County GAA Championship draws get the juices flowing for the late summer
By Shane Brophy
The draws were made last Thursday night for the group stages of the FBD Insurance County Hurling and Football Championships.
The format for the senior, premier intermediate and intermediate hurling championships remain the same with four groups of four with the top two teams in each group plus divisional champion not already qualified progressing to the knockout stages.
The senior championship draw has thrown up four pretty even groups with the most eye-catching probably being group 1 with newly promoted All-Ireland Intermediate champions Upperchurch/Drombane being welcomed back to senior level with Mid derbies against Holycross/Ballycahill and Thurles Sarsfields, with Kilruane MacDonaghs making up the quartet.
Back to back champions Loughmore/Castleiney are in an intriguing group along with Moycarkey/Borris, Borris-Ileigh and Clonoulty/Rossmore.
The Premier Intermediate Championship has thrown up an all North division group of Lorrha, Moneygall, Templederry and Burgess while for the second year in a row, South trio Carrick Swan, Killenaule and St Mary’s have been drawn together. Newly promoted Golden Kilfeacle will have two local derbies with Boherlahan-Dualla and Eire Og Annacarty.
With the senior and intermediate football championships now down to twelve teams each, they were drawn into three groups of four with the best two group winners progressing straight to the semi-finals with the remaining group winner plus three group runners-up going into the quarter finals.
Ballina are grouped with county champions Clonmel Commercials while newly promoted Thurles Sarsfields will be happy with their group which includes a Mid derby with JK Brackens. Group 3 is the toughest group with only two of Loughmore/Castleiney, Moyle Rovers and Upperchurch/Drombane going to make the knockout stages, although Grangemockler/Ballyneale will have something to say about that.
Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1: Holycross/Ballycahill, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Thurles Sarsfields, Upperchurch/Drombane
Group 2: Loughmore/Castleiney, Moycarkey/Borris, Borris-Ileigh, Clonoulty/Rossmore
Group 3: Drom & Inch, Cashel King Cormacs, Roscrea, Kiladangan
Group 4: Nenagh Eire Og, Toomevara, JK Brackens, CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1: Gortnahoe/Glengoole, Silvermines, Moyne-Templetuohy, Sean Treacys
Group 2: Carrick Swan, Killenaule, St Mary’s, Thurles Sarsfields
Group 3: Lorrha, Moneygall, Templederry Kenyons, Burgess
Group 4: Boherlahan-Dualla, Ballina, Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, Golden Kilfeacle
Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1: Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Portroe, Clonoulty/Rossmore
Group 2: Clonakenny, Arravale Rovers, Shannon Rovers, Carrick Davins
Group 3: Cappawhite, Ballingarry, Holycross/Ballycahill, Skeheenarinky
Group 4: Borrisokane, Moyle Rovers, Ballybacon/Grange, Newport
Senior Football Championship
Group 1: Clonmel Commercials, Ballina, Aherlow, Ardfinnan
Group 2: Kilsheelan/Kilcash, JK Brackens, Ballyporeen, Thurles Sarsfields
Group 3: Loughmore/Castleiney, Upperchurch/Drombane, Moyle Rovers, Grangemockler/Ballyneale
Intermediate Football Championship
Group 1: Cahir, Rockwell Rovers, Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, Fethard
Group 2: Killenaule, Clonmel Commercials, Moyne-Templetuohy, Clonmel Og
Group 3: Arravale Rovers, Golden Kilfeacle, Galtee Rovers, Moycarkey/Borris