New rules add intrigue to Senior Football race

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Preview

By Anthony Shelly

On a visit to a famous West Kerry watering hole last week, I fell into the alarmingly good company of an 83-year-old local called Jimmy. We spoke about everything and nothing but mostly Gaelic football.

“The good old days are here now” declared Jimmy and he wasn’t taking about Kerry’s All Ireland win. He was in fact referring to the new rules introduced by Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee. “Things had got so bad over the last decade” said Jimmy “that I was enjoying the hurling more than the football but this year the football has outshone the hurling.”

If Tipperary weren’t All Ireland champions I might have agreed with him and just as I was about to point out that the football semi-finals and final hadn’t lived up to the earlier rounds, a friend of mine living in Kerry joined us and spoke the four most beautiful words in the English language, “What are you having?”

The next morning, Jimmy’s approval of the new rules and how it has speeded up the game, did get me thinking about this year’s Tipperary Senior Football Championship and the effects it might have on senior dual clubs like Loughmore-Castleiney and J.K. Brackens.

While there is always physical demands on dual players, the stats at the end of the National Football League showed that while the inside forwards are covering less ground than they did under the “old rules” (mainly because they aren’t being asked to get back and defend), the middle-eight players are now covering on average 9 to 10km’s per game compared to the “old rules” where they averaged 7.5km per game.

But it is not just the distance covered that has increased, the explosive running has almost doubled under the new rules and if not monitored correctly that could catch up with teams later in the championship. This is where the managers and S&C coaches will earn their money. If they have prepared properly pre-season, they won’t be too worried about the extra load during matches, but they will have to ensure that proper recovery between games is prioritised and that is not always something which is easily achieved.

You need a very understanding football management team to go with the “less is more” theory especially when dual clubs will have given about 80% of their time hurling training.

Over the past number of years, dual clubs around the country have been amazingly successful in both codes, none more so than Loughmore/Castleiney but with the extra load needed to play the modern game of Gaelic Football, it will be interesting to see how dual clubs around Ireland fare in championships this year.

For me, Gaelic Football is still all about the skills of the game and under the new rules these skills have to be performed faster and with more intent. This is the disadvantage that dual clubs may run into. Will they be able to spend the time working on developing their skills? Only time will tell.

Anyway, my brief from the sports editor wasn’t to tell you stories about Kerry octogenarians, Football Review Committees or bore you with running stats from the National Football League but rather to preview the groups in the Tipperary Senior Football Championship and offer my thoughts as hostages to fortune on how these groups might work out.

So, with apologies in advance to all concerned, here is how I see things going.

The format of this year’s Championship sees 14 teams competing for the O’Dwyer Cup in two groups of four and one group of six. The top two teams in the groups of four and the top four teams in the group of six will qualify for the quarter-finals while the bottom team in the groups of four and the bottom two teams in the group of six will face into relegation playoffs with three of those teams being relegated to Premier Intermediate Football for 2026. It is a harsh but exciting format.

GROUP 1: Aherlow, Ballyporeen, Cahir, Kilsheelan/Kilcash

Kilsheelan-Kilcash and Cahir clash in the first game of this group on Sunday.

I am expecting Kilsheelan-Kilcash, under the management of Keith O’Brien, to win with a bit to spare. I say that because I would have Kilsheelan-Kilcash as the dark horses in this year’s championship. Actually, to use of the term “dark horses” might be a bit unfair because in reality Kilsheelan are very bright horses.

With players like the Freaney brothers, Michael & Liam, their first cousin, the outstanding Mark Stokes, Jason Madigan, Jamie Roche, and the lively Billy O’Connor in their team, they have the potential to go very deep into this championship. If Mark Kehoe arrives back from his travels, it will add more firepower to the lineup.

Cahir of course are no daws themselves and are always capable of pulling out a result when least expected. I feel they will have to do the same this year if they hope to survive in this group. They did produce a few decent underage teams a few years ago but for one reason or another the excepted successful transition to senior hasn’t taken place and I fear they will have a long afternoon ahead of them on Sunday.

However, this probably isn’t the game they will targeting and their day in the sun might come in rounds two or three. Verdict: Kilsheelan-Kilcash

The second game is this group, Ballyporeen v Aherlow is harder to call. Ballyporeen can be a small bit like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. The availability of county star Darragh Brennan for this game remains a doubt (finger injury) but with Conor Sweeney back in action for them and with the likes of Tomas Vaughan running from deep through the middle third maybe they will be a bit more predictable this year.

They got a bit of a telling off from Clonmel Commercials (haven’t we all) in the recent South Final but getting to a South Final is no mean feat and even in defeat they still managed to put 2-11 on the board.

Aherlow are the complete opposite to Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You know exactly what you will get from them. Intermediate champions last year, the West lads will not want to go straight back down and will leave no pebble unturned in pursuit of survival. But they bring more to the table than just good old-fashioned wholeheartedness.

Amongst their ranks they have possibly the best two-point scorer in the county in Mark Russell and in attack players like Ben Carey are also capable of keeping the man on the electronic scoreboard in gainful employment. It would not surprise me if this game ended in a draw however, the retirement of the brilliant Barry Grogan is a huge loss to Aherlow and this coupled with Ballyporeen’s recent run to a South Final may just have the South team a tad more championship ready than their West Tipperary opponents. Verdict: Ballyporeen

Group 1 Prediction: 1st – Kilsheelan/Kilcash; 2nd - Ballyporeen

GROUP 2: Ardfinnan, Ballina, Clonmel Commercials, Grangemockler/Ballyneale

Ballina take on Grangemockler-Ballyneale on Saturday evening in a game that both teams will be looking at as a must-win to give them a bit of breathing space from relegation and strengthen their hopes of qualifying for a quarter-final.

When these two teams met in an intermediate semi-final in 2022, I confidently predicted a Grangemockler win. I could not have been more wrong as Ballina moonwalked over the line with a very comfortable five-point win.

Ballina is a town that never reared a fool and a club that obviously are doing an awful lot right. Not only are the flying the football flag in the hurling stronghold of North Tipperary, they also won their first North Premier Intermediate hurling title a couple of weeks ago. Winning is a habit, and dual clubs will tell you that when one code is going well it feeds into the other code and that goes well also.

With county senior and U20 stars like the superb Steven O’Brien, Eoghan Power, Jack O’Mahony, Charlie King, Charlie Grace, Cillian Ryan, and JP Mbokha Tansia they have loads of football talent at their disposal and if they can keep everyone fit, they have the ability to go deep into the football championship.

That’s not to say they are going to get things their own way next Saturday. A Charlie McGeever managed team should never be underestimated. Grangemockler/Ballyneale are one of the more exciting teams to watch in Tipperary and the new rules that requires that hard running through the middle third should certainly suit the South men.

However, the greater scoring threat in the Ballina side and in particular a greater two pointer threat, sees me opting for Ballina to get over the line in Templetuohy. Verdict: Ballina

Championship favourites, Clonmel Commercials kick off their campaign against old rivals Ardfinnan on Saturday evening.

Someone said to me recently that Commercials are in a rebuilding phase as some of their best players head into the twilight of their careers, but I would argue that it is easy rebuild when you have quality materials. Goalkeeper Shane Ryan, Joe Higgins, Darragh O’Connor, Rory O’Dowd, Mark Corcoran, Thomas Charles, Darragh Launders, Jamie O’Keeffe & James Power might all be under 21 years of age, but all have county experience, and such is the strength of the Commercials panel, they won’t all make the starting 15.

Ardfinnan are always a team I like to watch and can move the ball from back to front as well as anyone. However, they can be shot shy in front of goal and often depend too much on the excellent Michael Barlow for scores. Saturday’s game isn’t a game they can realistically hope to get a result in so they will have to wait until Rounds 2 or 3 to try get a win under their belt. Verdict: Clonmel Commercials

Group 2 Prediction: 1st - Clonmel Commercials 2nd - Ballina

GROUP 3: Arravale Rovers, JK Brackens, Killenaule, Loughmore/Castleiney, Moyle Rovers, Upperchurch/Drombane

Group 3 has a number of high-profile names involved in teams. Former League of Ireland manager Shane Keegan is in his second year over JK Brackens while Loughmore/Castleiney have employed the services of Paddy Christie and former Kildare manager Glen Ryan has been doing a bit with Upperchurch/Drombane.

First game up in this group is a repeat of the opening fixture of the 2024 championship with champions Loughmore-Castleiney taking on Killenaule in Gortnahoe on Friday evening.

This time last year I was telling anyone who was prepared to listen that whoever beat Loughmore would win the county final. Nobody did beat them, and they were very deserving champions.

This year I don’t see them as county champion contenders. That might seem like a stupid statement as Loughmore should never be written off. I expect them to go deep into the championship but I’m not sure the chaotic nature of the new rules lends itself to a team who, although extremely talented, have a fair chunk of the side now the wrong side of 30 years of age.

They know they won’t get it all their own way against a Killenaule side containing the two Feehan brothers, Jimmy & Paudie. As a wise man said to me one day, any team with the Feehan’s in it always has a chance. But I suspect, Killenaule’s main focus this year will be trying to get their senior hurling status back and while I see this game being closer than many might think, I expect Loughmore-Castleiney to get the defence of their title off to a winning start: Verdict: Loughmore-Castleiney

The second game sees Moyle Rovers up against Upperchurch-Drombane at high noon on Sunday.

This time last year Moyle Rovers were being spoken of as potential champions, but they capitulated in the semi-final against Loughmore. However, that result doesn’t mean they have become a poor team overnight and I would still see them as one of the top three for county honours.

Luke Boland and Jack Harney had outstanding campaigns with the Tipperary footballers this year, throw in talented youngsters like Killian Butler and Paddy O’Keeffe and then sprinkle players like Stephen Quirke, Rian Quigley and Liam Boland on top and you have all the ingredients for a top-class side.

Moyle Rovers would have preferred an easier start to the year than an opening game against Upperchurch/Drombane. As the old saying goes, “you’d want to be at home eating the dinner before you could say you had D’Church beat.” However, that legend can often distract from the fact that Upperchurch-Drombane have some brilliant footballers in their ranks and the beaten finalists of 2023 will be a team that nobody wants to meet later in the year.

Power running through the middle third won’t be an issue for Upperchurch and up top they have Conor Fahey with a left boot that could kick the salt out of holy water. His ability to kick two pointers will be an important weapon for them this year. Another hard game to call but going on the presumption that Moyle Rovers will have more work done on the skills of the game at this stage of the season, I’ll give the nod to the South men. Verdict: Moyle Rovers.

The last game of Round 1 sees JK Brackens pit their wits against Arravale Rovers on Sunday afternoon.

At the start of every year, I have a dream that JK Brackens will be County Senior Football champions and Catherine Zeta Jones will join me for the celebrations in the Temple Bar the following day where I will utter those beautiful words to her “What are you having Catherine?”. I have been continually disappointed on both fronts but I’m the eternal optimist and believe that someday one of those dreams will come through!

On paper you would have to fancy the Templemore side to come out on top in this one, but games seldom work out the way they look on paper. Championship games between these two sides at all levels are traditionally tight and the last time they met in the championship in 2022, Brackens emerged victorious on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-7 despite having comfortably accounted for the Tipperary town side a few months earlier in the league.

They face into the same scenario this year having beaten Arravale 5-10 to 1-14 in the league but as we know league and championship are not close relations.

Like Ballina in the north, Brackens will be buoyant following their Mid Senior Hurling title win and with players like county men Jack Nevin and goalkeeper Cian Sheedy alongside Paddy and Conor Cadell, Shane Doyle, Jack Kennedy, Jamie Ormond, James Corcoran and the talented Eanna McBride, they certainly possess the talent to become a top side.

However, hard work beats talent if the talent doesn’t work hard and Arravale Rovers are no strangers to hard work. Shane Leahy at centre back has been a good player for a long time now while county man Michael Lowry and U20 star Eoin Doocey will ensure that Arravale gain a lot of possession in the middle third and if they use that possession well, they have a potential match winner in Orrin Jones at full forward.

But I think the extra fitness and speed that Brackens possess along with no shortage of football talent will be enough to see them over the line here after a hard-fought battle. Verdict: JK Brackens.

Group 3 Prediction: 1st - Moyle Rovers, 2nd - JK Brackens, 3rd – Loughmore/Castleiney, 4th – Upperchurch/Drombane