Can Kiladangan complete the three-in-a-row?

GAA: Munster Solar North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Preview

By Shane Brophy

This weekend sees the senior inter-county hurling championship action centre on Thurles with the All-Ireland quarter finals.

With Tipperary long out of the race, the downside for them is an upside for the clubs as the divisional championships fill the void until the start of the county championships next month. However, they are far from secondary as a North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship remains hugely valued, and such is the open nature of the county championship, having a guaranteed place in the knockout stages for winning a divisional title is a huge carrot for teams to go after.

With the relegation of Lorrha last year and no team being promoted, six clubs are in the race for the Frank McGrath Cup with last years winners Kiladangan and runners-up Borris-Ileigh handed byes to the semi-finals with two quarter finals this weekend seeing Kilruane MacDonaghs up against Roscrea while Nenagh Eire Og and Toomevara renew their rivalry.

Borris-Ileigh

Borris-Ileigh come into a new campaign chasing greater consistency. The 2020 All-Ireland finalists haven’t progressed beyond the group stage of the county championship since 2021 despite having a balanced side of the experience of the likes of captain Dan McCormack and Conor Kenny, along with the youthfulness of Patrick Ryan and Paddy McCormack.

For forward Eddie Ryan, that is among the key things they will be looking for this year under manager David O’Connor and coach Niall McGrath.

“We’ll be hoping to go better this year, especially in the North Championship where we got to the final last year but couldn’t get over the line.

“We have gone well at under 21 over the last couple of years so there is a good crop of players coming through.

“Any bit of silverware would be great to bring back and would take a bit of pressure off going into the county championship where we haven’t gotten out of the group in a few years.”

Kiladangan

Kiladangan have been the dominant force in the North Championship since they rose to the senior grade in 2005. Since then, they have harvested eight North titles and this year are chasing a three-in-a-row.

However, as cherished as they are, that they have faltered in the county championship in the last two campaigns has been a surprise for such an experienced team.

To that end, they have stalwart Dan Hackett back at the helm for his second spell as manager, retaining coach Declan Fanning, and with Darragh Egan back in harness, there is a tougher feel to this Kiladangan team this year, reaching a county league final where they were edged out by Cashel last Sunday.

Tipperary goalkeeper Barry Hogan assumes the captains role this year and has welcomed the return of Hackett as manager.

“How he played with his heart on his sleeve, passion, aggression, we targeted the league to give us a good start this year. Last year out league wasn’t good at all and had some big beatings which transpired into the championship.

“It’s clean slate for everyone involved with nearly fifty bodies at training so it is great.”

“You are judged by your county championship but the North Championship is still hugely important for us. We don’t take it for granted and love trying to win it. We needed the safety net of it last year (to get to the county knockouts) so we’ll be giving it a right rattle again.”

Kilruane MacDonaghs

Roscrea native Trevor Fletcher, who guided Shinrone to the 2023 Offaly county title, is at the helm of Kilruane MacDonaghs, along with second year coach Fergal Healy, as they aim to win their 20th North title and first since 2018.

They had a mixed campaign last year with notable wins over Nenagh Eire Og and Kiladangan but exited the county championship tamely by their standards to Nenagh in the quarter final.

Their squad remains pretty similar to recent years but the addition of last years minor Tommy O’Meara is a bonus and with their under 21’s winning the county ‘B’ title, there is an air of optimism around the magpies this year, who will be captained by Kian O’Kelly.

“They are bringing huge energy to it,” admitted Tipperary All-Ireland winning defender Craig Morgan.

“There were sixt or seven players new to the senior grade last year so it brings huge numbers and energy which we needed.

“There are high expectations every year hurling senior within North Tipperary and the County Championship so we are looking forward to seeing what we can do.

“It’s nice coming back to play with your friends and family. To represent the club is a huge honour as well so we are looking forward to going out onto the field and seeing what we have been working on in training.”

Nenagh Eire Og

When eleven time winners Nenagh Eire Og were defeated in the first round of the North Championship last year, not many would have confidently predicted they could be county finalists.

While giving second best to Loughmore/Castleiney, 2025 was a year of progress under manager Hugh Maloney, with their undoubted aim being to go one step further this year.

County star Jake Morris captains a squad that remains similar to last year although the return of Adam Gratton to full fitness is notable as it can release Barry Heffernan back to the half-back line. They also hope to have 2024 All-Ireland minor winner Billy O’Brien available to play some part in the campaign despite sustaining an Achilles injury prior to the Harty Cup final last January.

One of those eagerly looking forward to the action starting is Josh Keller who missed the entirety of Tipp’s championship campaign through injury.

“I did a bit of cartilage in my knee but it still took 4-6 weeks which was frustrating after all the hard training sessions throughout the year.

“We are taking everything seriously; we’ll be going hard for the North and County too. We face Toomevara twice and we’d be friends with some of them but we look forward to tearing into one another.”

Roscrea

Of the six clubs in the race for the Frank McGrath Cup, Roscrea have the longest gap to their last success, back in 2004 when they won it for the 17th time.

They will hope to make a better start to this campaign compared to last when they were well beaten by Kiladangan and ended up in a relegation mire but a strong second half showing against Lorrha in the semi-final saved them and with manager Paudie Bourke going into his second year, he has a much better handle of what he has.

Alan Tynan is their undoubted star man and looks to be targeted for a deeper role in the half-back line but his power and athleticism means he could turn up anywhere. It’s a relatively stable squad with much of the scoring focus still on Evan Fitzpatrick, Shane Fletcher and Luke Cashin with Jack Lee and Leigh Loughnane providing the youth.

Toomevara

Toomevara are away and clear atop of the roll of honour with 33 North Tipperary Senior Hurling titles but they are in a major drought having last won it way back in 2011.

“It would be a major push on if we could go and win it this year,” admitted attacker Kevin McCarthy.

The 2024 county finalists never found that same level last year but under 2023 county senior championship winning manager with Kilruane, Liam O’Kelly and coach Damien O’Halloran from Clare, there is a freshness to the greyhounds this season that makes them an intriguing prospect.

After a tough second season with Tipperary, Darragh McCarthy should welcome the break and a return to the green & gold to discover his best form along side his brother Kevin who has just come off his first season at senior inter-county level.

Jake Ryan and Joshua Powell have gone travelling but it is a team with huge potential with county under 20’s Austin Duff along with Jake & Patrick Hackett adding to their options.

“It’s all about the competition and now we have a squad behind us and hopefully those lads will push on and play well at senior level,” McCarthy added.

Overview

Because of Tipperary’s All-Ireland success last year, the North Championship was run off over an eight day spell. This year it has time to breath with the quarter final winners having two weeks before a semi-final.

Kiladangan remain the team to beat and their league form suggests they are purring nicely.

Nenagh and Toomevara would appear their closest challengers but one will be gone at the first hurdle next Sunday. Kilruane were unlucky last year with the schedule and if they can get over the Roscrea hurdle, they will have a major say. Borris-Ileigh and Roscrea have the most to prove but if they can make strong starts, you couldn’t rule them out.

MATCH PREVIEWS

Kilruane MacDonaghs v Roscrea in Nenagh on Saturday, 20th June at 7.00pm

The sides met in the group stage of the County Championship last year at the same venue with Kilruane MacDonaghs recording a six point win but in 2023 Roscrea recorded a surprise win with an impressive display.

Both sides will feel a win could kick-start a run to the title but Kilruane’s recent form is better an entitles them to favouritism and with Roscrea native Trevor Fletcher at the helm, will have a little insight into taking them down. Verdict: Kilruane MacDonaghs

Nenagh Eire Og v Toomevara in Dolla on Sunday, 21st June at 5.00pm

Toomevara were the winners in their most recent meeting in 2024 but both sides have gone through plenty of dips and troughs since. It is also a clash of the last two defeated county finalists to Loughmore/Castleiney so they have something in common. However, the rivalry is such that there will be no holding back in what will be the first of at least two meetings in the championship as they are also in the same county championship group. Nenagh’s league form was better but Toomevara are very much a championship team. Verdict: Toomevara