Borris-Ileigh will fancy burgling Nenagh’s home in North Final

GAA: Munster Solar North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Shane Brophy

BORRIS-ILEIGH v NENAGH EIRE OG

MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Sunday, 12th July

Throw-in @ 4.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)

There will be more than just the Frank McGrath Cup at stake when Borris-Ileigh and Nenagh Eire Og renew their rivalry in the 2026 North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final on Sunday.

Despite the game being played in Eire Og’s backyard of MacDonagh Park, Borris-Ileigh won’t mind that one little bit as they play more championship games there than Nenagh do, plus have good memories of playing their opponents on their home patch as their last three North final successes of 2005, 2007 & 2017 have come at the expense of the sky blues there. You have to go back to the North Board’s Centenary year of 2001 for the last time Nenagh defeated Borris in the showpiece final, however, they have more recent winning pedigree having won it in 2022 & 2023.

Nenagh reaching another North Final this year doesn’t come as a surprise and they do so coming in battle-hardened after wins over Toomevara and Roscrea. There were both in contrasting fashions, dominating and controlled in the quarter final against their great rivals but had to show great resilience to chase down Roscrea in the semi-final, with their greater experience and fitness telling in extra time.

The manner of how they came through that game will be welcomed by the management but they won’t want to find themselves in that situation too often.

However, they will have considerations to make for the final, particularly the impact of Sam O’Farrell when he came back into his natural home in the half-back line where he along with Barry Heffernan, Mason Cawley and Jake Donelan-Houlihan are inter-county calibre and provide Nenagh with a strong platform.

Nenagh’s lead approach in the first half against Roscrea was direct into Jake Morris and Tommy Heffernan but Roscrea were ready for it, however, when O’Farrell came back, and getting on the ball, he helped vary the play from where they worked their way back into the contest where the forwards got a better quality of ball.

They didn’t pick up any injuries in the semi-final which they played without the injured Michael Heffernan, and if he can play any part in the final, he will be a massive addition with his ability to find pockets of space from where he is hugely accurate.

Borris-Ileigh’s semi-final win over Kiladangan was arguably their biggest win since the All-Ireland club semi-final in early 2020. Since then, they have flattered to deceive with the level of talent available to them but there was a sense in the manner of the performance last Saturday that it wasn’t just about winning a semi-final, but also proving a point to themselves.

Every aspect of their game from their hurling to their fitness was first class. While thirteen points of the 2-23 came from Eddie Ryan’s accuracy from frees, it showed a hunger to get on the ball and take the game to Kiladangan and force them to concede frees.

Added to Paddy McCormack, Kevin Maher, Kieran Maher, Tommy Ryan, Jerry Kelly, James Devaney, and Jack Hogan getting on the scoresheet, shows the attacking options they have, despite being without the injured Conor Kenny from the start, and Ray McCormack.

Much like Nenagh, they have a strong half-back line platform centred around captain Dan McCormack along with his brother Sean and the fit again Tom Delaney who was missed by the Tipp under 20’s this year with his ability to read the play and also be an excellent distributor of the ball.

Such is the openness of the Tipperary county championship, having the guarantee of a preliminary quarter final as divisional champions is a huge extra carrot at stake for the winners of Sunday’s game, particularly Borris-Ileigh as they have an group that contains three-in-a-row chasing Loughmore/Castleiney, along with Clonoulty/Rossmore and Moycarkey/Borris.

Nenagh’s group is equally compelling with JK Brackens, Toomevara, and CJ Kickhams Mullinahone where nothing can be taken for granted.

Neither is a North Senior Hurling medal and if the exertions of extra time haven’t taken too much out of Nenagh, Eire Og might just end the losing run of finals against Borris-Ileigh.

Verdict: Nenagh Eire Og