Tipperary Premier Intermediate and Intermediate Hurling Championships Round 3 Preview
By Shane Brophy
PREMIER INTERMEDIATE
GROUP 1
Sunday, 7th September
Gortnahoe/Glengoole v Sean Treacys in Drombane at 2.00pm
Gortnahoe/Glengoole can secure top spot and direct passage to the quarter finals if they avoid defeat in a game they will be expected to win, in any case, while Treacys likely need a win to have a chance of progressing and have hurled well so far. A defeat and they likely need a Moyne win over Thurles to advance on a three-way tie score difference. Verdict: Gortnahoe/Glengoole
Moyne-Templetuohy v Thurles Sarsfields in Templemore at 2.00pm
Moyne-Templetuohy can still finish second in the group, but their first target will be a win to get off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation spots; and a six-point win would guarantee that. Their form is up and down while Thurles will feel a win might be enough to finish second should Treacys lose. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields
GROUP 2
Saturday, 6th September
Boherlahan-Dualla v Templederry Kenyons in Cappawhite at 3.30pm
A dead-rubber match-up with Boherlahan already through to the quarter finals as group winners while Templederry are headed for another relegation playoff, however, they like to be going into that game with some momentum. Verdict: Draw
Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill v Silvermines in Borrisoleigh at 3.30pm
A winner-takes-all clash although a draw would be enough for Silvermines to finish second on score difference. Annacarty do have a preliminary quarter final berth as West champions to fall back on but they might have a better spread of scorers to advance straight to the last eight if they can restrict Jason Forde’s impact. Verdict: Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill
GROUP 3
Saturday, 6th September
Ballina v Upperchurch/Drombane in Kilcommon at 4.00pm
Both sides have three points from two games so the winner will be guaranteed to advance. A draw might also be enough depending on how Moneygall get on, but they don’t want to rely on that. Upperchurch’s need is greater as Ballina have a preliminary quarter final to fall back on as North champions whereas the Mid side do not. Verdict: Upperchurch/Drombane
Burgess v Moneygall in Toomevara at 4.00pm
A repeat of a North semi-final last month that Burgess won impressively but they haven’t kicked on. Moneygall will welcome a chance for redemption as a five-point win would see them make a quarter final, regardless of the outcome of the other game in the group, but defeat would mean a relegation battle as Burgess would pip them on head-to-head. Verdict: Burgess
GROUP 4
Saturday, 6th September
Carrick Swan v St Mary’s in Fethard at 2.30pm
The Swan are through to the knockout stages as South champions but will want to go the direct route by avoiding defeat to a St Mary’s side who you don’t know what you get from one game to the next and tend to struggle against opposition from their own division. Verdict: Carrick Swan
Clonakenny v Killenaule in Templetuohy at 2.30pm
Killenaule have rebounded well from the South final loss while Clonakenny were demoralised in their heavy loss to St Mary’s which, with their score difference so poor, leaves them needing a win here and St Mary’s avoiding defeat to avoid finishing bottom and going into the relegation playoffs. Verdict: Killenaule
INTERMEDIATE
GROUP 1
Sunday, 7th September
Cappawhite v Moyle Rovers in Bansha at 3.00pm
A win or a draw would be enough for Cappawhite to progress as group winners, but Moyle Rovers will come in with confidence and belief following a big win over Portroe and another victory will see them through to the last eight. Verdict: Cappawhite
Portroe v Skeheenarinky in Boherlahan at 3.00pm
Portroe can still make the quarter finals, but their main aim is to try and avoid the relegation playoffs and likely need a big margin of victory to do so. However, the manner of their second half collapse to Moyle Rovers, they’ll want to show passion and fight at a minimum, but Skeheen’s form is better. Verdict: Skeheenarinky
GROUP 2
Sunday, 7th September
Ballingarry v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Cashel at 12.30pm
A winner-takes-all clash as neither have a divisional title to fall back on in terms of a preliminary quarter final berth. A draw would be enough who will be hoping to have Dylan Walsh back and may just have enough to edge out the West men. Verdict: Ballingarry
Drom & Inch v Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams in Golden at 12.30pm
A dead-rubber game with Drom already heading for the relegation playoffs while Knockavilla are safely through to the last eight and should head into it with three wins from three. Verdict: Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams
GROUP 3
Sunday, 6th September
Arravale Rovers v Carrick Davins in New Inn at 2.00pm
Another winner-takes-all clash between two urban clubs who be taking a major leap if they were to get to the quarter finals. A draw would be enough for Arravale but Davins are a free-scoring team so it should be an exciting contest. Verdict: Arravale Rovers
Borrisokane v Newport in Nenagh at 2.00pm
A repeat of a North semi-final played in June which Borrisokane won emphatically. Newport haven’t recovered and are now facing into a relegation battle; however, they need to find some momentum in this dead-rubber game with Borrisokane already through to the quarter finals as group winners. Verdict: Borrisokane
GROUP 4
Saturday, 7th September
Ballybacon/Grange v Kilsheelan/Kilcash in Clonmel Sportsfield at 5.00pm
Kilsheelan/Kilcash’s impressive start to the season was stalled by Golden Kilfeacle but they still hurled well, and will be favourites to get past their South rivals to secure passage to the quarter finals direct while Ballybacon still have an outside chance of escaping the relegation playoffs with a win. Verdict: Kilsheelan/Kilcash
Golden Kilfeacle v Shannon Rovers in Templederry at 5.00pm
Golden have recovered impressively from their late collapse in the West final with two wins from two but cannot afford to switch off as a defeat here and a big Kilsheelan win could see one of the title favourites eliminated. That focus should be enough to beat a Rovers side that will probably have to rely on a preliminary quarter final berth as North champions to stay in the race for the title. Verdict: Golden Kilfeacle