North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals Preview

GAA: Munster Solar North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

By Shane Brophy

BORRIS-ILEIGH v KILDANGAN

MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Saturday, 4th July

Throw-in @ 7.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)

A repeat of last years North final in which Kiladangan edged Borris-Ileigh by a point, and also a clash of two teams with a lot to prove to themselves in 2026.

That might be a harsh statement on Kiladangan who are going for a three-in-a-row of North titles as they aim to reach the divisional senior final for the eighth successive year going back to 2018, with no championship played in 2020 due to Covid.

However, county titles are what Kiladangan are judged on nowadays and that the 2020 and 2023 Dan Breen winners have exited the county championship in disappointing fashion in the last two years is the fuel in which they are priming themselves for a strong campaign this year.

With club stalwart Dan Hackett back at the helm, they won’t lack for motivation and pride in the jersey. That they went hard in the County League, despite falling short in the final to Cashel, suggests Kiladangan aim to hit the ground running in the championship, starting with Borris-Ileigh on Sunday.

However, that league final came at a cost in terms of injury with full-back James Quigley sustaining an ankle injury which is likely to keep him out for another few weeks while Paul Flynn (finger) and Dara O’Dwyer also missed that game also.

Borris-Ileigh have been the nearly men in senior hurling in recent years. Losing last years final, they failed to progress beyond the group stage for the fourth year in a row so there is an expectation the maroons will throw the kitchen sink at 2026.

They have plenty of talent, from the experience of James, Ray, Sean and captain Dan McCormack, along with Conor Kenny to the likes of James Devaney, Kevin Maher and Eddie Ryan to be taking lead roles at this stage.

The return to fitness of Tom Delaney, who missed the entire under 20 campaign for Tipp, will be a huge boost, and will be fresh and complement the likes of Patrick Ryan and Paddy McCormack who can put his first full season in with the Tipp seniors to full use.

With both teams having byes in the first round, they come in fresh and cold. Despite their injury concerns, Kiladangan have enough experience to find a way to win. Verdict: Kiladangan

NENAGH EIRE OG v ROSCREA

MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan

Sunday, 4th July

Throw-in @ 6.30pm (E.T.)

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)

A really enticing encounter between two impressive winners in their respective quarter finals two weeks ago.

Roscrea were the story of the quarter finals, not just for their victory over Kilruane MacDonaghs, but the quality of their hurling in which they achieved it. There was a purpose of what they wanted to do right from goalkeeper Enda Moloney, full of movement and energy, and with the confidence boost of a big win, it should only bring them on more. They can mix it up, particularly in attack where they have the elusiveness of Leigh Loughnane, Shane Fletcher, Evan Fitzpatrick and Luke Cashin, plus the power of Conor Dooley and Jack Lee.

However, they will be tested to a greater extent by Nenagh Eire Og who despite being challenged all through by Toomevara, there was never any sense they were going to lose the game.

The challenge for Nenagh this year is simple, win a county title, and to do so they appear like a team that will try and win every game in front of them to keep the confidence and belief high.

They have made some tweaks with Philip Hickey, previously a forward, now at corner back and showed up well against Toome. Josh Keller is hungry after missing Tipp’s championship campaign through injury and another full season with Tipp should see him contribute more as a leader at club level, to compliment the likes of Jake Morris and Michael Heffernan, while the sight of Billy O’Brien coming off the bench was a huge boost.

Both teams play a similar brand of hurling where they like to move the ball quickly, not afraid to go long to open up the play and stretch the opposition. However Nenagh’s, greater recent pedigree might be enough to decide the outcome. Verdict: Nenagh Eire Og