Wide open race for Devaney Cup

The four North Tipperary premier intermediate teams finally enter the championship arena this Saturday with two enticing semi-finals in Toomevara.

By Shane Brophy

With holders Lorrha having been promoted to senior and 2022 champions Portroe relegated in last years campaign, just four teams take to the starting line, and all have realistic ambitions of getting their hands on the Liam Devaney Cup for the first time.

BALLINA

The lakeside club have made great strides in recent years on the footballing side of things, rising from junior to senior in successive years. However, they haven’t made much of a mark in hurling since their 2013 County Intermediate success.

Last year, they were slow to get going with a North Championship loss to Newport and in the county to St Mary’s. They got a first win over Moyne-Templetuohy and arguably produced their best performance in the final group game loss to Cashel, which prevented them from making the knockout stages.

“The aim is to start fast this year,” says Ballina captain Michael Breen.

“This year we have fresh management team in as well, which is a breath of fresh air around the place,” with Adrian Hurley as manager and Nenagh native John Brennan as coach as they look to turn some of the recent underage success into adult progression.

“It’s grand doing well underage and get into these county finals in ‘A’ which is massive and brilliant, but it really needs to convert to senior level because that is the aim at the end of the day, that's flagship team of the club.”

BURGESS

Burgess can be classed as the nearly men of 2023, losing the North final to eventual county champions Lorrha, while they were knocked out of the county championship at the quarter final stage by finalists Thurles Sarsfields.

They aren’t that far away and retain consistency off the pitch with Brian Hogan and Natal O’Grady remaining as manager and coach respectively, and it is developing that consistenty on the pitch which Burgess captain Ronan Tucker feels his sides need this year to kick on.

“Just that little bit of inconsistency caught us last year,” he said of the side that welcomes the experienced Tony Dunne back from long term injury.

“We felt we were performing well but were just caught those two days and felt we lost our way a small bit when a bit of pressure came on us, but we're hoping to just get a bit of consistency into our play and keep our performance level high to right the wrongs of last year,” added the Burgess captain

Silverware is the name of the game and getting their hands on the Devaney Cup would be a good place start.

“One of the goals we set at the start year was to go and win the North Championship,” Tucker said.

“But we have a huge test starting out against Ballina so we're not looking past that at all, we want to get to a North final, but he have a massive test beforehand.”

NEWPORT

Newport have endured highs and lows over the last four seasons in the premier intermediate grade, from semi-finalists in 2020 to being one save from a 21-yard free away from being relegated last year.

“Newport are very much in a transitional period,” admitted captain Aidan Moloney.

“Over the last two years we have lost up to ten starting players, and we have lost some great stalwarts in the likes of Odran Floyd, Conor O’Mahony, and Sean O’Brien among others.

“We had added a lot of young players this year and they've added great energy to it, so we’d be confident they’ll make their mark on the championship.”

They never really got going in last years championship, coughing up leads in games against Clonakenny and particularly against Saturday’s opponents Silvermines.

“We were six points against Clonakenny going down the home straight and unfortunately, we didn’t get over the line. That kind of set the tone,” Moloney added.

“We never got going against Burgess and it was the same against the ‘Mines where we just couldn't get over the line again and a lot of sudden, you find yourself to a relegation battle so this year it is about taking it game by game and try to win the first game.”

SILVERMINES

Silvermines might not have had the campaign they wanted at premier intermediate level last year but the subsequent success of the under 19’s, 21, and Junior ‘C’s has created a buzz going into this campaign, admitted Conor McKelvey

“Everyone is loving it,” said the vice-captain.

“It’s a long time since everyone has come to the training ground with a smile on their face and the new management is just a breath of fresh air,” with club stalwart Declan Corcoran in as manager.

“There are a lot of lads that have gotten game time over the league as well as a few challenge games. That brings a new challenge for other boys have been on the panel and have been comfortable. It drives everything on. We haven’t hurled as good as we have in a long time.”

Overview

Burgess are the most stable of the four teams in the competition, but Ballina are a squad with massive potential for what is a local derby so there will be an edge do it. Both had good county leagues, but Ballina have everyone available and if they were to get through, it could start a very successful campaign for the dual club.

Newport and Silvermines is also a keen rivalry with the sides having met a lot in recent years with very little between the sides. Silvermines currently have the bragging rights and they will be favoured to retain them as they look a stronger team on paper against a Newport side now short on experience.

Burgess are deserving favourites, but a Ballina v Silvermines final looks a decent shout.