Final spots and survival at stake in Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Finals and Relegation Final Preview
By Shane Brophy
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL
KILLENAULE v EIRE OG ANNACARTY/DONOHILL at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday, 26th September at 2.00pm
Two traditional hurling strongholds go head-to-head in the first of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling semi-finals on Saturday.
At the start of every year, Killenaule are always one of the teams that are immediately touted but in recent years they have flattered to deceive, coming closest to returning to senior level in 2021 but were soundly defeated in the final by Templederry Kenyons.
However, club-man and former Tipp hurler Joe Caesar and Nenagh based coach Timmy Dalton have really gotten a consistent tune out of Killenaule this year in both hurling and football. While they failed to reach a South final, the haven’t missed a beat since, coming through the toughest group with wins over south rivals St Mary’s and Carrick Swan as well as Thurles Sarsfields. In the quarter final, they showed great composure to edge out neighbours Boherlahan-Dualla with a last gasp point from Podge O’Dwyer.
Young Tony Ryan has been a huge addition, taking over the free-taking role which had been an issue while Tom & Mark Stakelum have been to the fore in attack. Back the field, captain and former Tipperary under 20 All-Ireland winner Killian O’Dwyer plus Jimmy Feehan and veteran Joe O’Dwyer provide the leadership.
The manner of their celebrations following their quarter final win over Lorrha shows just what the victory meant for Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill. Always a club that gives their all, their refusal to give in despite regular set-backs was noteworthy and will stand to a team when the pressure comes on in what they will hope will be at least two more games to come.
They are battle-hardened after coming through a three match run to win the West title, defeating Golden Kilfeacle in the final, after extra time. In the group stage of the county championship, they started off with a defeat to Boherlahan-Dualla before being held to a draw by Ballina. A loss to Golden Kilfeacle saw Eire Og finish level on points with Ballina but with a superior score difference which saw them finish in third place and require a preliminary quarter final.
It is since then Eire Og have found a higher gear with wins over Moneygall and Lorrha and now find themselves in a semi-final full of momentum with a team mixed with the experience of Tom, Brian & Kevin Fox, although full-back David Fox is a major doubt with a hamstring injury.
Captain Dinny Crosse and Paudie Bradshaw have impressed while Darragh Kelly always has the potential to be a match-winner. Killenaule will need to watch their discipline as Aidan Griffin is an excellent free-taker. Verdict: Killenaule
ST MARY'S v THURLES SARSFIELDS at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday, 27th September at 2.00pm
St Mary’s and Thurles Sarsfields meet again for the second time in five weeks following their group stage clash in Golden last month which the South men edged 2-21 to 1-19.
The game was a shoot-out for second place in the group behind Killenaule, although both teams had the safety net of a preliminary quarter final as South and Mid champions respectively with Sarsfields forced down that route which they have negotiated with wins over Sean Treacys and Golden Kilfeacle.
In the group encounter, it was a deserved win for the Clonmel side, who had an outstanding performance from Peter McGarry, the Tipperary All-Ireland winner from 2025 scoring two goals and he followed that up with two more in their easy quarter final win over Moyne-Templetuohy.
St Mary’s are a club on the march, into a County Minor ‘A’ final while their second minor team are already county champion. Seamus Kennedy is the spiritual leader of a talented team where Tadhg Condon, Harry Lawlor and Deely brothers, Cathal & Conor, and the aforementioned McGarry have been to the fore.
However, Sarsfields are a club also riding high with their seniors in a semi-final with Jack Lanigan’s free-taking a key aspect of their progression to date with Tommy Doyle, Cillian Minogue complementing the experience provide by the likes of Seosamh Ryan, captain Michael Cahill and the evergreen Pa Bourke. Verdict: St Mary’s
Premier Intermediate Hurling Relegation Final
CARRICK SWAN v TEMPLEDERRY KENYONS in Boherlahan on Saturday, 26th September at 4.15pm
Survival is at stake on Saturday as Templederry Kenyons and Carrick Swan go head to head in the relegation final.
It is not a place either side would have contemplated being in two years ago when Templederry were at senior level while Carrick Swan were edged out by Cashel in the premier intermediate final.
Templederry were subsequently relegated and were immediately in another relegation battle last year but escaped at the semi-final stage but were unsuccessful this time round when falling to Ballina.
Carrick Swan are the surprising story considering they were county finalists in the last two years but it shows the fine margins between all teams in this grade that if you slip in terms of performance, even a small bit, it is hard to win games.
After a two year period of winning the majority of their games, the Swan have forgotten how to win judging by the relatively narrow margins of their losses this year. Their scoring rate has fallen as well, despite having the likes of Callum Lanigan and Stefan Tobin in their ranks, although they will be facing a Templederry side that concede a lot, but they also score heavily with Sean Ryan once again in outstanding form.
In reality, the outcome will be about who holds their nerve when the pressure comes on. Verdict: Templederry Kenyons