Intermediate grade gets Club Hurling Championship up and running

GAA: Jim McLoughney Menswear North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Preview

By James Hayden

The Jim McLoughney Menswear sponsored North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship promises to deliver one of the most competitive and intriguing campaigns in recent years as Shannon Rovers, Borrisokane, Newport and Portroe renew rivalries in a championship where margins are traditionally razor thin and local pride runs deep.

With just four teams involved, there is no room for easing into the competition. Every game carries huge significance and all four clubs will genuinely believe they have the credentials to capture divisional honours and launch a serious challenge at county level later in the season.

Shannon Rovers

Defending champions Shannon Rovers enter the championship carrying the tag of favourites after an impressive 2025 campaign which saw them claim the North title with a convincing final victory over Borrisokane. Their 3-15 to 1-16 triumph in Cloughjordan underlined both their scoring power and growing maturity as a team.

For the Coolbawn-Kilbarron-Terryglass club, the challenge now is backing up that breakthrough success. Winning a championship is difficult; retaining it is often even harder. Yet there is every indication that Shannon Rovers possess the depth, experience and attacking quality required to remain the team to beat under manager Conor O’Sullivan.

The Rovers have developed into a physically strong and well-balanced side over recent seasons. Players such as Matt Tierney and Eamon Hough have proven capable of producing big performances in pressure situations, while the team’s work-rate and pace through the middle third make them extremely dangerous in transition.

Last season’s semi-final win over Portroe demonstrated their resilience and efficiency. Shannon Rovers absorbed pressure before pulling away late on for a six-point victory. They followed that with a polished display in the decider against Borrisokane and carried momentum into the county championship where they only exited on penalties to Arravale Rovers in a preliminary quarter final.

The Rovers will be hoping to secure back-to-back titles following but captain, Matt Tierney is under no illusions as to the challenge that the Rovers will face.

“I suppose we are not really thinking about the back-to-back factor too much,” he said at the launch.

“Preparations are going well in Ballinderry but we would still see ourselves coming in as underdogs. We only have the one north final won I suppose in this era and we are very hungry for another one. We have a fair bit of work put in after starting back reasonably early and we will be hoping our north campaign can provide a springboard for a positive county campaign.”

Matt added that training had been going well in advance of this year’s north campaign with a couple of additions to the squad as well as the return of a few familiar faces.

“For a small club it is a big help to see the numbers in Ballinderry and we have Sean O’Meara back in a coaching role so this also helps massively. We won’t be looking past the challenge of Newport though in the opening round and we know we face a formidable up and coming side in the semi-final,” he added. If Shannon Rovers are to retain the title, consistency will be vital. Opponents will now approach games against them with added intensity and there will be no element of surprise this time around.

Borrisokane

Borrisokane, meanwhile, look primed to mount another strong challenge after reaching last year’s final and a county semi-final.

There is a growing feeling around the club that they are edging closer to another divisional crown. Historically, Borrisokane have been one of the most successful clubs at this grade with eight north intermediate titles to their name, while they have also enjoyed success on the county stage, winning Tipperary intermediate honours in both 1982 and 2010.

Their route to last year’s final was particularly impressive. A commanding 4-20 to 1-19 semi-final win over Newport showcased the attacking quality within the side. On their day, Borrisokane can produce explosive scoring bursts that are difficult to contain. One of the key talking points surrounding the club has been the influence of former Tipp star Niall O’Meara, who became involved as a coach. His presence appears to have injected fresh energy into the group and sharpened standards across the panel.

Borrisokane’s challenge will revolve around consistency and defensive solidity. While they possess dangerous forwards capable of punishing any defence, they occasionally struggled under sustained pressure last year. If they can tighten up defensively while maintaining their attacking threat, they will be serious contenders.

There is also a sense that several of their younger players are beginning to mature into leadership roles. That blend of youth and experience could prove crucial during tight championship encounters where composure often decides outcomes.

Captain Mike Heenan is hoping his side can put the pain of last year’s North final defeat behind them and is hoping his side can propel themselves back in a north final once more.

“We are looking forward to the north championship. Our league campaign wasn’t too hectic and we picked up a few injuries but have been training well over the past few weeks and we will have a right cut again at this year’s championship. Our first hurdle is Port’ and we have to be really up for the challenge,” he said, adding: “I suppose with us is to establish a bit of consistency. On our day we are capable of beating any of the teams in the Intermediate championship, it’s just getting that bit of consistency. Preparations are going well so hopefully we can hit the ground running.”

Newport

Newport may enter the championship slightly under the radar but dismissing them would be a major mistake. Few clubs in North Tipperary possess the pedigree or tradition of the Mulcair men, whose history includes multiple north and county intermediate titles.

Although they suffered a heavy defeat to Borrisokane in last year’s semi-final, Newport remain capable of troubling any side on their day. They have consistently produced talented hurlers and their competitive edge is rarely questioned.

The challenge for Newport is rediscovering the consistency that once made them one of the dominant intermediate clubs in the county. At times in recent years, they have shown flashes of quality without sustaining performances over sixty minutes.

Yet championship hurling in the North often rewards experience and physicality, two qualities Newport certainly possess. If they can improve their efficiency in front of goal and reduce defensive lapses, they have the capacity to upset the favourites.

There is also the psychological factor. Newport is a proud club with a strong tradition, and they will not lack motivation after last season’s disappointment. Early momentum could be crucial for them. A positive opening result would immediately restore belief and make them dangerous opponents for the remainder of the campaign.

Captain Aidan Moloney, said the men from the banks of the Mulcair were also seeking to atone for what is a very disappointing 2025 season and that their primary focus was to bring on develop the club’s burgeoning underage talent under the stewardship of Laois based manager, Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett.

“The talent is definitely there in Newport and over the past few years our underage success has been really good. Last year and this year we have been blooding more lads. Having Cheddar over us to steer the ship brings a lot of experience to the side,” he said.

“As a group we were very disappointed over how last year went but we've got a lot of motivation to drive it on now and the north championship presents us with the chance to land a bit of silverware. I mean it is a four-team championship so you have to target it. It’s wide open and any team on any given day can win it and if you can win the North, it would give a team a savage platform for the county championship.”

Portroe

Portroe perhaps enter the championship as the dark horses, but they are more than capable of springing a surprise.

Their rivalry with Shannon Rovers has produced many memorable encounters over the decades, and recent meetings suggest there is still little separating the sides. Traditionally, Portroe teams are built around physicality, determination, and fierce pride. They are rarely easy to beat and tend to thrive in tightly contested matches where work-rate and intensity become decisive factors.

The club has also shown a willingness to introduce younger players into the setup, which could pay dividends over the coming years. While they suffered some losses through emigration according to reports last season, Portroe still possess enough quality and experience to compete strongly.

For Port, the key may lie in converting competitiveness into results. They have demonstrated they can match the top sides for long spells, but winning crucial moments in championship games is the next step.

Captain Robert Byrne is looking forward to John Sheedy's charges hitting the ground running this year and putting last year’s disappointing north and county campaign well and truly in the rear-view mirror.

“I suppose we never got going at all last year, we had a good league in fairness last year, but when it came to the north championship, we kind of came under pressure in the semi-final and we exited then and then we struggled to get momentum in the county championship. We ended up in a dogfight but we managed to escape out of it,” Robert said.

“This year we're not really looking past our first game. We haven't even looked at a county championship and our first focus is the challenge of Borrisokane in the first game.

“We are aiming to bring the pride back to Port’ and that’s what we have fed off for the last 50 years and we need to bring that back now with a good north championship.”

Overview

Overall, the championship appears open despite Shannon Rovers’ status as defending champions. The gap between all four teams is narrow and every side has genuine strengths.

Shannon Rovers have momentum and belief. Borrisokane have scoring power and ambition. Newport have tradition and experience. Portroe have determination and unpredictability.

In a compact championship where one result can dramatically alter the landscape, consistency and squad depth will likely prove decisive. Injuries, suspensions, and player availability may have a major bearing over the course of the campaign.

What seems certain is that supporters can expect fiercely contested local derbies, intense physical battles, and plenty of drama over the weeks ahead. The North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship has long been one of the county’s most competitive divisional competitions, and this year’s Jim McLoughney Menswear sponsored edition looks set to continue that tradition in style.