins v Lorrha in Templemore on Saturday @ 6.00pm

Meeting for the first time in eight years it will be the clubs’ seventh championship meeting. Lorrha lead four wins to two with the 2014 meeting going Lorrha’s way on a 2-17 to 1-8 win in the O Riain Cup group stage. That 2014 meeting saw the teams meet for the third year in a row with Carrick winners 2013 and Lorrha prevailing a year earlier.

It’s all of 56-years since the team’s first met in the senior championship final. Davins prevailed over the North senior champions with a 2-13 to 1-2 win and later went on to claim their first ever County Senior hurling title.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since. Recent form will point towards Lorrha who had a convincing North final win over Shannon Rovers. Lorrha were relegated from the O Riain Cup last year, but they don’t intend to stay at intermediate level for too long judging by their recent big wins over Moneygall and the Rovers.

That said, Carrick Davins, who fell to Knockavilla and Moneygall in the group stage last year, but thanks to their win over Ballybacon/Grange meant they avoided a relegation battle. They began 2022 with a one-point win over Ballybacon/Grange in the South quarter final before losing their semi-final with Kilsheelan 0-24 to 2-12. Verdict: Lorrha