Mouth-watering quarter finals in all three hurling grades
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling Championships Quarter Finals Preview
By Shane Brophy
SENIOR
Saturday, 27th September
Holycross/Ballycahill v Cashel King Cormacs at FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.30pm
These two clubs aren’t located too far away from each other and could be set to have a great rivalry in the coming years.
The fact that Cashel beat a high-fancied Holycross side in the county under 19 ‘A’ semi-final will give the West side a shot in the arm but also serve as a grounding for Holycross/Ballycahill won’t come as simply as they thought.
The pressure will be on Holycross as they are further down the road in their development and should be boosted by the return of Bryan O’Mara who hasn’t featured since the Mid Championship in July. Verdict: Holycross/Ballycahill
Loughmore/Castleiney v Toomevara at FBD Semple Stadium @ 4.30pm
The tie of the round and a repeat of last years county final which Loughmore/Castleiney won in a game that really only caught fire late on.
The defending champions started off slowly with a Mid Championship loss to Moycarkey/Borris, but that defeat focused the minds as the real Loughmore showed up in group stage wins over Drom & Inch, JK Brackens and Lorrha. They don’t appear to be slowing down; they look like they are getting better with Eoin O’Connell adding to their options this year.
Toomevara come in with a spring in their step with three wins on the bounce, including Saturday’s preliminary quarter final success over JK Brackens, which wasn’t easy on the eye, but manager Ken Dunne will be pleased with how they ground their way to victory. They will be boosted by the availability of Kevin McCarthy following suspension and he is a Semple Stadium player where he and younger brother Darragh will have to perform to a high level if Toomevara were to pull off an upset, but it wouldn’t be a massive one. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney
Sunday, 28th September
Moycarkey/Borris v Drom & Inch at FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm
Drom & Inch have been one of the surprise packages in the championship this year. While they have been regular attendees in the knockout stages over the last decade, they weren’t getting the best out of the players at their disposal, but they are this year.
They have shown great character, even in their loss to Loughmore when they came from eight points down. The follow-up wins over Lorrha, JK Brackens, and Clonoulty/Rossmore has been mixed with quality and steel, with veterans David Collins and Seamus Callanan playing to a high level.
They are in bonus territory which makes them dangerous against a Moycarkey/Borris side that will be under pressure. They responded well from the Mid final loss with wins over Roscrea, and particularly Kilruane MacDonaghs, to book their place in the knockout stage. That was five weeks ago and while since they have lost to Borris-Ileigh in a dead-rubber game, one wonders have last years semi-finalists lost some momentum. Verdict: Moycarkey/Borris
Nenagh Eire Og v Kilruane MacDonaghs at FBD Semple Stadium @ 4.00pm
A repeat of the first match in the championship for the respective sides, a four point win for Kilruane in a North quarter final in Dolla in July.
MacDonaghs were full value for that win and were unlucky to lose the semi-final three days later. Group stage wins over Borris-Ileigh and Roscrea book-ended a heavy defeat to Moycarkey/Borris which could have derailed their season. However, they are a seasoned outfit and as the pitches slow and their ability to mix the short and long ball will play to their strengths. Cian Darcy’s 1-8 from play was the main reason Kilruane beat Nenagh last time out, but he hasn’t hit those heights since.
Nenagh’s main concern will be over star forward Jake Morris who was wearing a hand-protector at Sunday’s games in MacDonagh Park, the Tipp vice-captain only started from the bench in their North Championship meeting as he is also dealing with an ongoing knee issue.
While Nenagh topped their group, the manner of the round 2 loss Cashel was a concern in a game they were expected to win. Maybe they took Cashel lightly, the sight of their neighbours will focus the minds, but will it be enough? Verdict: Kilruane MacDonaghs
PREMIER INTERMEDIATE
Saturday, 27th September
Carrick Swan v Silvermines in Boherlahan @ 2.30pm
After being involved in a relegation battle last year and making a poor start to this campaign, things have turned around massively for Silvermines, and they will go into this quarter final with momentum and confidence. They will be underdogs, but they won’t mind that, and how they deploy Jason Forde will be key, particularly as his Tipp colleague Gavin O’Halloran is a quality centre-back for the Swan. The impact of Sean Nolan in the attack has also taken the scoring load off Forde but Swan also has their own talisman in Callum Lanigan. Verdict: Carrick Swan
Gortnahoe/Glengoole v Ballina in Templederry @ 4.00pm
Ballina will be battle-hardened following the preliminary quarter final win over Thurles Sarsfields which should serve them well, and they will need to against a Gortnahoe/Glengoole side that have beaten Thurles twice in the championship so far.
The pressure will be on the Mid side as they are among the favourites for overall honours but the return from injury of Steven O’Brien is timely and his battle with Tipp panellist and Gortnahoe captain Davy Nolan at the edge of the square will be key. However, Ballina’s defence will have to be strong to slow down a potent Gortnahoe attack. Verdict: Gortnahoe/Glengoole
Sunday, 28th September
Boherlahan-Dualla v Moneygall in Borrisoleigh @ 1.00pm
Two years ago, this match-up was a semi-final in the intermediate grade which Boherlahan-Dualla won in a monsoon in Templetuohy. They went onto win the title with Moneygall following them up twelve months later, and will welcome the opportunity to make up for the 2023 defeat when they were favourites.
Both sides have adapted to the second tier well and one will make a semi-final, and using the form-guide of Eire Og Annacarty whom Boherlahan beat by two and Moneygall by one, this is a hard one to call but the greater spread of scorers in the Moneygall attack might just swing it their way. Verdict: Moneygall
Upperchurch/Drombane v Killenaule in Holycross @ 4.00pm
Probably the pick of the quarter finals between two sides that would see themselves as senior. Upperchurch/Drombane were expected to win the title last year but came a cropper at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Cashel, after extra time. They started the championship slowly, including a Mid Championship loss to Moyne-Templetuohy but they appear to be timing their run, in tandem with their football commitments.
Killenaule have found some form in recent games with wins over St Mary’s and Clonakenny, but this is a step up. Verdict: Upperchurch/Drombane
INTERMEDIATE
Saturday, 27th September
Golden Kilfeacle v Arravale Rovers in Annacarty @ 4.00pm
These sides met in the West Championship in July with Golden winning by seventeen points. Going again six days after an extra time and lengthy penalty shootout win over Shannon Rovers is a tough ask for Arravale Rovers who were already very much underdogs. Verdict: Golden Kilfeacle
Knockavilla-D Kickhams v Moyle Rovers in Bansha @ 4.00pm
Knockavilla Kickhams have been flying very much under the radar, but they were one of just two teams to emerge from the group stage with a one-hundred percent record and should have too much for a Moyle Rovers team that have exceeded expectations this year after coming up from junior ‘A’. Verdict: Knockavilla-D Kickhams
Sunday, 28th September
Borrisokane v Kilsheelan/Kilcash in Templemore @ 1.30pm
Borrisokane drew the short straw when paired with the South champions Kilsheelan/Kilcash whose only loss in the campaign was to Golden Kilfeacle which saw them finish second in their group. The group stage loss to Newport is a worry for Borrisokane after an initial good start. Verdict: Kilsheelan/Kilcash
Cappawhite v Ballingarry in Golden @ 1.30pm
Arguably the pick of the quarter finals between the two sides that fell to eventual winners Moneygall last year. Dylan Walsh’s availability will be vital for Ballingarry who scraped through to this stage while Cappawhite have been more consistent without being convincing. Verdict: Cappawhite
Senior Hurling Relegation Semi-Finals
By Liam Hogan
Saturday, 27th September
Lorrha v Roscrea in Cloughjordan @ 4.00pm
For the second year running, Lorrha and Roscrea are in a relegation battle.
Twelve months ago, Lorrha they lost their semi-final with Borris-Ileigh but later survived the drop with a win over Templederry. Recent group defeats to JK Brackens and Drom & Inch left a taste of satisfaction, but it was a question of what if. Then in round three they were hit by a train by a superb Loughmore/Castleiney team.
Roscrea had recent relation battles also. Last year they got over Templederry in the semi-final in one of their best performances of recent times. In this year’s campaign they lost two of their three group games, losing round one to Moycarkey/Borris by six points. They drew with Borris-Ileigh in round two before succumbing to Kilruane by six in round three.
Roscrea conceded only one goal in the three games while scoring two whereas Lorrha have conceded eight but have scored six and have squandered chances for more.
Not knowing when this game would be played must have disturbed preparations over the last two weeks. The team that made most of their time out will come through and the experience of competing in a tough group will help Lorrha survive. Verdict: Lorrha
Sunday, 28th September
CJ Kickhams Mullinahone v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Cashel @ 4.00pm
Clonoulty/Rossmore were within seconds of being in a quarter final this Sunday, instead they are contesting a relegation battle. They led by seven points against Drom & Inch in the preliminary quarter final heading up the final straight before losing by one. That sums up Clonoulty/Rossmore’s year. They were in a tough group in losing to Kiladangan and Toomevara before causing a surprise by defeating Holycross/Ballycahill.
They are playing well and that effort could be enough to see them finish the year with victory over Mullinahone who appear to have dropped down a peg or two in the pecking order. Two years ago, Clonoulty beat Mullinahone 1-20 to 1-13 in a preliminary quarter final and next Sunday’s game should have the same outcome. Verdict: Clonoulty/Rossmore