Senior Hurling Championship and Relegation Playoff Previews
By Shane Brophy
SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINALS
Saturday, 12th September
Moycarkey/Borris v Kiladangan at FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm
A really intriguing tie in what is a repeat of the same stage two years ago when Moycarkey/Borris caused a massive upset in dethroning then county champions Kiladangan.
In some ways, it is the draw Kiladangan would have wanted, a chance to atone for that defeat when they held a strong lead before switching off only to be stunned by a last gasp Max Hackett goal.
24-months on, the roles are reversed with Moycarkey/Borris coming in as the favourites, emerging with three wins from three in a group that contained Borris-Ileigh, Clonoulty/Rossmore and holders Loughmore/Castleiney. However, with the latter two teams having been eliminated, one wonders was it a group of death after all.
Still, Moycarkey have done everything asked of them under first-year manager Denis Kelly who will hope his experience county championship winning teams with Toomevara will help edge closer to return of the glory days back to Moycarkey/Borris, 42 years after their last title.
Kiladangan will feel they should have won their group, and while they lost late to Cashel, they were the better team for long spells and the way they ground out the win over Drom & Inch last time out shows the value of the experience they have right throughout the team. They have gone back to what they know best in terms of selection with Billy Seymour back to his best form in attack and that experience and hurt from two years ago might be decisive. Verdict: Kiladangan
Thurles Sarsfields v Borris-Ileigh at FBD Semple Stadium @ 3.45pm
Penny for the thoughts of Conor Stakelum this week, the Borris-Ileigh All-Ireland winner with club and county, will have four sons Conor, Cian, Aidan & Darragh, looking to take down his home club in the royal blue colours of Thurles Sarsfields.
It’s one of the many backdrops to another interesting quarter final with both teams littered with talent right around the field.
North champions Borris-Ileigh will hope the three weeks since their last outing in the loss to Moycarkey/Borris will have allowed them to get key players closer to full fitness, including Tom Delaney in the half-back line, while Ray McCormack made a welcome return from a length injury layoff as a sub. With everyone fit, they have strong a panel as anyone left and there is a real steel to them this year, with young Jack Bevans a real addition in the middle of the field, while James Devaney is back to his best.
Thurles Sarsfields have really found their groove through the county championship, including a dominant win over Holycross/Ballycahill who has really infused belief and confidence into a new-look team that needed evolving this year in what is Padraic Maher’s fourth year in charge. His brother Ronan is nearing a return from a broken ankle but this game might come too soon. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields
Sunday, 13th September
Cashel King Cormacs v Nenagh Eire Og at FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm
The availability of Jake Morris is likely to the major talking point in advance of this game.
The Nenagh captain has been dealing with an Achilles problem but appeared to pick up a new injury to the right ankle in the win over Clonoulty/Rossmore last Sunday which forced him off early in the second half. Even with a ligament strain, a week might be too soon but expect him to do everything possible to give him a chance of playing some part.
That Nenagh came from behind without their talisman should be a huge boon to them and that belief will be important against a Cashel King Cormacs side that now have to deal with the expectation of favourites.
Nenagh’s last two victories have been built on a stout defence and they will be sorely tested here by a Cashel side that play such an elusive style, players can pop up anywhere and they have amassed 0-32, 3-23, and 1-30 in their three county championship games to date.
Eire Og can’t allow a game like that to develop and they will look to learn from last years contest against Cashel in Borrisoleigh when they fell to defeat and put a plan in place to counteract what the West men want to do in team that is littered with talent. Verdict: Cashel King Cormacs
JK Brackens v Holycross/Ballycahill at FBD Semple Stadium @ 3.45pm
A week after ending a losing run against Loughmore/Castleiney, Holycross/Ballycahill will have to end another one if they are to remain on course for county honours.
JK Brackens have had their number in their last two Mid championship encounters in 2024 and 2025, plus the Templemore/Clonmore lads have fond memories of their last clash in Semple Stadium in the 2019 Seamus O Riain Cup final when Lyndon Fairbrother scored a last-gasp goal for a free to win the title for JK Brackens.
Both teams have come along way since and have settled comfortably into senior level, however, both will feel they haven’t contended enough for overall honours, Brackens failing to progress beyond the quarter final in their history, while Holycross got to the semi-final stage for the first time in over three decades last year. One will still have their teams intact come Sunday evening.
The potential loss of full back and captain Cathal Barrett at full-back would be a big blow for Holycross. It may mean Bryan O’Mara having to move back to the edge of the square but such was his performance at centre back against Loughmore, manager Brendan Ryan would be reticent about too many switches, unless 2025 All-Ireland Under 20 winning centre back Jim Ryan is able to play for longer after brief stints in recent games.
The Ormond brothers, Jamie & Andrew, have been in great form for Brackens who will hope to have Lyndon Fairbrother back in tow for a team still built around the stability of Paddy Cadell at centre back and if Bryan O’Mara plays the same role at the other end, whoever has the more effective game is likely to decide the outcome. Verdict: JK Brackens
RELEGATION SEMI-FINALS
Sunday, 13th September
Roscrea v Upperchurch/Drombane at The Ragg @ 1.30pm
The intriguing back-drop to this game is Roscrea native Liam Dunphy, who is manager of their juniors, guided Upperchurch/Drombane to county, Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate glory earlier this year. His insight will likely be sought by senior manager Paudie Bourke for a Roscrea side that have hurled well without getting the results. Upperchurch are in the same vein and you know they will battle to the end to stay senior. Verdict: Roscrea
CJ Kickhams Mullinahone v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Boherlahan @ 3.30pm
A repeat of the relegation semi-final from last year in which Clonoulty/Rossmore pulled away to win by nine-points. Similarly, it came a week after a disappointing preliminary quarter final defeat but last Sunday’s exit to Nenagh was concerning in how they offered such little threat as the match went on. Mullinahone are unlucky to be in this predicament and coming in fresh might sense an opportunity. Verdict: Clonoulty/Rossmore