Intermediate semi-finals to start championship season in earnest

GAA: Kelly's of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Preview

By Liam Hogan

The make-up of this year’s North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals which take place next Sunday, 29th June, in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, brings with it a bit of nostalgia due to the length of time since the teams last met in North championship hurling.

Take the Portroe versus Shannon Rovers for example, supporters will reminisce the last North Intermediate Championship meeting, a memorable semi-final in 1986 when Rovers won after a replay and extra time on route to defeating Newport in the North final. Shannon Rovers were defending their title having defeated the Quarry men in the 1985’ decider.

Few would have guessed that neither team would cross camans in championship until last year’s county championship group game clash at Nenagh when Rovers won with a late goal.

What happened in between was a mixture of good and bad. With a county title in the locker, Rovers went senior in 1987 and reached the North semi-final the following year. From there they remained senior until 1992. From there, it has been intermediate all the way although they did have joy in 2010 when defeating Borrisokane in the final.

Portroe meanwhile won the 1990 County Intermediate title and produced a successful two decades in senior grade reaching the last four on a number of occasions before losing the 2009 North decider to Nenagh Eire Og. They made amends three years later when successfully overcoming Toomevara on a night of nights at MacDonagh Park.

The senior journey lasted until 2021 before stepping down to premier intermediate in 2022 when they became the first North champions of the new competition. Lady luck deserted them the following year when they were relegated at the end of 2023.

The second semi-final sees Borrisokane take on Newport, coincidently the 2010 North semi-final happened to see Borrisokane overcome Newport, the last time these two teams met in championship hurling.

Both teams went separate ways, Borrisokane were senior from 2011 to 2017 before returning to Intermediate grade while Newport remained at intermediate level until capturing the County title in 2016. They cut their teeth in senior until relegated at the end of 2024. Sadly, the slide continued Newport are now back in the third tier after relegation last year.

The four teams have already played one another this year as the quartet competed in Division 3 of the County League with Newport and Portroe reached the last four

Newport

The league was positive for the Mulcaire men as manager Mark Harrington suggests.

“I know teams don’t put a lot into the league, but we beat both Rovers and Borrisokane in the league and drew with Portroe,” he said as his club is determined to get back up to Premier Intermediate as quickly as possible, with Sean Chaplin of Sixmilebridge is as coach.

Harrington was at corner back the last time Newport played Borrisokane and Sean O’Brien was the on the team also. O’Brien successfully captained Newport in 2016 continued to hurl for a period until heading abroad two years ago. Harrington is delighted to see him return but Odhran Floyd is still in Australia.

“It is a rebuild job for us at the moment,” he added.

“O’Brien has been training well and the team has brought on a few new players who were involved in winning the North U17 championship two years ago, introducing Shane Flanagan, Cillian Collins, Cathal Hannan and Calum Poole will play having already sampled the recent County League.

“We spent a couple of years in trouble before we were relegated from premier intermediate last year. There is new blood on the team which we haven’t had for a while. Some are very still in school doing the leaving certificate.”

Borrisokane

Borrisokane had mixed fortunes in the league according to manager John Egan, winning two of their six games, losing to Sunday’s opponents Newport but drawing with Portroe and defeating neighbours Shannon Rovers.

“We were short a good few players during the league and emigration had denied us Eddie O’Dwyer, Stephen Gavin, Dylan Power and Ronan Murphy but on the positive side the return of Jack Larkin and Peter McSherry are welcome back,” he revealed.

“McSherry has been away for the past five years. Oisin Larkin is back one hundred percent. Gary Ryan should be okay after picking up a knock a few weeks ago. The rest are okay except Philip Larkin has the age old troubles now and again and should be okay.

“Seody Cleary and Philip Austin are the only two involved in the last championship meeting with Newport.”

The Borrisokane manager has brought former Tipp star Niall O’Meara in as coach and is very happy with the response of the players to the Kilruane clubman.

“Niall O’Meara has been a breath of fresh air for the group since he came in. You can imagine a man of his stature coming in especially this week and weeks leading up to a big match. He is a very good coach and well able to talk to players and they are off his own gave bracket. A huge plus for us this year,” Egan said.

Portroe

Portroe manager John Sheedy was full forward during those aforementioned games between Rovers and Port in the 1980s and he knows full well how the rivalry between the teams.

“Any time the Rovers and Port play it is usually a good game,” he said.

“There is never much between us. We will be looking forward to a good game again on Sunday.”

He added: “The league was good to us. We drew with Newport and Borrisokane and beat the Rovers in Portroe by five points and Ballingarry beat us by a point in the semi-final.

“We think we will be competitive enough, but time will tell.

“With Borrisokane, Newport, Rovers, and Port, any of them will fancy their chances of winning.

“We have lost AJ Willis and Jack Moloney, both gone to America, but I have two up from last year’s Under 17 squad in Mattie Madden and Liam O’Callaghan. They need the experience, but time will tell.”

Shannon Rovers

Shannon Rovers manager John Tierney hopes to continue where his team left off after last year’s agonising county quarter final defeat to Cappawhite, after extra time.

The Rovers won two of their five league games, accounting for Moyle Rovers and Knockavilla Kickhams, but were unable to get the better of their three North intermediate rivals.

However, the loss of some players continues to upset preparations, but his backroom team of Liam O’Gorman, James Dunne and Conor Sullivan have left no stone unturned.

“We lost Tom Hogan, James O’Sullivan, and Emmett Moran to Australia since last year which has reduced our playing strength. We have six players over in Australia now,” Tierney revealed.

“Injury wise we have no problems at the minute. The way we look at it we are going to go out and do our best and see where that takes us.”

He added: “The league is what it is. It is a way of preparing our team for the championship in both North and county. This is what we are aiming for.

“We will be treating the North very seriously, but we realise we are the underdog and have the smallest playing pool. So be it. We are trying to make the best of what we have and see where that takes us.”

MATCH PREVIEWS

by Shane Brophy

Portroe v Shannon Rovers in Nenagh @ 2.00pm

The sides met in the final round of the group stage of the County Championship last year where Eamon Hough’s last gasp goal saw the Rovers edge to victory to victory. Portroe won’t lack for motivation to exact revenge and might just have the extra quality to get it. Verdict: Portroe

Borrisokane v Newport in Nenagh @ 4.00pm

The key for Newport will be how quickly they accept their new reality of being in the intermediate championship rather than thinking they shouldn’t be there. The return of Sean O’Brien is timely and his leadership will be needed this year. With the sides to meet in the county championship as well, expect added edge to this one. Verdict: Newport