Borrisokane and Ballinahinch aim to bounce back in Intermediate Championship

GROUP 1

Ballingarry v Ballybacon/Grange in Monroe on Friday @ 7.00pm

Ballingarry will quickly want to forget their last game when they lost to Moneygall. The defeat must have been difficult to take. If losing Stephen O’Donovan and Adrian Cleere too red cards apiece, was not enough, then their great comeback was spoiled at the end by Sean Keneally’s winning goal from a penalty deep into injury time. In addition to all that there’s concern about the fitness of Dylan Walsh who was replaced during the game. Walsh is a very good free-taker and those type of players are worth gold. Meanwhile, Ballybacon/Grange still rely on the veteran Brendan Cummins for their scores as the former Tipp goalkeeper scored 0-10 of their eighteen from frees against Cappawhite. He continues to be the lifeblood of the South Tipp side. Verdict: Ballingarry

Cappawhite v Moneygall at The Ragg on Sunday @ 1.30pm.

Moneygall supporters will welcome the return of Joe Fogarty to the starting line-up. In round one Moneygall needed an injury time goal from Sean Kenneally to gain victory over thirteen-man Ballingarry. A welcome victory no doubt for a team fancied to do well, based on 2021 performances but things have not gone according to the plan. Between emigration, holidays, and retirements their team has not had the luxury of their best starting fifteen.

Cappawhite justified favouritism by claiming a good win over Ballybacon/Grange in round one. Daire McCarthy’s return to the team after a year out due to injury, the full forward scored 2-1 in the win over Ballybacon, so he is in good form as he hopes to lead the charge for a side bolstered by youth in the guise of former Tipperary minors Brendan Murphy and Sean Ryan. Verdict: Moneygall

GROUP 2

Knockavilla Kickhams v Skeheenarinky in Cahir on Saturday @ 7.00pm

Going on recent history, this should be an easy win for Knockavilla Kickhams. However, the win for Skeheenarinky over Borrisokane must have a source of great joy as well as a great experience for the 2021 County Junior champions.

Knockavilla must be heartened by their West final success and the win over Ballinahinch which should have been much greater than the four-point winning margin but don’t be surprised if they win again. Clubs with a Gaelic football background are strong and fit and players like Dean Finn, Tommy Sweeney, Tomas Vaughan, and Tipperary footballer Conor Sweeney are able to mix it with what comes their way. Verdict: Skeheenarinky

Ballinahinch v Borrisokane in Toomevara on Sunday @ 1.30pm

It’s just over six weeks since Borrisokane inflicted a 1-23 to 0-12 victory over Ballinahinch in the North quarter final in Puckane.

In that game, Borrisokane were so much inferior to a Ballinahinch side that lost almost half the first team names that featured on the side in last year’s campaign. But since then, Borrisokane’s form dipped, firstly with the semi-final defeat to Shannon Rovers followed by the unexpected defeat at the hands of 2021 County Junior champions Skeheenarinky in round one of the County Championship. Borrisokane manager Seamus Gleeson had to line out a side short four first team players in Jimmy Hough, Roan Murphy, Jack Larkin, and Conor Ryan. The word on the ground is that the side will have a full complement to pick from although Conor Ryan remains a huge loss to the team.

With so many players missing, Ballinahinch are also in trouble and there is little news by way of positivity coming from the camp as to whether they have plyers returning to the side or not. Ballinahinch continue to depend on Ger Grace, Davy Gleeson, and Brendan Ryan for scores and in the first-round defeat they fell to Knockavilla Kickhams 2-20 to 2-16, a margin of defeat could have been much bigger but for Brendan Ryan’s last-ditch efforts which secured 1-2 late in the game. Verdict: Borrisokane

GROUP 3

Arravale Rovers v Kilsheelan/Kilcash in Cahir on Sunday @ 2.30pm

Kilsheelan’s progress in the 2021 campaign has been well documented but plans of continued success have not gone the way the wanted it. Injury problems are very much part the problem and the share of points with Shannon Rovers was not part of the plan either but next Sunday they should make amends against Arravale Rovers who are in their second season at this level. Arravale fell to Drom in the opening round. Verdict: Kilsheelan-Kilcash

Drom & Inch v Shannon Rovers in Dolla on Sunday @ 7.00pm.

Michael Slattery remains the only injury doubt for Shannon Rovers who face Drom & Inch. This will be the third championship meeting in five years. Rovers won the 2018 quarter final clash 2-13 to 0-14. Eleven months later the teams drew in a group stage game at Dolla 1-15 each.

Rovers drew with a fancied Kilsheelan-Kilcash side in round one which was a good result following their North final defeat to Lorrha. Granted the South champions and runners-up in last year’s county final were hit by injuries but the feeling among Rover’s supporters is that the game was there for the taking.

In facing Drom & Inch they are up against a club where confidence is good based on their performances in senior and intermediate levels so far. It’s difficult to juggle two teams at the top rung of the ladder. Two weeks ago, they won again when defeating Arravale Rovers by three points. Verdict: Draw

GROUP 4

Boherlahan-Dualla v Carrick Davins in Clonmel Sportsfield on Saturday @ 7.00pm

A win is a must for either team as both sides lost in round one. The question remains as to who can pick up the pieces as the manner of their respective defeats was a shock.

Mid champions Boherlahan were expected to get over Golden-Kilfeacle who had lost the west final a week previous while Carrick Davins, who were not expected to beat Lorrha in their opener were not expected to lose that game by a fifteen-point margin. Verdict: Boherlahan-Dualla

Golden-Kilfeacle v Lorrha in Templetuohy @ 7.30pm.

Lorrha haven’t been making a bad fist of it so far this season. Following their 1-24 to 3-11 win over Shannon Rovers in the North final they continued the good work with a big win over Carrick Davins. An average of 2-23 per game in the last two outings is good going.

So far in 2022, Golden-Kilfeacle have mixed the good with the not so good. Losing the West final to Knockavilla Kickhams was a disappointment but they atoned for the defeat with a five-point win over a fancied Boherlahan side in the opening round of the county championship. However, their season has been mired by a number of injuries as Ronan Hayes, Andy Byrnes, Cian O’Connor and 2020 county under 20 Jack Leamy are on the doubtful list which the numbers increased after last weekend’s football win over Fr Sheehy’s which saw Ben Currivan and Daithi Bargary suffer injuries as well. Verdict: Lorrha