Getting back to normal

By Shane Brophy

The playing fields have returned to being busy again following the untimely tragedy of the passing of Dillon Quirke, but he won’t be far from the minds of every player and supporter next weekend as the county hurling championships resume in earnest.

Football got the ship sailing again last weekend, but it came as no surprise that Clonoulty/Rossmore’s intermediate game with Grangemockler/Ballyneale was postponed.

Instead, the West Tipp club will return to the field of play next Sunday for the first time since the death of their spiritual leader. However, it won’t be against Kilruane MacDonaghs, which was the intention of replaying their round 2 fixture which was abandoned after Quirke fell ill just under two weeks ago.

Clonoulty/Rossmore weren’t keen on facing Kilruane MacDonaghs so soon after such a traumatic event and after consultation with the county board, and with the agreement of Kilruane MacDonaghs, Nenagh Eire Og and Moycarkey/Borris, next Sunday will see the round 3 fixtures in the group played between Kilruane v Nenagh, and Clonoulty v Moycarkey, with the Clonoulty/Rossmore v Kilruane MacDonaghs game pushed back to the weekend of 3-4 September.

It means both Nenagh and Moycarkey will have their three group stage fixtures completed next Sunday as their second-round game against each other was played on August 5th last which Moycarkey won.

Therefore, they will be disadvantaged as both Clonoulty and Kilruane will know what they will need from their fixture to qualify, but in the greater scheme of things it doesn’t matter at the moment and great credit to the three clubs for acceding to Clonoulty/Rossmore’s request.

The fixture change means a full slate of eight games in the senior hurling championship across the weekend, plus six outstanding games in the premier intermediate and seven in the intermediate championships.

Tickets purchased for all postponed round 2 fixtures are valid for this weekend’s games, but new tickets will be required for Clonoulty v Moycarkey and Kilruane v Nenagh.

Camogie

The tragedy won’t be far from the minds in camogie as well as the County Club Championships get underway this weekend across the grades, including Clonoulty/Rossmore who start their senior championship campaign away to Eire Og Annacarty on Saturday evening.

Holders Drom & Inch start at home to Nenagh Eire Og, Burgess/Duharra are away to newly promoted Knockavilla Kickhams, while Thurles Sarsfields host Cashel King Cormacs. Silvermines have a bye in the opening round.