Portroe stand in Moneygall’s way of back-to-back Intermediate titles

Holders Moneygall will take on Portroe in the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship final next Saturday evening.

GAA: Kelly’s of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Liam Hogan

MONEYGALL v PORTROE

Dolla

Saturday, 13th July

Throw-in @ 7.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)

A novel pairing when it comes to North Intermediate finals as you have to go back to 1949 when they last met in the decider when Moneygall won 4-2 to 1-1 in Nenagh. It was Moneygall’s second title after their earlier win in 1943. The winners had many familiar names on the side including the Bergin’s, Fanning’s, Liffey’s, Ryan’s, and Maher’s and were comfortable winners with the Seymour’s, O’Brien’s, Quinn’s, Malone’s and Shouldice’s helping Portroe salvage some pride with a late fightback. Seven decades on, many of the names remain the same.

Moneygall won a third North Intermediate title in 1962 from where they went senior and were in good company reaching two North finals as runners-up to Roscrea in 1967 and 1970 before winning their first and only title in 1975 with victory over Silvermines. It was a great era for the club culminating back to back County senior hurling titles in 1975 and 1976.

They reached another North final in 1979 but lost to Kilruane and after a brief visit to Intermediate grade in 1991 -when they won North and County titles - were back at senior level and reached the two North senior finals losing both to Toomevara in 2000 and again two years later.

Moneygall’s won their last County Intermediate final in 1991, a year after Portroe won theirs, and since then the teams met ten times at North senior championship level with Moneygall leading five to three. There were two draws. It was 2015 when the sides last with Portroe winning a first round clash 1-12 to 0-10 in Toomevara. They met later on in the year in the county championship when Port won 0-21 to 0-7 at Nenagh. Portroe’s journey continued until they exited the championship at quarter final stage when losing to Nenagh Eire Og.

Moneygall subsequently featured in the North senior championship the following year but were relegated and featured strongly at North and County intermediate level from 2017 onwards winning three divisional finals in 2019, 2021 and 2023, and runners-up in the 2022 County decider.

Semi-Finals

Moneygall reached this final with an excellent semi-final win over Shannon Rovers two weeks ago. Joe Fogarty was sublime with 2-11 (0-7 frees, 0-1’65) and Sean Kenneally notching 3-5 in perfect all-round team performance winning 8-25 to 2-10.

Willie Greene manages the team with Kiladangan’s Dan Hackett in as coach of a team that has plenty of talent with Brendan Toohey, Cathal Greene, and Conor Ryan strong in defence. Adam Hogan has been doing well in his new role as midfielder while upfront Sean Fogarty, Tadgh White, Mark Fanning and Bob Kenny provide good support for the stars of the show Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally.

After relegation from Premier Intermediate level at the end of 2023, Portroe are back in an intermediate final for the first time since 1990 when they defeated Newport in that year’s final before adding a County title. On Sunday, they hope to win their fifth intermediate title having claimed victories in 1950, 1981, 1983, & 1990.

Portroe reached this final on the back of a fourteen man 3-22 to 1-23 semi-final win over Borrisokane in Nenagh two weeks ago. Their deserved win brought an end to a disappointing twelve months. Two years ago, they were North Premier Intermediate champions but were relegated to the third tier last year.

Emigration and injuries weakened the side’s attempt to stay at Premier Intermediate level. In addition, Kevin O’Halloran suffered a leg break in the spring and preparation for their semi-final win they suffered more injuries to Michael Breen, Anthony Bourke, and goalkeeper Diarmuid Boyle. Boyle’s absence saw the return of Darren Gleeson to man the goal with the former Tipperary custodian giving an outstanding display.

Whether the trio can return fully fit is down to time, but Portroe really made most of their absentees as Jack O’Callaghan, Robert Byrne, Adrian O’Halloran, Conor O’Brien, Jack Moloney, Sam Madden, and Oisin O’Connor played very well with their experienced John Sheedy giving a man of the match performance.

Sheedy was on the successful team that won Port’s only North Senior final victory when they defeated Toomevara in a never to be forgotten day in the history of club. That 2012 win came three years after their previous north final appearance when they lost to Nenagh Eire Og.

Based on what we saw in the semi-finals it would seem that this is Moneygall’s game to lose. They have a young team with plenty good hurlers and lots of speed. Portroe are in transition and despite loads of evidence to suggest they won’t go down fighting but not have enough armoury to deny the holders back to back titles.

Verdict - Moneygall