Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 Preview
By James Hayden
SATURDAY
Group 2
Cashel King Cormacs v Thurles Sarsfields in Holycross @ 4.30pm
Thurles Sarsfields will be gunning for victory and by a sizeable amount too with the possibility of score difference coming into play to decide the placings. Cashel are on four points and have a healthy +8 score difference while Nenagh Éire Óg are on two points with a +3 score difference. Thurles Sars’ are also on two points with a zero score difference. A win or draw for an in-form Cashel King Cormacs side guarantees top spot and a place in the county quarter-finals.
Their second-round win over Nenagh Éire Óg cemented their place as real contenders despite their relative inexperience at this grade. Eoin Cadogan’s charges will undoubtedly go gung-ho to dump Sars’ out of the championship but will face a stiff test against a Sarsfields side who haven’t really ignited to date.
Cashel are on the crest of a wave though and will really fancy themselves to take another major scalp in this year’s race for Dan Breen. Verdict: Cashel King Cormacs
CJ Kickhams Mullinahone v Nenagh Éire Óg in Templetuohy @ 4.30pm
Nenagh will return to the scene of a very disappointing day two years ago when an unfancied Mullinahone side sensationally overcame them to progress to the county knock-out stages.
Although Nenagh were forced to utilize their North SHC winning chip to progress the impact of the loss proved telling with Thurles Sarsfields dumping them out of the championship in the subsequent preliminary quarter final.
Nenagh stuttered again recently in the face of a stiff Cashel King Cormacs challenge and will have to really knuckle down to overcome a Mullinahone side capable of causing a major upset. Should Sars’ and Cashel draw and Mullinahone overcome Nenagh it would sensationally land Hugh Moloney’s side in relegation, a potential situation that should be more than enough to sharpen Nenagh’s focus.
Nenagh will have to hit the ground running from the start to quickly dispel any aspirations Mullinahone may have of causing yet another upset. Jake Morris, Sam O’Farrell and Josh Keller will have to be at the top of their game as will Barry Heffernan, Michael Heffernan and James Mackey.
Mullinahone will be seriously up against it but the longer they are left in the game the more their confidence will grow. The ball is well and truly in Nenagh’s court, and they should really have the necessary wherewithal to prevail over a side who many view as the whipping boys of Group 2. Verdict: Nenagh Éire Óg.
GROUP 3
Lorrha v Loughmore/Castleiney in Cloughjordan @ 5.30pm
Lorrha will be seeking to pull off a morale boosting victory over the reigning county champions in what promises to be a high scoring clash.
Lorrha have impressed this year but just came up short in the defeats to Toomevara, JK Brackens and Drom & Inch, only caught on the hop in the closing stages.
Although facing into a relegation battle Ken Hogan’s charges are in rude health and a victory over Loughmore would serve as a timely fillip to a side craving a major scalp. With Loughmore already through and topping the group they may not have the same appetite for this game and choose to rest a few of their players, especially given the demands placed upon the side in defending both the county hurling and football crowns.
Loughmore were impressive in their second-round victory over JK Brackens and despite the musings of many will still be a force to be reckoned with come the business end of this year’s championship. You would expect Eamonn Kelly’s side to have too much in reserve for Lorrha, but you can never write off the side from Lower Ormond. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney
Drom & Inch v JK Brackens in Borrisoleigh @ 5.30pm
This is a winner-takes-all shoot-out between the neighbouring parishes.
The reigning Mid champions JK Brackens may have a preliminary quarter-final in their back pocket, but they will not be too inclined to go that route considering the pitfalls involved.
Both sides are level on two points apiece after Brackens disappointed against Loughmore in Round 2. Drom surged late to see off Lorrha, but they will need to tighten up in defence if they are to curtail the likes of Andrew Ormonde, Lyndon Fairbrother, Jamie Ormonde and Shane Doyle. Shane Keegan’s side will be looking to bounce back to form following their defeat to Loughmore while Drom & Inch will have to rely on the scoring prowess of David Collins, Lorcan Campion, Seamie Callanan, John Campion and the youthful Cormac Fitzpatrick if they are to see off a strong JK Brackens side.
All in all, a tight contest in store with little or nothing between the sides and one which could end up all square. In this eventuality it would be Drom & Inch who progress in second place with a better score difference than Brackens. Verdict: Draw
SUNDAY
Group 4
Kilruane MacDonaghs v Roscrea in Nenagh @ 4.00pm
Kilruane MacDonaghs come into this encounter off the back of a disappointing loss to Moycarkey-Borris in round 2. Having impressed against Borris-Ileigh in the opening round, Kilruane supremo Thomas Williams will hope to have a full deck to choose from with a number of injury worries, particularly the in-form Jerome Cahill, in advance of what will be an extremely tough clash.
Something appeared amiss with Kilruane in their clash against Moycarkey. They just didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders and the same connection between the players just wasn’t in evidence. They struggled against a very pacy Moycarkey side and on this occasion will have to ensure all bases are covered to quell what will be a determined and teak-tough Roscrea challenge.
A win or draw for Kilruane guarantees progression in second place in the group, while a loss will bring a premature end to Kilruane’s year.
Roscrea have a golden opportunity to cause a major upset and Paudie Bourke’s side are certainly capable of it. Alan Tynan, Owen Tynan, Evan Fitzpatrick, Michael Campion and Shane Fletcher will have to be on point on Sunday and should Roscrea succeed in drawing Kilruane into a battle they have the tools to pip Kilruane. An intriguing clash in store and one that could hinge on a refereeing decision or two. Kilruane should prevail but it would be folly to entirely write off Roscrea. Verdict: Kilruane MacDonaghs
Borris-Ileigh v Moycarkey-Borris at The Ragg @ 5.00pm
Borris-Ileigh have flattered to deceive this year and face a stiff challenge in the guise of Moycarkey-Borris.
The speed and movement of Eddie Brennan’s charges was a noticeable factor in their second-round victory over Kilruane MacDonaghs and realistically they will go into this tie as red-hot favourites.
Borris-Ileigh have been beset with injury worries and the lack of strength and depth in their squad is proving detrimental to their hopes. A fortuitous draw against Roscrea after a last gasp 65’ dropped short provided them with a lifeline going into the final round. Dan McCormack is facing a race to be involved while Tom Delaney continues to stave off a niggle. In attack, much depends on the young shoulders of Paddy McCormack while Jerry Kelly, James Devaney, Conor Kenny and Sean McCormack will have to be in tip-top form if they are to break down a resolute Moycarkey defence.
Moycarkey/Borris, on the other hand, will be able to call on Bill Flanagan after his suspension while Kieran Morris, Max Hackett and Jack Hayes in attack ensure Moycarkey possess a potent blend of youth and experience. Eddie Brennan has Moycarkey ticking over very nicely and it’s very hard to see them slipping up here.
Borris-Ileigh are fully capable of upsetting the odds here but it’s more than likely they will be facing into a relegation battle when all is done and dusted on Sunday evening. Verdict: Moycarkey-Borris
GROUP 1
Clonoulty/Rossmore v Holycross/Ballycahill in Boherlahan @ 5.00pm
Holycross/Ballycahill are in flying form and even at this early juncture are many people’s tip to lift Dan Breen in late October.
Having recently annexed the Mid U19 ‘A’ Hurling title for the fourth year in a row Brendan Ryan’s side are indeed a formidable outfit. To say they are enjoying their hurling would be an understatement and victories over Kiladangan and Toomevara have secured promotion to the knock-out stages in emphatic fashion for the Mid men.
While inexperience may become a factor in the latter stages of the championship the fact is that for now Holycross/Ballycahill are sitting pretty at the top of Group 1 and should have no problems dismissing a Clonoulty/Rossmore side who appear to be struggling on all fronts.
Already consigned to relegation the body language of certain members of their backroom team at half-time in their clash with Toomevara alluded to the possibility that all is not going swimmingly in the Clonoulty camp.
Poor shooting continues to be an issue for the West side and realistically they will have it all to do if they are to pull off what would be the surprise of the round. A much-improved performance is required but with the likes of Robert Doyle, Enda Heffernan and John O’Keefe they have the wherewithal to manufacture a win.
Win, lose, or draw, Clonoulty will progress regardless to the preliminary quarter-final stages due to their West final victory, but they will also be mired in relegation. It appears a re-set is needed for Tom Butler’s side and this coming weekend is the perfect weekend for it. Verdict: Holycross/Ballycahill
Toomevara v Kiladangan in Dolla @ 5.00pm
Toomevara will be hoping to exact revenge for their recent North semi-final defeat to Kiladangan in what promises to be a cracking final round encounter on Sunday evening.
For Ken Dunne’s charges this is do or die. There is no other way around it, they must beat or draw Kiladangan to progress to the knockout stages. Kiladangan, as reigning North champions, may have the comfort of a pass to a preliminary quarter-final clash in their back pocket but they will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to dump last year’s beaten county finalists out of the championship at the group stage.
In what will undoubtedly be a spicy encounter both sides possess the necessary attributes to win, Toomevara were impressive in the second half of their victory over Clonoulty but if they play like they did in the opening half Kiladangan won’t be half as forgiving.
There will be matchups of interest all over the field with Willie Connors, Alan Flynn, Paul Flynn, David Sweeney, Conor Byrne and Dan O’Meara all in flying form. For Toomevara Darragh McCarthy, Adam Hall, Kevin McCarthy and Jack Delaney will take watching while Conor O’Farrell, Andrew Ryan and Liam Ryan are all capable of having a major influence on proceedings.
Kiladangan will be seeking to endorse their Dan Breen Cup credentials with a statement win especially considering the nature of their seven points defeat to Holycross/Ballycahill in the previous round and undoubtedly John O’Meara’s charges have the necessary attributes to overcome what will be a stiff Toomevara challenge. Verdict: Toomevara