Divisional champions in the last chance saloon

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling Championships Preliminary Quarter Finals Preview

By Shane Brophy

Such is the competitiveness of the Tipperary club hurling championships, six preliminary quarter finals are required this year across the senior, premier intermediate, and intermediate grades, involving divisional champions from across the four divisions who failed to progress directly from the group stages.

It’s a welcome wildcard to have but also comes with jeopardy as the winner has then only a week to turnaround and face into a quarter final against a rested opponent. However, it does give hurling fans an extra set of knockout games to get their teeth into with games spread across the weekend.

Saturday, 5th September

Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Loughmore/Castleiney v Holycross/Ballycahill at The Ragg @ 5.00pm

The marquee match-up of the preliminary quarter finals, one indeed that would grace the county final as the top two teams, seen by many pre-championship, go head to head with one facing certain elimination by Saturday evening.

It’s the seasoned veterans and two-time defending champion Loughmore/Castleiney against an up and coming Holycross/Ballycahill seen as the next great team, loaded with players with underage success.

However, they haven’t managed to unlock the code to defeat their Mid rivals in recent times, but they have been getting closer. Loughmore defeated them in the group stage in 2024 before holding off Holycross in last years semi-final. July’s Mid Final was the closest of all as they led Loughmore deep in added time when Noel McGrath landed a monster point to send the match to extra time in which Loughmore pulled away to win by seven points.

Neither side have fully hit their straps yet. Loughmore/Castleiney are forced to use the pass from winning the Mid title after winning one of their three county group games, finishing in third place. They were strangely flat against Moycarkey/Borris in round 1 but picked things up against Borris-Ileigh and hurled well in the second half despite falling to defeat, while they showed their continued threat with a devastating 2-5 burst at the start of the game against Clonoulty/Rossmore which proved pivotal and the West champions battled back but ran out of time.

Loughmore know what knockout hurling is all about in a team loaded with experience which will stand to them.

Holycross/Ballycahill will beat Loughmore again, so why can’t it be this weekend. Underage success cannot remain senior potential forever and taking down the two-time defending champions would be a massive statement.

The return of Jim Ryan from a cruciate knee injury sustained in the corresponding county semi-final last year is welcome for Holycross and while he might not be fit to start, if they are in a position of trying to see the game out in the final quarter, he would be a great pillar to bring it.

Holycross’ best chance of success is stretching the field and using their legs but they most be brave in getting more ball into their full-forward line which hasn’t been their modus operadi in recent years, such is their proficiency from long range.

The battle between Cathal Barrett and John McGrath is likely to be key in the overall outcome. Verdict: Holycross/Ballycahill

Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Thurles Sarsfields v Sean Treacys in Drombane @ 3.00pm

Mid champions Thurles Sarsfields require the preliminary quarter final route having lost to St Mary’s in their key group game last time out.

Their recent record over Sean Treacys is very good but the West men are coming in on a high after qualifying at the expense of Gortnahoe Glengoole with a last gasp goal but their overall hurling in that game was very good as well. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields

Intermediate Hurling Relegation Semi-Final

Carrick Davins v Clonoulty/Rossmore in New Inn @ 2.00pm

Carrick Davins come in with momentum after scoring five goals in the upset win over Arravale and should be too good for Clonoulty/Rossmore’s second team who have found the going tough this season. Verdict: Carrick Davins

Sunday, 6th September

Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Clonoulty/Rossmore v Nenagh Eire Og in Borrisoleigh @ 3.30pm

Nenagh Eire Og drew the short straw in being paired to take on West champions Clonoulty/Rossmore in the second of the preliminary quarter finals.

This will be the first time the sides have met in the championship since the group stage in 2022 which proved to be the last full game the late Dillon Quirke played for Clonoulty/Rossmore prior to his untimely passing just under two weeks later.

That match at FBD Semple Stadium ended in a draw and another tight contest is expected with Clonoulty rather unlucky to find themselves in this situation after finishing bottom of their group, despite getting off to a winning start against Borris-Ileigh before suffering narrow defeats to Moycarkey/Borris and Loughmore/Castleiney.

They would have qualified from any of the other groups so while they might be coming in after back to back defeats, the quality of their hurling has been largely good and they can take that into this contest where arguably more of the pressure will be on their opponents, Nenagh Eire Og.

Firstly, Nenagh’s recent record in Borrisoleigh isn’t good having lost their last three games at Bishop Quinlan Park to Cashel King Cormacs last year and Loughmore/Castleiney a year previous.

Its tight confines should lead to a intense contest between two of the physically fittest teams left in the competition, and both have shown their ability to finish strongly in their matches so far.

From there, it comes down to hurling, with the teams again evenly matched, with Clonoulty arguably having the edge in terms of experience, despite being without key defender Enda Heffernan for the season.

Nenagh like to be direct which will play to Clonoulty’s strengths in defence so it will be interesting if Eire Og stay with the shape from the win over Toomevara with Sam O’Farrell at wing back which gives them a good out-ball from short to mid-range puckouts.

Michael Heffernan got a valuable fifty minutes into his legs last time out which will bring him on as he and Jake Morris remain central to their attack but Ben West and Philip Hickey have the ability to be match-winners with the right service. Josh Keller’s availability will be important having left the field late against Toomevara with a head injury.

Nenagh might be coming into the game off back to back wins and Clonoulty/Rossmore the opposite but the West champions are more battle-hardened after a tougher group. Verdict: Clonoulty/Rossmore

Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Finals

Silvermines v Boherlahan-Dualla in Templemore @ 1.00pm

North champions Silvermines are in a double-edge predicament, needing to go via the preliminary quarter finals to stay in the hunt for county glory, but having finished bottom of their group, they will enter the relegation battle if they don’t go on and list the Seamus O Riain Cup.

They come up against a Boherlahan-Dualla side they fell to in the group stage last year. The Mid side, under the guidance of former Limerick great Seamus Flanagan, haven’t hit their straps fully this year but should have too much scoring power, unless Jason Forde has one of this day of days. Verdict: Boherlahan-Dualla

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill v Moneygall in Littleton @ 1.30pm

A repeat of a preliminary quarter final from twelve months ago when Moneygall edged out the West side who are in this predicament again after finishing third in their group, after retaining their divisional title.

Eire Og are experienced and battle-hardened, while Moneygall are youthful and developing and the manner of their win over Burgess last time out should give them huge belief. Verdict: Moneygall

Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Skeheenarinky v Newport in Tipperary Town @ 2.00pm

South champions Skeheenarinky are the only divisional winner in the grade to need to use the preliminary quarter final with Newport as their opponents who haven’t been entirely convincing so far but should have the quality to progress to the last eight. Verdict: Newport

Intermediate Hurling Relegation Semi-Final

Ballybacon/Grange v Holycross/Ballycahill in Golden @ 1.00pm

The closest of the two relegation semi-finals to call. Ballybacon were competitive in all their three losses, while Holycross managed to get a draw and pushed Ballingarry close last time out. Verdict: Holycross/Ballycahill