Tipperary Senior Football quarter finals preview
By Anthony Shelly
SATURDAY, 4TH OCTOBER
Kilsheelan-Kilcash v JK Brackens in Cashel @ 3.30pm.
In the preview at the start of this championship I had Kilsheelan/Kilcash down as the dark horses for county honours.
Their free-scoring exploits in the first two group matches elevated their status to very bright horses. Of course, appearing on people’s radar as potential champions brings its own pressures.
Killsheelan-Kilcash will be looking to improve on their record of just two wins in their last eleven county championship knockout games. That record may be a sign that when they get to this stage of the championship, they often overthink things rather than playing with the sense of adventure that got them here in the first place.
They face a JK Brackens team who have played in fits and starts this year. When they are good, they are very good but when the opposition gets a purple patch in a game, Brackens concede heavily.
In their three games to-date they have conceded 6-30. That statistic has to be a worry for the Templemore based side and you don’t have to be a close relation of Old Moore to predict that if they don’t tighten up in defence, they could be in for a long afternoon. However, if they can keep the goals out, they certainly have the players to keep the man on the electric scoreboard in Cashel in gainful employment for the afternoon.
The lazy analysis would be to go with a Kilsheelan/Kilcash win but the history between these two teams suggest that this is a game which will go right down to the wire which makes it too close to call. I wouldn’t rule out extra time
Upperchurch-Drombane v Aherlow in Golden @ 4.30pm.
With ten seconds to go in their final group game against Cahir, Aherlow were heading out of the championship, but a last gasp Michael Elligott goal secured their qualification to the quarter finals.
That is a huge achievement for the 2024 Intermediate champions and a testament to the rebuilding job they have undertaken over the last few years which has seen their average age profile drop from the over 30 mark to the lower 20’s this year.
They will now feel that they get a free shot at reaching a county semi-final. The new Gaelic Football rules certainly give them hope with players like Mark Russell, Liam Carew, and Diarmuid Looby all capable of keeping the scoreboard ticking over with two pointers.
But, in reality, it will be a tall order for the Glen men against an Upperchurch/Drombane side who have been effective rather than outstanding so far but have hinted like a complete performance is just around the corner.
Strong running through the middle third has been a hallmark of their games to-date and while their play often slows down when they hit the 40-metre arc, they have players like Canor Fahey and the Shanahan brothers, Paul & Luke, who are also capable of the two point score.
In previous years, Upperchurch/Drombane may have relied too heavily on the Shanahan’s for scores, but they now appear to have scoring treats in every line of the field. That may give them the edge in this game and also makes them difficult opponents for any team from here on.
SUNDAY, 5TH OCTOBER
Loughmore/Castleiney v Ballina in Roscrea @ 2.30pm
Ballina have reached the knock-out stages of the senior championship for the third year in a row since winning iuntermediate grade in 2022.
They were unfortunate to draw Clonmel Commercials at this stage for the past two years and their luck hasn’t changed this year with a draw against the current champions Loughmore-Castleiney.
Having comfortably accounted for Grangemockler-Ballyneale in the opening round, Ballina’s form nose-dived as they tried to juggle their dual commitments but with their hurling season now over, they can turn their full focus to the big ball and at their best, they are not a team that should be ignored.
They will be well aware of the size of the task facing them. Loughmore/Castleiney are chasing a double-double and they have been the most consistent team in this year’s championship.
At the start of the year, given their age profile, the new rules, with the additional running required in the middle third of the field, mightn’t suit Loughmore-Castleiney but I couldn’t have been more wrong. They are thriving on these new rules where their skill levels and their unselfish support runs make them extremely hard to defend against.
Ballina won’t be there to just make up the numbers but it’s hard to see anything but a Loughmore-Castleiney win here
Clonmel Commercials v Moyle Rovers in Fethard @ 2:30pm
The glamour tie of the quarter finals sees neighbours and bitter rivals, Clonmel Commercials take on Moyle Rovers.
Moyle Rovers accounted for Upperchurch/Drombane and Arravale Rovers in the opening two group games before going down by three points in the last game against Loughmore-Castleiney.
Ironically, they may have learned more from that defeat than they did from their previous victories.
When they utilise their pace in attack, they are a potent force with players like Liam Boland, Riain Quigley and Paddy O’Keeffe all capable of totting up big numbers.
The flip side of course is they also know they must be tighter in defence if they want to keep a star studded Commercials forward line at bay.
Commercials moonwalked through their opening rounds but were less than impressive in their last group game where they struggled to find their rhythm against a stubborn and packed Grangemockler-Ballyneale defence. They will need to be back at their best to overcome Moyle Rovers but with their spiritual leader, Seamus Kennedy back from injury this year and Michael Quinlivan displaying they sort of form that earned him an All Star in 2016, they certainly have the weapons at both ends of the field to get the job done.
Moyle Rovers haven’t beaten Clonmel Commercials in knock-out football since 2018, and they may have to wait another year before they can correct that stat.
Relegation Semi-Finals
SATURDAY, 4TH OCTOBER
Arravale Rovers v Grangemockler-Ballyneale in Clonmel Sportsfield @ 3.30pm.
Sunday, 5th October
Killenaule v Cahir in New Inn @ 2.00pm.
With three teams to be relegated from senior football this year, it’s safe to say that these games will be dog fights as four proud football clubs battle it out to retain their senior status.
The losers of this weekend’s games are relegated with the winners playing off in a couple of weeks to decide who will be the third team down.
Relegation play-off games often take on a life of their own and with very little between these sides on paper it would be the height of folly to try predicting the results.
Arravale Rovers have battled manfully and played some decent football in all their games so far. They are better than their show, but they will have to improve their scoring efficiency if they want to survive.
Going into the last group game, Grangemockler/Ballyneale must have thought they were 99% safe from relegation but Ballyporeen’s surprising eleven point win over Kilsheelan/Kilcash dropped Charlie McGeever’s charges into the danger zone.
They have the talent to survive but they now have to regroup and that can often be hard when you find yourself in a place you weren’t expecting to be.
Despite losing all three group games, Killenaule have improved with every match and were unlucky to lose out by the minimum to JK Brackens in the last round. A couple of repeat performances will be needed though, and they have the players to produce them.
Cahir were ten seconds away from safety until a late Aherlow goal plunged them into relegation. They come in having drawn their last two games which will give them confidence that they are heading in the right direction.
William Shakespeare could only dream of writing a drama as exciting as what we will see played out in the Tipperary Senior Football relegation battles this weekend.