Tipperary Senior Football Championship second round preview

By Shane Brophy

The stakes are high in the second round of the County Senior Football Championship in the race for the top two spots in each group and progression to the knockout stages.

Friday, 14th August

Group 2: Ballyporeen v JK Brackens in Drombane @ 7.15pm.

Both sides were among the biggest disappointments in the opening round with decisive losses to Thurles Sarsfields and Kilsheelan/Kilcash respectively. JK Brackens focus is more on hurling this year and the fact they have booked a quarter final in that code, they can afford to switch focus in the short term and have plenty of footballing ability to at least give themselves a chance of progression come the final round when they play Mid rivals Thurles Sarsfields. Verdict: JK Brackens

Saturday, 15th August

Group 1: Ballina v Clonmel Commercials in Dundrum @ 5.30pm.

This is Ballina’s fifth consecutive year playing at senior level and they have played Commercials in each of those campaigns. Clonmel have won all the encounters comfortably but the Lakesiders will head into this latest encounter with confidence following their dominant win over Aherlow in round 1. However, the defending champions are on another level but didn’t have things all their own way against Ardfinnan but it could have been a case of blowing off the cobwebs. Verdict: Clonmel Commercials

Group 1: Aherlow v Ardfinnan in New Inn @ 7.00pm.

Two of the traditional footballing strongholds go head to with Aherlow under particular pressure as they still have Commercials to come. The vibes weren’t good ahead of the Ballina game and it proved so while Ardfinnan did a lot right against Clonmel and the final margin of thirteen points was harsh for the football they played. Verdict: Ardfinnan

Group 2: Kilsheelan/Kilcash v Thurles Sarsfields in Cashel @ 3.00pm.

Two clubs that are moving really nicely in both codes. Kilsheelan/Kilcash, with Mark Kehoe and Paul Maher back in tow, are motoring in intermediate hurling and last years senior football finalists showed in their dismantling of JK Brackens in round 1 they haven’t been scarred by what happened in the final, with Jamie Roche to the fore.

Thurles Sarsfields return to senior football against Ballyporeen couldn’t have gone much better but Kilsheelan will provide the asset test of where they stand. Verdict: Kilsheelan/Kilcash

Group 3: Grangemockler/Ballyneale v Loughmore/Castleiney in Gortnahoe @ 6.00pm.

Strange times for Loughmore/Castleiney who hadn’t lost a match in the group stage of either the football or hurling championship in over four years but now have lost three in as many weeks. They won’t panic but coping with defeat is something they haven’t been used to but with Liam McGrath back in harness, they should have too much for Grangemockler/Ballyneale, who have nothing to lose and need to bring their second half performance with them from the Upperchurch/Drombane loss when they played with greater adventure. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney

Sunday, 16th August

Group 2: Moyle Rovers v Upperchurch/Drombane in Golden @ 4.00pm.

Arguably the tie of the round with the winners taking a giant step towards the knockout stages.

Moyle Rovers really ground out a win over Loughmore while Upperchurch were dominant against Grangemockler and with their senior hurling hopes hanging by a thread, their chances of success would appear to lie with the big ball and they have the weaponry to cause an upset. Verdict: Upperchurch/Drombane