Burgess and Silvermines keen to get their hands on the Liam Devaney Cup

The premier intermediate grade may well be still in its infancy, but it is one that is arguably the competitive in the entire county.

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Shane Brophy

BURGESS v SILVERMINES

MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Sunday, 14th July

Throw-in @ 2.30pm (E.T.)

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Eire Og)

It doesn’t take much for a team to go from the top to the bottom or vice versa in a short space of time. Portroe were the first winners of the Liam Devaney Cup for the North Championship in 2022; they aren’t able to compete for it this year as they were relegated in 2023. In the same year, Lorrha, back at the grade as intermediate champions, didn’t hang around, their resurgence led to them to North & County titles and will dine at the top table this year.

The latter is the aim of both Burgess and Silvermines in Sunday’s North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling final for 2024. The straight knockout format means it takes just two games to win the championship, but it will still be no less cherished in either club if they were to get their hands on the silverware.

Burgess are back where they were this time last year, in a final where they were in a strong position at half time but were unable to close out the deal against Lorrha. Having subsequently exited the county championship to county finalists Thurles Sarsfields, Brian Hogan’s charges know they are right there in terms of the contenders to be playing senior hurling next year.

If anyone wanted a hint into their desire to go one step further, they got it in the semi-North final win over Ballina on Saturday. For long spells they were second best, but they hung in the fight and when they generated some momentum midway through the second half, they rediscovered what makes them such a hard team to beat.

They went back to basics, going more direct with the ball to their full forward line to Eoin Hogan, Jack O’Flaherty, and Tony Dunne, and it yielded the scores, not only from play, but also from frees where they have one of the best dead-ball strikers in Stephen Murray.

Defensively they remain a solid outfit with Johnny Mulqueen and Daire Hogan playing to a high level, as does Danny Ryan at midfield.

Their opponents Silvermines are familiar foes; the sides meeting on two occasions in last years championship with Burgess emerging winners in both contests.

However, there is a feeling that Silvermines are coming into this campaign in much better fettle than twelve months ago, not just because they defeated Newport in the semi-final.

They have momentum off the back of North Under 19 & 21 ‘B’ titles last year, the latter turned into a county championship. There is a youthful vim to the team where Oisin Murphy, Cathal Treacy and Conor McKelvey are taking the scoring pressure of Jason Forde, who is arguably the best player in the grade, and on this day can win a game on his own.

However, they have a structure with county senior panellist Michael Corcoran the engine in the middle of the defence while Ronan Sherlock provides the experience at full back.

It promises to be a very competitive encounter between these two neighbours separated by the M/N7 but Burgess’ greater consistency in recent years might just be decisive.

Verdict: Burgess