Loughmore and Commercials tipped in senior semi’s

By Michael Dundon

Holders Loughmore-Castleiney and bookies’ favourites Clonmel Commercials have dominated the football scene in Tipperary for the past decade and with the draw for this year’s semi-finals to be played this weekend keeping them apart, it looks as though they will again contest the decider this year.

Loughmore-Castleiney are due to meet divisional neighbours Upperchurch-Drombane, who are in the semi-final for the first time, while Clonmel Commercials will lock horns with their great south Tipp rivals Moyle Rovers.

Apart from the success of Moyle Rovers in 2018, Loughmore and Commercials have shared the title since 2012 and both go into the semi-finals expecting to triumph, but Upperchurch and Moyle Rovers will not make it easy for them with both capable of causing an upset.

Clonmel Commercials v Moyle Rovers in Golden on Sunday @ 1.30pm

The clash of Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers has all the ingredients for a classic.

Moyle Rovers have been frustrated in their rivals’ shadow and have a huge incentive to dislodge the neighbours with whom they share an intense rivalry.

Commercials have sailed through the competition unbeaten thus far and are the bookies fancy to lift the O’Dwyer Cup. They have a wealth of inter-county talent in their side and will be expecting that Jack & Conal Kennedy who missed their quarter-final rout of Arravale Rovers, will be back in action. Michael Quinlivan picked up an injury in that game but is expected to be fit.

With players of the calibre of goalkeeper Michael O’Reilly, Kevin Fahey, Sean O’Connor, Jason Lonergan, Seamus Kennedy, and Padraic Looram in their ranks they entertain ambitions of achievements at provincial level also but first they have to deal with the considerable challenge posed by a Moyle Rovers side which did not exactly set the scene on fire in their quarter-final win over Ardfinnan, but who have the ability to lift their game for the big occasion.

Rovers will be hoping that Diarmuid Foley who was injured in the Ardfinnan game will be fully recovered. Danny Owens and Cillian Crowe who made a big impact when introduced against Ardfinnan will be challenging strongly for a starting place. Stephen Quirke. Liam Boland, Shane Foley, and goalkeeper Ciaran Kenrick are all hugely experienced players who know what is required to succeed at this level. However, Commercials spear to hold all the aces and are tipped to reach the final yet again. Verdict: Clonmel Commercials

Loughmore/Castleiney v Upperchurch/Drombane in Golden on Sunday @ 3.15pm

Loughmore/Castleiney had a close call against Kilsheelan-Kilcash in their quarter-final and were hanging on at the finish before emerging two-point winners.

Willie Eviston picked up an injury in that game and retired, possibly as a precaution with last Sunday’s hurling quarter-final looming. Ciaran Connolly who returned to action for them after missing the summer games, is again injured, and is ruled out. John McGrath will not figure in the championship this year. John Meagher did not start against Kilsheelan but came on late in the game. However, he retired after only thirteen minutes of their hurling clash with Drom-Inch last Saturday and is most unlikely to figure this Sunday.

It is a clear indication of the man-management tight-rope Frankie McGrath and his backroom team in Loughmore walk when they are competitive in both codes.

They are facing up to an Upperchurch-Drombane team that for the past couple of years have been threatening a break-through in football. Though it is their first time getting to the semi-final, they were in the quarter-final last year, and gave Commercials enough to think about in the round-robin series, before losing.

In their quarter-final, they produced a performance full of energy and quality to upset a fancied JK Brackens team that was in the final three years ago. Their win over Brackens in the hurling quarter-final last Sunday will add to their confidence and their belief that they can take a Loughmore side that looks vulnerable at present.

Make no mistake about it, Upperchurch-Drombane are in the semi-final on merit, and they will not be in awe of their opponents with whom they have had some rousing battles in recent years though never actually beating them. The Church have quality players in Paul & Luke Shanahan, Loughlin Ryan, Gavin Ryan, Jack Butler, and the Grants, but they do not appear to have the same depth of talent as their opponents who are taken to shade the verdict. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney