Drom & Inch will not field in Senior Football Championship

By Shane Brophy

Drom & Inch will not field a team in the 2024 Tipperary senior football championship.

At the February County Board meeting, former football board chairperson Conor O’Dwyer commented on a rumour that had been circulating of one senior team from Mid Tipperary were considering not fielding in the championship and that has come to pass with the confirmation that Drom & Inch informed the county board this week of their intention not to field.

County Vice-Chairperson and CCC Chairperson Michael Tierney admitted Drom’s decision is a “disaster” as structures for the championship have already been confirmed so only eleven clubs will take part and is likely to lead of one group only having three teams. Drom & Inch will be automatically relegated to intermediate but if they opt not to field there next year, it will have knock-on implications for that and other grades.

Drom & Inch do have a county senior football panellist in Emmet Moloney, and it is understood that he is set to transfer from the club, with Portlaoise his rumoured destination. Moloney was previously the focus of a proposed transfer to Clonmel Commercials in 2021 but opted to stay with his native club who won the intermediate football championship in 2021 and Tom Cusack Cup (Senior ‘B’) in 2023.

Drom & Inch’s decision not to compete in the top grade of senior football is a further flow for the development of football in the county after Borrisokane, Cashel King Cormacs and Clonoulty/Rossmore all opted not to field in the intermediate championship last year and were immediately relegated, with only Cashel confirming their intention to field in the new premier junior grade in 2024.