Sars and Clonoulty favoured to set up three-peat
CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Semi-Finals and Relegation Final Preview
By Joe Scully
We are down to the final four of the Tipperary Senior Camogie Championship with both semi-finals down for decision on Saturday afternoon at the Camogie Grounds, The Ragg.
Thurles Sarsfields v Drom & Inch @ 12.00pm
The first semi-final sees defending champions Thurles Sarsfields face off against the former five-in-a-row champions Drom & Inch looking to make it back to the final for the first time since they clinched the fifth of five championships in 2023.
It promises to be a game of the highest quality with very little separating either team. Thurles are looking to make their third final in-a-row having lost in 2024, while making up for that last year by winning their first ever senior championship.
On the other and, Drom & Inch are looking to avoid an unwanted hat-trick of semi-final defeats having fallen to Clonoulty/Rossmore in each of the past two years.
Both sides come into the semi-final with one defeat each in the championship with Thurles suffering their loss against Cashel in their final game albeit they still finished top of Group 1 and qualified straight for the semi-final.
Drom suffered their loss at the hands of Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill in their third game but bounced back from that defeat to beat Clonoulty/Rossmore in final round to secure a quarter final place, where they overcame a game Moycarkey/Borris side by ten points to set up Saturday’s showdown.
Both sides have plenty of quality throughout their respective squads with he likes of Emer Kennedy, Emma Carey Andrea Loughnane, Laura Loughane Lucy Purcell and Caoimhe Stakelum key players for champions Sarsfields.
But the player who could make the biggest difference, if she is available, is Tipperary star Karen Kennedy who has missed the last few games and certainly they are not the same without her, not only due to her scoring threat, but her workrate off the ball is a key element of the champions gameplan.
For Drom, they have been boosted massively by the return of star forward Eimear McGrath who missed last year’s championship through injury and having her scoring prowess from both play and frees along with her ability to bring others into play.
And with the likes of Niamh Treacy, Christina Brennan, Mary Bourke, Miriam Camion and Mairead Eviston among their ranks, a first final since 23 could well be on the cards.
The game is a very hard one to call and don’t be surprised if extra time is required to separate the two sides, but if I was to call a winner, I would give the edge to Thurles but only just.
One thing that is guaranteed is a hell of a battle between two of the top sides in Tipperary the last few years and there could well be fireworks flying from the very off.
Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields
Clonoulty/Rossmore v Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill @ 2.30pm
Clonoulty/Rossmore are looking to make the final for the eighth year in-a-row, a remarkable achievement in itself but having only won one of those finals that will be a record they will be looking to improve on.
Their only success came two years ago when they overcame Thurles in the final, but they would lose last year’s decider to the same opposition.
Meanwhile for Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, they are looking to make a first ever final, and have been a coming team in recent years, having been very unlucky not to make the semi-final in last year’s championship.
However, they will know just how big a test they face on Saturday against a very strong Clonoulty/Rossmore outfit who came out on top when the sides met in the group stage, winning by four points in a tight game.
With the likes of Eimear Loughman, Casey Hennessy, Kellie Quirke, Sarah Fryday, Cait Devane and with the return this year of Clodagh Quirke having missed last year’s championship, Clonoulty will start as favourites, especially with the experience they have of playing in big games.
However, West rivals Eire Og have been motoring along nicely so far and will fancy their chances hugely and will be looking to Tipperary player Jean Kelly to lead them, and she will have ample support from her county teammates Danielle Butler and Danielle Ryan as well as from the likes of Caoimhe Brady, Ciannait Walsh, Gemma Fox and Lucy Heffernan.
Having qualified straight for the semi-final having topped the group, Clonoulty have had an extra week’s rest than Annacarty who had to come through a tough battle against Cashel King Cormacs in the quarter-final, winning by three points.
What well could be a key factor is how Eire Og react to the pressure of looking to reach a first ever final, albeit they do have recent experience in playing in semi-finals with their most recent appearance been in 2022 when losing to Drom & Inch by three points.
They have been knocking on the door and this year will be keen to go all the way, but they are coming up against a Clonoulty/Rossmore outfit who don’t tend to lose semi-finals and will be very determined to regain the O’Dowd Cup they finally won in 2024 after years of heartache.
One thing for Eire Og to hold onto is the fact the last two champions have both been first time winners and if that trend continues, it will be them lifting the trophy at the end of the month. However, it is hard to go against Clonoulty/Rossmore for this one and a ninth final in-a-row beckons for the West outfit. Verdict: Clonoulty/Rossmore
Senior Relegation Final
Burgess/Duharra v Moneygall in Nenagh on Saturday at 1.00pm
Saturday sees the last chance for both Moneygall and Burgess/Duharra to save themselves from relegation to the Intermediate ranks.
2024 Intermediate champions Moneygall are probably still trying to figure out just how they have gotten themselves into this position following a superb start to the championship when they won their opening two fixtures, including a twelve point win over Burgess/Duharra, and then were unlucky to lose to Thurles Sarsfields before it all fell apart in their final game against Moycarkey/Borris where they lost by twenty points, a result that would knock them out when other results in the final round of fixtures went against them.
Then in the relegation semi-final, a second half collapse led to a one-point defeat to winless Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams has them now facing one final battle to save their senior status.
For eight-time winners Burgess/Duharra, it has been a very disappointing year having lost all their group games but have shown better from in their final two games but ended up losing rather tamely to Silvermines in the relegation semi-final.
They haven’t been helped by the loss of Caoimhe Maher with an ACL injury picked up on Tipp duty. And of course, the club was plunged into deep mourning earlier in the year with the tragic passing of Laura Kennedy, which is bound to have had a huge effect on all involved with the club.
Moneygall will start as favourites with the form Mairead Teehan has been in so far this year so Burgess will have to come up with a plan to try and stop the Offaly star who scored a hat-trick the last time the teams met.
Mary Ryan has also been rolling back the years with some superb performances for the red & black, and with the likes of Bronagh Kenneally, Edwina King and Caithlyn Treacy adding support but have probably been a bit too reliant on Teehan at times.
For what is a very young Burgess/Duharra side, they know they have a big task on their hands if they are to retain their senior status, and will need big performances from the likes of Malwina Dziewiatkia, Katie Grace, Tara Kennedy, Amy Kennedy, Danielle Nealon, Kaitlin Halloran and Jenny Grace if they are to emerge victorious, but if they can reach the level of performance they did in their last group game against Moycarkey/Borris they will have a great chance.
Moneygall haven’t been helped by injuries with Offaly star Ciara Maher a long-term absentee and Mary Teehan who has been a key component in their defence and who missed the relegation semi-final.
While Moneygall won the group fixture between the two sides rather comfortably, and Burgess yet to win a game, the former will be favourites, but except a lot closer game this time, with Moneygall’s confidence having taken a massive hit in their last two games but saying that they should just have enough to remain a senior outfit for 2027.
Verdict: Moneygall