Runners and Riders in the 2026 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship

By Shane Brophy

GROUP 1

Holycross/Ballycahill

A lot of expectation on the Mid side who have won back to back Under 21 ‘A’ county titles. They took a step forward last year reaching the semi-final but the loss to Loughmore/Castleiney and recent loss to the same opponents in the Mid final suggests they still have more maturing to do but they are moving in the right direction with a hugely talented squad. Group prediction – 1st

Kilruane MacDonaghs

Kilruane MacDonaghs will be hoping to rediscover the magic sauce that saw them win the county title in 2022. They play a traditional brand of hurling which plays to their strengths but can overdo it at times and give opponents cheap possession if it doesn’t come off. The North quarter final loss to Roscrea was a surprise but they created enough chances and if they can get key players firing, they should get to the knockout stages. Group prediction – 2nd

Thurles Sarsfields

Even accounting for being without the injured Ronan Maher, there is a fresh feel to Thurles Sarsfields this year as Padraic Maher goes into his fourth season in charge. Euan Murray has slotted in well at this level along with Keith Loughnane and Daniel Rossiter. They compliment Conor Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum and Paddy Creedon and after missing out on the knockout stage last year, that will be a motivator. Group prediction – 3rd

Upperchurch/Drombane

The Mid side return to the senior grade after a three-year absence after last years county premier intermediate success, which ultimately led to Munster and All-Ireland glory. Their senior return in the Mid loss to Sarsfields wasn’t good as they struggled to get to the pace of the game but under club great Michael Ryan who is at the helm this year, it might have been the jolt needed to get their mentality right again. Group prediction – 4th

GROUP 2

Borris-Ileigh

The 2019 champions haven’t progressed to the knockout stages since 2021 and while they have a preliminary quarter-final berth booked as North champions, they won’t want to use it and instead continuing with a winning momentum. If they can get Patrick Ryan and Ray McCormack back to full fitness, it will add greater depth which has already been added to by Jack Bevans impressing in the middle of the field. Group prediction – 2nd

Clonoulty/Rossmore

The West side completed a ten-in-a-row of divisional titles which gives them the protection of a preliminary quarter final if things don’t go well in the group. The loss of Ciaran Quirke and Enda Heffernan to season-ending injuries are blows but they are a seasoned group with quality forwards in Stephen Ferncombe and Cathal Bourke leading the way. Ended up in a relegation playoff last year so will be keen to avoid that again. Group prediction – 4th

Loughmore/Castleiney

The back-to-back county champions remain the team to beat and the Mid Championship success hasn’t changed anything relating to them. Their experience is invaluable for what is essentially the same group of players. The only issue would be if key players get injured but they tend to have the answers for any question thrown at them. With Tipp’s early exit, the McGrath brothers come in fresh compared to last year which is bad news for the challengers. Group prediction – 1st

Moycarkey/Borris

The one team in the group that has no margin for error in terms of needing to finish in the top two spots to reach the knockout stages. County semi-finalists two years ago, they looked set to repeat the trick again but a disastrous final quarter and extra time quarter final loss to Drom & Inch when they conceded seven goals was a disastrous way to exit. Former Tipperary camogie manager Denis Kelly is at the helm of a very competitive team. Group prediction – 3rd

GROUP 3

Cashel King Cormacs

The West side wasted little time in making an impact back at senior level last year when winning their group and getting to a quarter final, however, the manner of the loss to Holycross highlighted the next step they have to take, as well as the recent West final loss when they were beaten by a more seasoned Clonoulty/Rossmore side. They are a panel loaded with talent but all their opponents are well warned now. Big second year ahead. Group prediction – 1st

Drom & Inch

The Mid side were the surprise package last year getting all the way to the semi-finals. It shouldn’t have been a surprise considering the talent they have and were unfortunate to lose a recent divisional quarter-final to Holycross, after extra time, but the performance was really good which they can take into the county campaign. Group prediction – 4th

Kiladangan

The manner of their North semi-final loss and performance against Borris-Ileigh was concerning, even accounting for the injuries to James Quigley and Paul Flynn. They deserve the benefit of the doubt in that they are two-time county champions since 2020 that with an aging team, their focus might be on being primed for the group stages of the county championship but a lot will be told when they start out against Roscrea. Group prediction – 3rd

Roscrea

After a tough 2025 where they ended up in the relegation playoffs, Roscrea were the most improved side in the divisional championships. The quality of their hurling in the win over Kilruane and the extra time loss to Nenagh were impressive, the only area they fell down in was experience and knowhow in terms of closing out a tight game. If they have learned from that they could be the surprise package in terms of getting out of the group. Group prediction – 2nd

GROUP 4

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone

Just avoided relegation last year which should prime them better for this campaign. Finally got the better of the Swan in the South but were narrowly beaten by St Mary’s in the divisional final. They are down Conor Whelan and Mikey O’Shea this year which might be too many blows to overcome but they will be competitive. Group prediction – 4th

JK Brackens

2025 started well for the Templemore/Clonmore side with their second Mid title but they never built on it. Loughmore seem to be their kryptonite as they were again in the Mid semi-final recently but they remain a strong squad with plenty of pace and scoring in the form of the Ormond brothers, Shane Doyle and Lyndon Fairbrother with Paddy Cadell the fulcrum of the team at centre-back. Group prediction – 2nd

Nenagh Eire Og

Have come up just short in their last two finals, the 2025 county final and the recent North final. However, their consistency of performance has been very good under the current management. Their physical fitness is hugely impressive and arguably have a deeper squad than last year with Jamie Cotterill, Emmet Jones and the fit again Billy O’Brien adding to their options while Josh Keller is becoming a real leader in the attack. Group prediction – 1st

Toomevara

It’s hard to know what to expect from Toomevara. They hurled well in the North quarter final loss to Nenagh without ever looking like winning it. Under new management, they’ll be expected to beat Mullinahone in round 1 but it is the second and third games which will be key to their progress and getting back to the quarter finals where they took a step backwards from where they were in losing to Loughmore/Castleiney in the final the year previous. Group prediction – 3rd