Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Previews

By Liam Hogan

SEMI-FINALS

Saturday 30th September

Lorrha v Cashel King Cormacs in Toomevara @ 2.30pm

Lorrha return to the semi-final after a three year lapse and in reaching the last four they will be the first to admit they got a real fright in last Saturday’s quarter final win over Clonakenny.

Favoured by many to go all the way, last Saturday’s performance was a wake-up call for the North champions. Perhaps they underestimated Clonakenny who pushed them all the way with a second half display which saw them turn a six-point deficit to a one-point lead approaching full time. Yet, Lorrha never panicked and their ability to fightback proved to be their way out especially in the last five minutes when they scored three late points to win. It was a close-run affair and not what their supporters would like to see again.

Lorrha have a great forward line in Eoin & Niall McIntyre, Colm & Christopher Fogarty, Patrick Maher, and Cian Hogan. Their defence has not been found wanting either with Michael Dolan, Darragh Guinan, Tom Duggan and Daniel Donoghue so reliable in front of their dependable goalkeeper Michael Kennedy.

However, they will need a sixty-plus minute performance if they are to get over an improving Cashel side. The West-men are back in the semi-final for the second time in three years having lost to Templederry in the same stage back in 2021. Their quarter final win over last year’s finalists Gortnahoe/Glengoole was one that turned heads thanks to a great performance making them unbeaten after their three group victories over St Mary’s, Ballina and Moyne-Templetuohy.

They had ten players on the scoreboard including Eoghan Connolly, Ross & Conn Bonnar, Ger Browne, and Devon Ryan. Ross Bonner was one of Cashel’s best in an all-round performance where their defence can rely on Nathan Ryan and the Connolly brothers in front of an experienced Aaron Browne in goal.

There is plenty experience in the Cashel set-up but the arrival of youth in Ronan Connolly and Anthony Walsh has enhanced the team. Their club is on a high after winning the West U19 ‘A’ title and pushing Toome all the way in the county semi-final while we can’t forget their county U13 success two weekends ago.

Promoted to the second tier in 2018 after they reached the County Intermediate hurling final when losing Thurles Sarsfields, and since that day they have made the quarter finals every year with 2020 the exception. They are a work in progress. Verdict: Lorrha.

Sunday 1st October

Killenaule v Thurles Sarsfields in Boherlahan @ 2.00pm

Given the strength of the group involving Lorrha, Gortnahoe/Glengoole and Killenaule, it’s difficult not to see Killenaule as favourites to reach the final for the first time since 2021 when losing to Templederry.

They reached this semi-final, their third in four years, after they have mixed the excellent with the not so good. Their opening game was an impressive victory over Portroe before losing narrowly to Lorrha in round two while they need late points to force a draw with neighbours Gortnahoe/Glengoole.

However, their quarter win over Carrick Swan was more of the impressive stuff. In securing their 0-27 to 2-14 win they had nine players on the scoresheet including Ciaran O’Dwyer who scored 0-13. Joe O’Dwyer was the usual free-taker but his namesake now has the duty and there are other ace marks-men in Dean O’Connor, Tom Stakelum, Eoin Shaw Mark Stakelum and Eoin Barry. If anything, the forward line are a dangerous outfit.

Further back, the Feehan brothers, Jimmy & Paudie, have been trojan in their work-rate while the defence is well led by Joe O’Dwyer, Padraig O’Dwyer and Paddy Codd.

After they were relegated in 2019, Killenaule has reached the knockout stage in 2020 and 2021 before superior score difference helped them avoid relegation last year thanks to victory against Ballina. Manager Declan Fanning has put together a talented team of players with no sign of John O’Dwyer on the starting fifteen.

Next Sunday’s game will see Thurles Sarsfields feature in their first semi-final since their elevation to tier two after winning the Intermediate title in 2018.

With their traditional classy hurling they have followed the footsteps of their senior team and gone from strength to strength. There was more added to the team this year with former Tipp senior star Michael Cahill adding experience to the side at centre back as Sarsfields won two of their group games in defeating Eire Og Annacarty and Sean Treacys. Their one disappointment was a one point defeat to Carrick Swan. However, their quarter final win over Burgess was one of the surprises as they won 2-19 to 1-21 thanks to an excellent first half. Sarsfields had many scoring aces in Harry Fitzgibbon, Robbie Stapleton, Mossie McCormack Rory Purcell Liam McCormack, and the very experienced Michal O’Brien. Jack Lanigan is their ace marksman. Verdict: Killenaule

P.S - Fourteen different teams reached the semi-finals of the Seamus O Riain or Premier Intermediate championship from 2018 to 2023. Of the fourteen, six of them are still senior, including Roscrea who were last year’s winners.

Relegation Final

Saturday, 30th September

Portroe v Newport in Nenagh @ 1.30pm.

Having lost to Sean Treacys in the semi-final, Portroe find themselves in a relegation final as they hope to avoid the drop to Intermediate level for the first time since 1990.

Their form this year has been less than satisfactory which hasn’t been helped by injuries to Kevin O’Halloran and Robbie Byrne while the absence of AJ Willis and Ruadhan Mulrooney has really hit them very hard in attack.

Of the two semi-final pairings, Portroe had the hardest draw against Sean Treacys who might feel they could have survived a relegation battle at least.

Their opponents Newport have diced with relegation for the last two years but were never involved in a final. Similar to Portroe, they have not played well all through the season and the loss to Moyne-Templetuohy in the semi-final was another blow to their confidence. The Newport attack is limited and the dependency on Colin Floyd is too much. Yet, they have the better pick and there is one good game in them, and they should prevail although it will not be without a stiff Portroe test as they rarely go down without a fight. Verdict: Newport