Contrasting eighteen months for Lorrha and Burgess

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Liam Hogan

BURGESS v LORRHA

MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Sunday 23rd July

Throw-in @ 7.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)

November 14th 2021, was the last championship meeting between Burgess and Lorrha. It was a premier intermediate relegation final, and Burgess won 3-15 to 0-16.

It was a considerable winning margin with the outcome very much against the odds with Burgess, who were having a disappointing year, surviving against an injury hit Lorrha side that were on the verge of promotion to the Dan Breen, twelve months earlier.

Burgess improved in 2022 reaching a county semi-final at premier intermediate level, but Lorrha found themselves in intermediate but their stay in the third tier lasted one season after impressively winning the county title.

In this campaign, Burgess had a good win over Silvermines in the quarter final two weeks ago. With Stephen Murray, Bill O’Flaherty and Donagh Maher very much on their game, their ability to cut the ‘Mines defence in two helped scoring three goals which helped them gain a six point win, despite losing their way somewhat in the final ten minutes.

Last Sunday’s semi-final against Newport was similar as they sailed closer to the wind. Another three goal salvo saw Burgess eight points in front with thirteen minutes remaining, but Newport fought back and almost nabbed a winner in added time but for a great save by Ronan Tucker.

Burgess has good form as highlighted last year when they reached the penultimate stage of the county semi-final when they lost to Roscrea. They are on the right road but Sunday’s win cost them dearly as Donagh Maher had to leave the field with a shoulder injury and looks very doubtful for the final. He will be a major loss.

Lorrha’s return to the second tier came at a cost also when they had two men receive straight red cards in their big semi-final win over Portroe at Nenagh. As a result, both Denis O’Meara and Darragh Guinan will miss the final, pending possible appeals. That creates problems as they will have to promote some of those players from their junior team who are going well in the championship so far.

While Burgess have a good forward line, so too have Lorrha as last Saturday’s 1-19 to 0-10 win over Portroe will testify. What team would not like to have the services of Patrick Maher, Cian Hogan, Eoin & Niall McIntyre plus the Fogarty brothers, Colm and Christopher and newcomer Martin Gorman.

The Burgess defence will have their work cut out, but Johnny Mulqueen, Jack O’Flaherty and Willie Ryan have answered the call so far. This final will test them. Lorrha are not shy of good backs either where Michael Dolan, Conor Hogan, Tom Duggan, and Daniel O’Donoghue never let the side down, despite being without Brian Hogan who is travelling abroad.

When it comes to a prediction, this final is difficult to assess as both sides look set to be without key players.

Verdict: Lorrha