Rivals are hungry to become South’s hurling beacon

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Noel Dundon

KILLENAULE v ST MARY’S

FBD Semple Stadium

Sunday, 11th October

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)

Matches between South Tipperary clubs are always intense affairs and it will be doubly so this Sunday as Killenaule and St Mary’s chase a long awaited return to the senior grade, and with it ensuring their division remains represented at the top tier of hurling in the county.

ST MARY’S

For St Mary's manager Fergal Condon, this Sunday's Premier Intermediate Championship final is about far more than silverware and promotion. It is the latest chapter in a story that began more than two decades ago, when he experienced first-hand the heartbreak of seeing his club slip from senior hurling ranks.

Back in 2002, Condon lined out on the St Mary's side that suffered relegation from senior level, a painful setback that left a lasting mark on everyone involved. 25 years later, fate has afforded him the opportunity to help guide the Clonmel club back towards the summit of the game in Tipperary.

"I was on that team and it wasn't a pleasant experience,” he recalls.

“It's a long time ago now and I suppose we've been looking to get back there since. We have that chance on Sunday, but we know exactly what is facing us in Killenaule.”

Standing between St Mary's and senior status is a familiar foe. The rivals know each other inside out, their recent battles wonderfully balanced with a win apiece. The stage is set for a compelling decider where local pride, county glory and promotion all hang in the balance.

Like his counterpart in the Killenaule camp, Condon believes Sunday's final carries significance far beyond the two competing clubs. With Mullinahone dropping from the senior ranks, the prospect of securing a senior standard-bearer for South Tipperary has become a rallying cause for the division.

For St Mary's talisman and three-time Tipperary All-Ireland winner Seamus Kennedy, the bigger picture is impossible to ignore.

"It's a huge thing for the division because hurling is very strong in the south,” Kennedy said.

“It was unfortunate to hear Mullinahone went down, but it's great that there will be a senior hurling team in the south in 2027. Both Killenaule and ourselves have been very competitive at this level. We've been building towards this through a lot of underage success, but it's very different when you reach this stage at adult level.”

Years of hard work are now beginning to bear fruit. The conveyor belt of talent emerging through the club's underage structures has helped create genuine optimism around the future, but Kennedy is quick to point out that potential only counts for so much.

"We feel we have the players to compete at that level, but we have to win the next game first,” Kennedy continued.

"This is the biggest day in the calendar in Tipperary and it's brilliant to be involved. We were there in 2016 when our minors played the county final before the senior final and it was an unbelievable day for the club.

“There is huge work going on throughout St Mary's. We won an Under-19 title last year, we're in an Under-18 final, and now we're preparing for a Premier Intermediate county final. It's brilliant for us. Hopefully we can take one more step and get over the line.”

Unlike many clubs experiencing the bright lights of FBD Semple Stadium for the first time, St Mary's can draw upon valuable experience. Many of their players have sampled big-match days on the famous Thurles turf, albeit often carrying a football rather than a camán. That familiarity, Kennedy believes, can only help.

"We have some excellent young players in the team and you can't beat youth. They love these big occasions and they've really embraced them,” he continued.

"It's all on the line now against Killenaule. We know each other very well from underage right through to Premier Intermediate. They are a very good side. They beat us the last time we played and we beat them in the South Championship, so there's very little between us. I suppose that's exactly the way a final should be."

While several St Mary's players continue to balance commitments in both football and hurling, their manager sees the dual demands not as a burden but as evidence of the dedication within his squad.

"We're very fortunate to have a group of players who are hugely committed,” Condon said.

“They want to play both codes, they look after themselves, and they're capable of doing it. We're certainly not complaining because it's been part of our club culture for a long time."

"Communication is key. We work closely with Commercials, discussing workloads, rest periods and what players need. Ultimately, though, it's the players who drive it. They want to play both games and we're happy to facilitate that."

For Seamus Kennedy, the mission is clear. The dream is not simply promotion, but re-establishing St Mary's among the elite clubs of Tipperary hurling."Ultimately, with all the work that's going on in the club, we want St Mary's competing at the top table of hurling in Tipperary. We're not there yet. There's still a massive hurdle in front of us and a huge challenge to overcome.

“But getting St Mary's back to the top level would be an incredible achievement for everyone involved in the club. That's what we're striving for, and we're going to give it absolutely everything."

KILLENAULE

Killenaule manager Joe Caesar cut a relieved figure when the final whistle finally pierced the air after his side's bruising encounter with Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling semi-final.

Relief was undoubtedly the dominant emotion, but it was accompanied by immense pride. Having weathered a fierce late storm from the determined West outfit, Caesar was delighted to see his players dig deep, summon every ounce of resilience, and find a way to emerge from the battle standing tall.

Their reward is a mouth-watering third showdown with fierce local rivals St Mary's of Clonmel. With one victory each from their previous meetings, Sunday's Seamus O Riain Cup decider has all the ingredients of a classic winner-takes-all encounter. Not only is county silverware on the line, but so too is a coveted return to the senior ranks in 2027.

"In the end we were lucky to get over the line against Annacarty," Caesar admitted.

"They came at us hard in the last ten minutes and we were glad to hear the final whistle. It was a real grind.

"With ten minutes to go we were comfortable with a six-point lead, but credit to them, they fought their way back again. They did it against Lorrha in the quarter-final too. They are never beaten until the final whistle goes. When they pushed Tom Fox into the forwards, it unsettled us a bit. But our backs showed tremendous character. They stood their ground, stuck to their task and saw it out."

A pivotal moment in Killenaule's survival mission came from the bench, where the introduction of Michael Doyle provided a timely spark. His brief but influential cameo proved invaluable and earned glowing praise from his manager.

"Michael came on and landed a crucial point for us," Caesar said.

"He's brilliant in possession and he brings a calm, experienced head. To have someone of his quality and intelligence to introduce with fifteen or twenty minutes remaining is a huge asset. We're fortunate to have him because he brings so much experience."

That blend of youth and experience, Caesar believes, is one of Killenaule's greatest strengths.

"We started eight Under-21 players in the semi-final, but alongside them we have seasoned campaigners like the Stakelum’s, the Feehan’s and Killian Dwyer, all of whom have inter-county experience. Across almost every line of the field we have players who have represented Tipperary at some level."

And there could be further reinforcements on the way.

"Shane Ryan, who played Tipp minor and Under-21, has been sidelined through injury. We're also hoping to have Joe Dwyer and Ciaran O’Dwyer available again for the final. If we can get all three back, they would give us a serious lift,” Caesar revealed.

Like many clubs at this stage of the season, Killenaule have had to balance dual commitments between hurling and football. While St Mary's face the same challenge with their Clonmel Commercials contingent, Caesar insists there will be no room for excuses when the ball is thrown in on Sunday.

The familiarity between the sides only adds another layer of intrigue. Neighbours and rivals, they know one another's strengths intimately and perhaps have a fair idea of where vulnerabilities may lie. The stage is perfectly set for a fiercely contested battle, one that carries significance far beyond the confines of a single match.

"We know each other inside out," Caesar said.

"With Mullinahone dropping to Premier Intermediate next year, it's great to know there will be a new senior team in the South Division, whoever wins on Sunday."

For South Tipperary hurling, the occasion represents more than a county final. It marks a significant milestone for the region.

"It's a huge boost for the division because we'll have a senior championship team in the South again in 2027. For South Tipp hurling, that's a very big deal. We just hope it will be us. But we know the size of the task ahead because St Mary's are a really good team. It will take a massive effort to beat them."

As Sunday approaches, anticipation is building for a clash that promises drama, intensity and no shortage of passion. With local pride, county glory and senior status all hanging in the balance, the Seamus O Riain Cup final is poised to deliver a memorable chapter in the story of South Tipperary hurling.