Scene set for open County Championships in all grades

By Michael Dundon

What is being deemed the most open County Championships in both hurling and football for years with several clubs fancying their chances.

In terms of senior hurling, the challengers are many in trying to lower the colours of holders for the past two years, Loughmore/Castleiney, who themselves, will be chasing an historic three-in-a row.

The competition is no less keen in the Premier Intermediate and Intermediate grades where again there is no shortage of potential champions. It all makes for a mouth-watering few months of top-class action which will get under way on Friday evening with Loughmore/Castleiney taking on Moycarkey/Borris in the opening round of the senior championship.

Senior Hurling

The difficulty in predicting who will top the four groups in the senior hurling championship is an endorsement of the system. Two teams qualify from each group and a case can be made for all sixteen teams before a ball is thrown in, although divisional champions Borris-Ileigh (North), Clonoulty/Rossmore (West) and Loughmore/Castleiney (Mid) have secured a preliminary quarter final spot, although they’d hope not to have to use it.

At the launch of the championships at FBD Semple Stadium recently, Brian McGrath addressed the bid for three-in-row by Loughmore/Castleiney, saying: “It is something we would love to pull off but there is a lot of hurling to be done before we get to that stage. There are seven or eight clubs there that will be fancying their chances and our first job will be to get out of our group into the quarter-finals,” he said.

Among the chief contenders will be Nenagh Eire Og, beaten finalists last year and who go into the campaign buoyed up by a fine run in the North Championship, just edged out in the final by Borris-Ileigh, in extra time.

For their opening game with JK Brackens, they will be without Adam Carey, a broken wrist sidelining the Nenagh man who hopes to get back into the action soon after. Of Nenagh’s prospects this year he said: “We were very disappointed last year. We have reflected on that game and assessed it and now it is parked and we are looking at what lies ahead. We will be taking this match by match. Everybody is fresh and energised and training is going well.”

JK Brackens’ Paddy Cadell was disappointed with his side’s defeat in the Mid semi-final in which they lost to Loughmore/Castleiney as they look to get off to a strong start in the county championship.

“We had a decent quarter-final showing beating Moycarkey but we had loads to work on after the loss to Loughmore and have been using the three week break to do that.

“That is also giving a few lads who are carrying niggles the time too get right for the county championship. We have a tough start against Nenagh but there are no easy games,” he said.

Upperchurch/Drombane are back in senior ranks after a two year absence after winning the premier intermediate title last year, following it up with a Munster and All-Ireland intermediate success.

The euphoria of that great moment in the club’s history has well vanished, a loss to Thurles Sarsfields in the Mid quarter-final underlining the challenge facing them.

Keith Ryan, who made his senior debut with Tipperary in the Munster championship, said they would have to step up a lot on that showing in the county campaign.

“We are delighted to be back playing against the best in the county. We were very disappointed to get knocked out of the Mid but we have a couple of weeks to put right what went wrong there”, he said.

Thurles Sarsfields always figure in the championship shortlist but a loss to Holycross/Ballycahill in the Mid semi-final was a setback to their preparations. Experienced defender Stephen Maher conceded that the loss was a bit of a setback.

“You want to win every game you play. A lot went wrong for us in that game and we have been having a long look at that. We have lost Mid’s before however and done well in the county championship. We are in a tough group playing Upperchurch, Holycross, and Kilruane but training is going well and we are always optimistic. Otherwise, there is no point in playing”, he said.

Premier Intermediate HURLING

But it is not all about the senior clubs. Lorrha, relegated from the top tier last year are hoping for a speedy return to the top-flight as they battle for honours in the always extremely competitive Premier Intermediate grade.

They have a tough opening game against North rivals Burgess on Sunday evening but captain Colm Fogarty is optimistic.

“We were very disappointed to go down last year but are hoping to pick things up this year,” he said.

“Our group is very competitive with Templederry and Moneygall also involved. Brian Hogan is back with us again and that is a great boost and gives us options to play him in goal or outfield. We are optimistic about our chances.”

Intermediate HURLING

North champions Portroe are looking forward to their campaign in the intermediate grade which begins with a game against Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams in a group that also includes Kilsheelan/Kilcash and Clonoulty-Rossmore.

“We under-performed last year at both divisional and county level,” admitted captain Robert Byrne.

“We have had two or three weeks to get ready since the north championship. Some lads have had niggles but they should all be cleared. Some of our older lads have committed to another season and with younger lads coming through, it is all systems go.

Senior Football

The storied Thurles Sarsfields will break new ground competing in the senior football championship for the first time in almost seventy years and begin their campaign against Ballyporeen.

County-man and dual player Kieran Costello sees it as a great opportunity and a huge achievement by the club to reach senior ranks again.

“A lot of effort has gone into the team over the last few years. We have done well at underage level and are now seeing the benefits of it,” he revealed.

“We had a great year last year winning the intermediate championship and we will be hoping to follow it up. Ballyporeen have a lot of very good players.

They are a strong team and traditionally a football club. It is a game we will be targeting but it is going to be difficult for us competing at this level”, he said.

Ballina fly the flag again for the North division in the senior football championship. Ballina’s opening game is against Aherlow and the group also features holders Clonmel Commercials and Ardfinnan.

So, there it is – no shortage of potential champions and no shortage of optimism -

At the official launch of the championships, Michael Berkery CEO of FBD Insurance said his company was delighted to be associated with the championships and wished all the team’s success in their efforts.

Michael Tierney, Vice-chairperson of Tipperary County Board, thanked FBD Insurance for their on-going backing which he said was greatly appreciated. He too wished the clubs all the best for the championships.