Months of preparation comes down to defining sixty minutes
By Shane Brophy
And just like that, the Tipperary Club Hurling Championships essentially reach the knockout stage this weekend with the third and final round of group games.
So much blood, sweat and possibly that has been put in in gyms and training fields in recent months comes down to a defining sixty-plus minutes with places in the knockout stages up for grabs while we’ll also find out who will be involved in the relegation playoffs.
In the senior hurling championship, the only certainty is that Cashel King Cormacs and JK Brackens have won their respective groups and are safely into the quarter finals on the weekend of 12/13 September while only Roscrea are officially out of the race and are already preparing for a relegation battle.
Everything else remains to be decided, including the three remaining relegation playoff berths, as well as how many preliminary quarter finals there will be, which are likely to be two as barring a heavy loss to Borris-Ileigh in their final game, Moycarkey/Borris look like they will finish in the top two in group 2 forcing two of Loughmore/Castleiney, Clonoulty/Rossmore or Borris-Ileigh into the preliminary quarter finals.
With one of these divisional champions set to finish bottom of the group, it could delay the relegation playoffs, which could include defending champions Loughmore if they fail to beat Clonoulty/Rossmore. However as Mid champions they have a preliminary quarter final to fall back on.
The premier intermediate grade is a little clearer with Golden Kilfeacle, Killenaule and Lorrha all having won their groups and are through to the quarter finals with a game to spare.
Carrick Swan, Templederry Kenyons, and Silvermines are confirmed as finishing bottom of their groups and into a relegation battle, although the ‘Mines have a chance to extricate themselves via a preliminary quarter final as the North champions but would have to go on and win the county final to avoid being involved altogether.
The key games this weekend include the battle of Mid champions Thurles Sarsfields and South champions St Mary’s, as well as Gortnahoe/Glengoole v Sean Treacys and Moneygall v Burgess while Ballina, Boherlahan-Dualla and Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill will fight it out for the remaining knockout berth from their group.
In the intermediate hurling championship so far, Ballingarry, Borrisokane and Arravale Rovers have secured places in the quarter finals with Kilsheelan/Kilcash strongly fancied to join them if they avoid defeat to Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams which would eliminate last years defeated finalists.
Key games from a local point of view see Portroe v Clonoulty/Rossmore, Shannon Rovers v Clonakenny and Newport v Moyle Rovers in winner-takes-all battles.
What a weekend we have in store!