Can Dan be wrested away from Borris-Ileigh?
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling – Dan Breen Cup Preview
By Shane Brophy
So, after a three-month delay, we finally get to the starting blocks of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship and what a competition we have in store.
With the divisional link removed this year, it means a Seamus O Riain level team will not be able to compete for the Dan Breen Cup with the winner to come from the sixteen clubs below in what is set to be another wide open championship.
When Thurles Sarsfields completed a four-in-a-row in 2017, one feared for the competitiveness of the championship but since then a combination of Sarsfields falling back into the pack and the rest of the clubs lifting their standards has led to a much more open championship over the last two years, resulting in Dan Breen spending the last two winters in Clonoulty/Rossmore and Borris-Ileigh.
Picking a winner at this stage is a fool’s errand. Thurles Sarsfields are favourites with the bookmakers but you wouldn’t be confident on putting money on any club at the moment as there is no form to go on with only one round of league games played before the sporting shutdown came in mid-March.
With the divisional link removed this year, it means a Seamus O Riain level team will not be able to compete for the Dan Breen Cup with the winner to come from the sixteen clubs below in what is set to be another wide open championship.
When Thurles Sarsfields completed a four-in-a-row in 2017, one feared for the competitiveness of the championship but since then a combination of Sarsfields falling back into the pack and the rest of the clubs lifting their standards has led to a much more open championship over the last two years, resulting in Dan Breen spending the last two winters in Clonoulty/Rossmore and Borris-Ileigh.
Picking a winner at this stage is a fool’s errand. Thurles Sarsfields are favourites with the bookmakers but you wouldn’t be confident on putting money on any club at the moment as there is no form to go on with only one round of league games played before the sporting shutdown came in mid-March.
Group 1
Drom & Inch v Roscrea in Templemore on Saturday at 2.00pm
This game gets the competition underway on Saturday and with the sides having drawn in their clash last year another close encounter is expected. Roscrea were seconds away from a notable scalp, but a last gasp Tommy Nolan goal earned Drom a draw. So, in that respect, Roscrea will be driven to complete the job this time round and are boosted by the return of Alan Tynan having left Munster Rugby at the end of last season. His ability and physical presence will be a huge boost to their attack where Shane Fletcher and Luke Cashin were impressive last year for Liam Dunphy’s charges with Clare great Colin Lynch coaching for the second year in a row.
Drom & Inch have gone local this year with James Woodlock taking over as manager while Damien Young is coach of the team. It may signal a change in the team who have faltered over the last couple of years in the knockout stages but the infusion of youth from last years county minor championship winning team will freshen them up, and with Seamus Callanan at the edge of the square, they have one of the best forwards in the country. Verdict: Draw
Kiladangan v JK Brackens in Semple Stadium on Saturday at 7.30pm
Kiladangan return to the scene of their only major disappointment last year in the county final against Borris-Ileigh. Brian Lawlor remains at the helm, but Limerick man John Mescal has joined the coaching ticket alongside Sean Treacy who is also with the Clare hurlers this year. Kiladangan have a very strong pick with a Senior ‘B’ team to choose from this year and while last year they tried to win both the senior and intermediate and managed their resources accordingly, they are likely to go full force at senior ‘A’ this year and would mean Bryan McLoughney featuring more for the first team and would add greatly to their attack. David Sweeney is their only current injury worry.
JK Brackens join the top tier as O Riain Cup champions and despite a fine season last year in both codes, they have still freshened up their management with former Tipp stalwart Eamon Corcoran taking over as manager with Andrew Kavanagh as coach. They are a team with huge scope to kick on such is their youthful base, led by captain Paddy Cadell while they also have Andrew Ormond and Lyndon Fairbrother to fire the attack. Retaining their tier 1 status for 2021 would be a good season for them. Verdict: Kiladangan
Drom & Inch v Roscrea in Templemore on Saturday at 2.00pm
This game gets the competition underway on Saturday and with the sides having drawn in their clash last year another close encounter is expected. Roscrea were seconds away from a notable scalp, but a last gasp Tommy Nolan goal earned Drom a draw. So, in that respect, Roscrea will be driven to complete the job this time round and are boosted by the return of Alan Tynan having left Munster Rugby at the end of last season. His ability and physical presence will be a huge boost to their attack where Shane Fletcher and Luke Cashin were impressive last year for Liam Dunphy’s charges with Clare great Colin Lynch coaching for the second year in a row.
Drom & Inch have gone local this year with James Woodlock taking over as manager while Damien Young is coach of the team. It may signal a change in the team who have faltered over the last couple of years in the knockout stages but the infusion of youth from last years county minor championship winning team will freshen them up, and with Seamus Callanan at the edge of the square, they have one of the best forwards in the country. Verdict: Draw
Kiladangan v JK Brackens in Semple Stadium on Saturday at 7.30pm
Kiladangan return to the scene of their only major disappointment last year in the county final against Borris-Ileigh. Brian Lawlor remains at the helm, but Limerick man John Mescal has joined the coaching ticket alongside Sean Treacy who is also with the Clare hurlers this year. Kiladangan have a very strong pick with a Senior ‘B’ team to choose from this year and while last year they tried to win both the senior and intermediate and managed their resources accordingly, they are likely to go full force at senior ‘A’ this year and would mean Bryan McLoughney featuring more for the first team and would add greatly to their attack. David Sweeney is their only current injury worry.
JK Brackens join the top tier as O Riain Cup champions and despite a fine season last year in both codes, they have still freshened up their management with former Tipp stalwart Eamon Corcoran taking over as manager with Andrew Kavanagh as coach. They are a team with huge scope to kick on such is their youthful base, led by captain Paddy Cadell while they also have Andrew Ormond and Lyndon Fairbrother to fire the attack. Retaining their tier 1 status for 2021 would be a good season for them. Verdict: Kiladangan
Group 2
Eire Og Annacarty v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Semple Stadium on Sunday at 3.00pm
Neither Eire Og Annacarty nor Clonoulty/Rossmore will need any more motivation to be ready than facing each other first up in this West Tipp rivalry.
Clonoulty have had the upper hand in recent years but Eire Og will have been eyeing this game up since the draw as being key to getting out of the group. Paddy Bourke remains in charge of Clonoulty with Limerick’s Paul Keane in as coach and with Conor Hammersley now back to full fitness, will be fully primed for another championship challenge. However, Timmy Hammersley's suspension from last years quarter final defeat will be a significant loss.
Annacarty are jointly managed by Dan Hogan and Vincent Ryan with Killenaule’s Tony Shelly in as coach this year of a side that didn’t do themselves justice in last years county quarter final loss to Nenagh but one wonders have we seen the best of this team, however, they are still capable of producing big performances. Verdict: Eire Og Annacarty
Nenagh Eire Og v Holycross/Ballycahill in Semple Stadium on Sunday at 7.00pm
With Shane O’Neill moving on to manage Galway, Nenagh have gone to one of their own to assume the coaching duty with Ritchie Flannery on board, having coached the Limerick minors to a Munster title last year. Noel Maloney and John Brennan remain at the helm of a Nenagh side that will feel they left a county semi-final against Kiladangan behind them last year. Their squad remains pretty much the same and will be there or thereabouts once again and should emerge from the group.
Holycross/Ballycahill will feel they are back where they belong in the top tier and managed by former Tipperary All Ireland intermediate manager Michael Ryan, won’t lack for preparation. They come into this group under little pressure but that is what makes them dangerous and have plenty of talent including Bryan O’Meara and Darragh Woods to make their mark. Verdict: Nenagh Eire Og
Eire Og Annacarty v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Semple Stadium on Sunday at 3.00pm
Neither Eire Og Annacarty nor Clonoulty/Rossmore will need any more motivation to be ready than facing each other first up in this West Tipp rivalry.
Clonoulty have had the upper hand in recent years but Eire Og will have been eyeing this game up since the draw as being key to getting out of the group. Paddy Bourke remains in charge of Clonoulty with Limerick’s Paul Keane in as coach and with Conor Hammersley now back to full fitness, will be fully primed for another championship challenge. However, Timmy Hammersley's suspension from last years quarter final defeat will be a significant loss.
Annacarty are jointly managed by Dan Hogan and Vincent Ryan with Killenaule’s Tony Shelly in as coach this year of a side that didn’t do themselves justice in last years county quarter final loss to Nenagh but one wonders have we seen the best of this team, however, they are still capable of producing big performances. Verdict: Eire Og Annacarty
Nenagh Eire Og v Holycross/Ballycahill in Semple Stadium on Sunday at 7.00pm
With Shane O’Neill moving on to manage Galway, Nenagh have gone to one of their own to assume the coaching duty with Ritchie Flannery on board, having coached the Limerick minors to a Munster title last year. Noel Maloney and John Brennan remain at the helm of a Nenagh side that will feel they left a county semi-final against Kiladangan behind them last year. Their squad remains pretty much the same and will be there or thereabouts once again and should emerge from the group.
Holycross/Ballycahill will feel they are back where they belong in the top tier and managed by former Tipperary All Ireland intermediate manager Michael Ryan, won’t lack for preparation. They come into this group under little pressure but that is what makes them dangerous and have plenty of talent including Bryan O’Meara and Darragh Woods to make their mark. Verdict: Nenagh Eire Og
Group 3
Kilruane MacDonaghs v Thurles Sarsfields in Holycross on Saturday at 3.00pm
The tie of the round between two sides who know each other very well at this stage. Thurles clipped Kilruane with a last gasp goal in the 2018 quarter final but Kilruane got their revenge in style in last year’s group game.
Thurles should be stronger this year with former four-in-a-row winning manager Tommy Maher back at the helm, along with the return of Michael Cahill and Stephen Maher from injury and will bolster a defence that conceded heavily last year. Their attack isn’t as potent as it used to be put if Pa Bourke and Aidan McCormack play to a high level, they will be hard to beat.
Kilruane kicked on last year but will still be sore having lost the county semi-final to Borris-Ileigh. Liam O’Shea and Noel Larkin remain at the helm, but their panel has been weakened by the loss of Justin Cahill, Brian O’Meara and Sean McAdams and those losses might be hard to overcome. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields
Moycarkey/Borris v Loughmore/Castleiney in Semple Stadium on Saturday at 3.00pm
Loughmore/Castleiney were the “what if” team of 2019 as they looked so good against Clonoulty/Rossmore in the knockout stage until they had Liam McGrath sent off and went onto make their exit. McGrath isn’t available this year as he is abroad so Loughmore’s attack is weakened and they haven’t been bringing the same level of player through from underage in recent years for manager Frankie McGrath and coach Eamonn Sweeney to work with, however, they’ll still be very good.
This is in comparison to Moycarkey/Borris who have been extremely strong and in their second year in the top tier will look to kick on under manager Dermot Maher but it is a tough group and if they can retain their status they would be happy. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney
Kilruane MacDonaghs v Thurles Sarsfields in Holycross on Saturday at 3.00pm
The tie of the round between two sides who know each other very well at this stage. Thurles clipped Kilruane with a last gasp goal in the 2018 quarter final but Kilruane got their revenge in style in last year’s group game.
Thurles should be stronger this year with former four-in-a-row winning manager Tommy Maher back at the helm, along with the return of Michael Cahill and Stephen Maher from injury and will bolster a defence that conceded heavily last year. Their attack isn’t as potent as it used to be put if Pa Bourke and Aidan McCormack play to a high level, they will be hard to beat.
Kilruane kicked on last year but will still be sore having lost the county semi-final to Borris-Ileigh. Liam O’Shea and Noel Larkin remain at the helm, but their panel has been weakened by the loss of Justin Cahill, Brian O’Meara and Sean McAdams and those losses might be hard to overcome. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields
Moycarkey/Borris v Loughmore/Castleiney in Semple Stadium on Saturday at 3.00pm
Loughmore/Castleiney were the “what if” team of 2019 as they looked so good against Clonoulty/Rossmore in the knockout stage until they had Liam McGrath sent off and went onto make their exit. McGrath isn’t available this year as he is abroad so Loughmore’s attack is weakened and they haven’t been bringing the same level of player through from underage in recent years for manager Frankie McGrath and coach Eamonn Sweeney to work with, however, they’ll still be very good.
This is in comparison to Moycarkey/Borris who have been extremely strong and in their second year in the top tier will look to kick on under manager Dermot Maher but it is a tough group and if they can retain their status they would be happy. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney
Group 4
Burgess v Upperchurch/Drombane in Dolla on Sunday at 1.00pm
Burgess and Upperchurch/Drombane will be familiar with each other having played in the group stages last year with the Mid Tipp side emerging as one-point winners. Another tight contest is expected but Upperchurch are weakened a little with James Barry not part of their squad this year but overall, their panel remains strong for manager John Ryan and coach Michael Ferncombe.
Laois man Arien Delaney is at the helm in Burgess this year and after narrowly missing out on reaching a North final and also the knockout stages last year, will feel this is a great chance for them if they can win their first game. The panel isn’t the strongest, but they do get the best out of themselves and have a strong spine from Shane Maher in defence to Bill O’Flaherty at full forward. Verdict: Draw
Toomevara v Borris-Ileigh in Nenagh on Sunday at 1.00pm
What a way for Borris-Ileigh to begin the defence of their county title against their great rivals Toomevara. As mentioned elsewhere, the enforced shutdown wouldn’t have done them any harm in terms of refreshing themselves after a long campaign through to January. Also, the restructured calendar has allowed Johnny Kelly to remain on as manager and that continuity, along with a more confident panel will make them hard to beat once more.
Eoin Brislane is at the helm of his native Toomevara as they look to build on last years quarter final appearance. Helping take the scoring pressure off Mark McCarthy will be necessary but the greyhounds still have a young panel that is becoming more experienced. They remain hard to beat and should be good enough to make the knockout stages once more. Verdict: Borris-Ileigh
Burgess v Upperchurch/Drombane in Dolla on Sunday at 1.00pm
Burgess and Upperchurch/Drombane will be familiar with each other having played in the group stages last year with the Mid Tipp side emerging as one-point winners. Another tight contest is expected but Upperchurch are weakened a little with James Barry not part of their squad this year but overall, their panel remains strong for manager John Ryan and coach Michael Ferncombe.
Laois man Arien Delaney is at the helm in Burgess this year and after narrowly missing out on reaching a North final and also the knockout stages last year, will feel this is a great chance for them if they can win their first game. The panel isn’t the strongest, but they do get the best out of themselves and have a strong spine from Shane Maher in defence to Bill O’Flaherty at full forward. Verdict: Draw
Toomevara v Borris-Ileigh in Nenagh on Sunday at 1.00pm
What a way for Borris-Ileigh to begin the defence of their county title against their great rivals Toomevara. As mentioned elsewhere, the enforced shutdown wouldn’t have done them any harm in terms of refreshing themselves after a long campaign through to January. Also, the restructured calendar has allowed Johnny Kelly to remain on as manager and that continuity, along with a more confident panel will make them hard to beat once more.
Eoin Brislane is at the helm of his native Toomevara as they look to build on last years quarter final appearance. Helping take the scoring pressure off Mark McCarthy will be necessary but the greyhounds still have a young panel that is becoming more experienced. They remain hard to beat and should be good enough to make the knockout stages once more. Verdict: Borris-Ileigh