Premier Intermediate race is too close to call
GAA: Liam Buckley Car Sales North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Preview
By James Hayden
The race for the North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with six clubs harbouring genuine ambitions of lifting the Liam Devaney Cup.
The draw has produced two intriguing quarter finals with Lorrha facing Templederry Kenyons and Moneygall taking on Burgess, while Ballina and Silvermines have direct passage to the semi-finals.
The championship arrives at a time when the standard of Premier Intermediate hurling in the division remains exceptionally high. Two of the competing clubs have recent senior experience, while others are looking to build on encouraging county championship campaigns and convert potential into silverware.
Ballina
Defening champions Ballina will feel they are well positioned to make a serious challenge to secure back-to-back titles. They know exactly what it takes to win this competition and their experience could prove crucial.
The lakeside club have consistently been among the strongest intermediate outfits in the division over the past decade and possess a blend of experience and youthful energy. The extra preparation time afforded by their semi-final berth could prove invaluable and they will be determined to take advantage of it.
Ballina's physicality and work rate make them difficult opponents for any side and they will be targeting a place in the final.
Captain Jack Collins agreed that winning the North title last year provided the side with a nice lead into the county championship as well as a safety net of a preliminary county quarter final.
“The North championship is very competitive and with Lorrha after coming down from senior it adds extra spice to it. There is serious quality in the division,” Jack said.
He also lauded the efforts of Ballina in bringing through up and coming talent, agreeing that there was a “nice blend of youth and experience in the team”.
“There are a lot of young lads after coming up this year and even the last couple of years there have been young players coming through and it's great also to have the likes of Mike Breen and Steven O’Brien. We are looking forward to getting going now and we will be keeping a close eye on the quarter finals to see how things go,” Jack added.
Burgess
2024 champions Burgess know exactly what it takes to win this competition but they will be forced to plan without the influential defender Keith Nealon.
Burgess possess a championship pedigree that few clubs can match. Their ability to manage big occasions and produce performances when it matters most makes them a serious contender in this year’s race for the Fr. Hewitt Cup.
Captain Daire Hogan said preparations were going very well in Kilcolman under manager Garrett Howard.
“While we have lost a few lads who are away on J1 visas there are still a lot of lads coming though,” he says.
“We are under no illusions to the challenge we face against Moneygall. We faced them twice last year in the north and the county and we both won one game each so there is not much between the two teams. It will be a tough challenge no doubt. We know they are a good side with top class forwards so we will just have to work hard to keep tabs on them,” he added.
Lorrha
Lorrha return to the Premier Intermediate ranks following a two-year sojourn at senior level.
Traditionally one of the North's proudest clubs, Lorrha will be eager to re-establish themselves among the leading teams in the division, having won this title in 2023 on route to county glory.
They have shown flashes of impressive form in the past two seasons but consistency has sometimes eluded them. With Brian Hogan back in their ranks and Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher committing to another year, if they can produce their best hurling, they are fully capable of landing north honours.
Captain Colm Fogarty feels Lorrha are nicely poised for a tilt at this year’s championship. “We have a lot of lads with experience and we are trying to blend in the new young lads coming through and hopefully it will all come together against Templederry,” Colm said.
“We are under no illusions as to the challenge we face though. We had a great battle in the senior relegation battle two years ago and they are a battle-hardened, tough and experienced side but we are looking forward to it,” he added.
Moneygall
Moneygall's return to the Premier Intermediate ranks last year has added fresh interest to this year's competition. The club has enjoyed considerable success in recent seasons and will approach their quarter-final with Burgess full of confidence.
Their pace and attacking threat make them dangerous opponents and they will believe they have the ability to reach the final. However, the challenge awaiting them in the opening round is a formidable one and captain, Joe Fogarty is under no illusions as to the challenge they will face.
“We are looking to improve on last year and probably we were disappointed a bit how we went but we are looking to step on now,” he said.
“We faced Burgess last year in the north and we are looking to go at them again. It is a very competitive championship and we have a tough challenge in our quarter-final clash with the 2024 champions,” he said.
The Moneygall captain agreed that the side are on an upward curve in recent years and pointed out that there is a wealth of talent coming through the ranks.
“The boys coming through are brilliant and they are really driving things on and in fairness we have a nice blend in the side,” he added.
Silvermines
Silvermines enter at the semi-final stage and many observers will regard them as championship contenders.
The ‘Mines have regularly competed at a higher level and possess players with significant championship experience. If they can hit top form and build on last year’s decent county championship showing, they will take some stopping.
Captain Mikey Corcoran agreed that at full strength the ‘Mines will provide formidable opposition for any of the sides in the division.
“We had a good bounce back last year following the 2024 relegation battle and we made a lot of improvements last year,” he began.
“This year though we will be looking to push past that county-quarter final stage. We have a bye this year in the north championship so we have been afforded the chance to have a look at who we might face in the semi-final. We will without a doubt target the north championship. We have been there or thereabouts over the past few years.
“Preparations are going well and we have a few lads coming back from injuries. Getting the bye gives us a few more weeks to get lads right,” Mikey said as he returns himself from a serious knee injury sustained in the week before last years All-Ireland senior hurling final.
Templederry Kenyons
Templederry have developed a reputation for being one of the most resilient teams in North Tipperary.
Templederry's work ethic and team spirit have often enabled them to punch above their weight and they will relish the opportunity to upset the predictions.
Despite being without their talisman forward Sean Ryan for the North Championship, and the loss of seasoned defender Christy Coughlan through injury, captain Pio Kennedy agreed that Templederry will still provide a formidable challenge for any side in this year’s championship.
“The reality is in this year’s north championship it is going to come down to who is going to work the hardest,” he said.
“All teams are quite similar in that they are free-flowing skilful teams but it will come down to who is going to get the most turnovers, most hooks and most blocks and this will be no different when we face Lorrha. Every game is a must win game, there are no second chances.
“Preparations have been really positive over the last couple of weeks, lads are hopping off the ground and we have got a couple of really good challenge matches and there is a real sense of excitement about the upcoming championship.”
Overview
While all six clubs can make a case for success, the byes awarded to Ballina and Silvermines could prove decisive. Avoiding the quarter-final hurdle offers both teams a valuable advantage in terms of preparation and player freshness.
The quarter finals appear too close to call, with Moneygall sure to push Burgess right to the wire, while Templederry and Lorrha look inseparable on paper.
Whatever the outcome, supporters can look forward to a championship packed with quality, intensity and local rivalry as six ambitious clubs battle for North Tipperary honours.
MATCH PREVIEWS
By James Hayden
Lorrha v Templederry Kenyons in Nenagh on Saturday, 20th June @ 5.00pm.
This heavyweight battle guarantees massive divisional intensity with both having dropped down from senior ranks over the last two years.
Both sides boast exceptional experience but the loss of Sean Ryan and Christy Coughlan and the fact that they are working from a smaller panel could prove detrimental to Templederry’s hopes. It would be folly to write off such a unified club though.
Lorrha, with Barry Moran now at the helm with coach Eamonn Keenan, will be hoping to regain the same form that saw them fashion some serious performances at senior level and with Brian Hogan back in the frame they are a side that will be hard to stop. The injured Darragh Guinan will prove a loss for the quarter-final clash though.
Lorrha’s forwards can score with extreme ease and no doubt they will intend to overpower Templederry early on but if the Kenyons seasoned hurlers perform they could very well pull off a surprise. Verdict: Lorrha
Burgess v Moneygall in Toomevara on Sunday, 21st June @ 2.00pm
A fierce regional rivalry resumes with high stakes. 2024 champions Burgess will want to work their way back into a north final. However, a highly motivated Moneygall side will want to put their stamp on this year’s championship.
Both sides will be without some household names with Tipperary’s Sean Kenneally not expected to be back from injury while Keith Nealon will be a notable absentee for the men in green and gold.
Moneygall, under the guidance of manager Willie Greene and new coach Cormac McGrath, will be hoping for a similar outcome to last September’s county championship clash when Moneygall staved off a late Burgess rally while Garrett Howard is sure to have his side well-prepared for the chance to progress to a north semi-final. Verdict: Burgess