County Championship lift-off
By Michael Dundon
Loughmore/Castleiney’s county championship double in senior hurling and football was undoubtedly the stand-out achievement in last year’s FBD Insurance Tipperary Club Championships.
It was the club’s second such double following on the 2013 successes – an achievement unmatched by any other club in the county. Winning even one of the championships gives an enormous lift to any club or parish – defending them is an altogether different proposition as the reigning champions in both codes can readily verify.
To date, back-to-back county senior championships in either hurling or football has eluded the much-decorated Loughmore/Castleiney club and, as this year’s campaign in both are about to commence dual star Liam McGrath acknowledged the enormity of the challenge facing his club in trying to triumph once again.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s FBD Insurance sponsored County Hurling & Football Championships at FBD Semple Stadium, Liam McGrath, last year’s winning senior football captain, accepted the magnitude of the challenge facing him and his team-mates this year.
“We have never been able to retain either title,” he began.
“Remember, there are a lot of very good teams in both championships so it is never going to be easy for any club to do it.
“We are looking forward to these championships. We are not missing anybody from last year’s panels, but we have some new young players coming along which is a help. If we can avoid lads picking up injuries, we would be hoping to be in the shake-up again this year.”
On the hurling front, one of Loughmore/Castleiney’s main challengers will be neighbours, Thurles Sarsfields, who open their campaign against Nenagh Eire Og.
Staunch defender Stephen Maher, a key figure in the management team of the All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools winners Thurles CBS, is optimistic that his club will again figure at the business end of the championship.
“We have met them regularly in recent years,” he said of their first round opponents.
“We know each other well and there is never much between us.
“We have a very strong premier intermediate group training with the seniors which makes for a high standard in training with lads pushing to get into the first team. You are always looking for fresh faces to improve the team and hopefully things will go well for us this year.”
Champions in 2023 Kiladangan who suffered a surprise defeat in last year’s quarter final when in a winning position against Moycarkey/Borris, have a testing start to their county campaign against Clonoulty/Rossmore.
Conor Byrne, a key figure in their squad, offers a very straightforward view of the upcoming journey and dismisses any suggestion of excuses for last year’s failure to build on the success of 2023.
“You cannot be looking backwards,” he said.
“Every club is optimistic about their chances right now. There are eight to twelve clubs who would fancy themselves capable of winning. If you are good enough, you will win it.”
Speaking at the launch, Toomevara native Michael Berkery, CEO of sponsors FBD Insurance, said his company were very committed to the championships.
“We are part of the community and dedicated to putting something back into the communities and clubs. We are looking forward to fantastic competition in all the codes and hope that all the hard work the clubs put into their preparations pays off”, he said.
Michael Tierney, Vice-chairperson of Tipperary GAA said the county board was extremely fortunate to have FBD Insurance as sponsors supporting the championships.
“We have had brilliant championships over the last few years and that is down to the contributions of the clubs. It is all about the clubs. You are hugely important to us and I can only wish you all the best this year”, he said.