North v Mid in senior hurling quarter finals

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Finals Preview

By Shane Brophy

Saturday, 14th September

Kiladangan v Moycarkey/Borris in FBD Semple Stadium @ 3.15pm

Holders Kiladangan get the quarter final action underway, and they will be strongly favoured to get the better of a Moycarkey/Borris side that will be playing in their first senior quarter final since 1991.

This game has a similar vibe for Kiladangan to last years quarter final where they came up against a Holycross/Ballycahill side who were similarly coming into a knockout stage game off a length absence and gave Kiladangan all they could handle before edging to victory.

That will serve as a timely warning for Kiladangan to be on their game against a Moycarkey side that arguably have a deeper panel and have players in the Shelly brothers, Rhys & Kyle, Max Hackett, Jack Fallon, Bill Flanagan, and Kieran Morris playing to a high level.

They will have to bring their best as Kiladangan are arguably playing to a higher and a more consistent level than they were last year on route to the county title. Sean Hayes’ foot injury that has ruled him out since the North semi-final win over Templederry in July remains a concern, but they are playing with great confidence with Alan & Paul Flynn playing to a high level, as well as Billy Seymour. Verdict: Kiladangan

Toomevara v JK Brackens in FBD Semple Stadium @ 5.00pm

Arguably the most even of the quarter final match-ups between two sides that are on the up.

Toomevara are looking to get back to the semi-finals for the second year in a row which would be another box ticked in terms of their development in building a level of year on year consistency under manager Ken Dunne.

Darragh McCarthy is playing to a high level, and it will be interesting to see who JK Brackens detail to pick him up, it could be Conor Cadell who is adept at man-marking.

JK Brackens have hit a skid in recent weeks with defeats in both hurling and football, but they could well have been a grounding as their wins over Templederry and Clonoulty/Rossmore showed how dangerous they can be at their best.

The wide open spaces of Semple Stadium should be to their liking with a set of lively forwards including Andrew & Jamie Ormonde and Shane Doyle, while Toomevara’s defence will have to be disciplined with Lyndon Fairbrother unerring.

Paddy Cadell is central to JK Brackens though, when he didn’t play against Kiladangan, they appeared rudderless so negating his influence will be key for Toomevara whose greater experience at this level might shade it in their direction. Verdict: Toomevara

Sunday, 15th September

Loughmore/Castleiney v Kilruane MacDonaghs in FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.15pm

A repeat of a 2021 quarter final where four first half goals, all from the stick of John McGrath, did for Kilruane and keeping tabs on him will be key to their chances of progressing as the champions of 2021 and 2022 collide.

Loughmore/Castleiney have been foot perfect in the hurling championship so far with six wins from six at both divisional and county level. They come into this game off a weekend off which should benefit them going into the knockout stage, plus with a tight squad, they have avoided injury so far.

Coming in off the loss to Toomevara, Kilruane will know they’ll need to get more from Jerome Cahill if they are to cause an upset. The same goes for Niall O’Meara but they’ll likely need big games from Kian O’Kelly, Thomas Cleary, and Cian Darcy to get over the line. They have the potential to but need to find a way of negating the influence of Noel McGrath, particularly when he drops deep into his half-back line. Verdict: Loughmore/Castleiney

Thurles Sarsfields v Nenagh Eire Og in FBD Semple Stadium @ 4.00pm

A repeat of a preliminary quarter final from twelve months ago which Thurles Sarsfields won by four points. However, Nenagh always played catch-up in that game.

This is match-up that hold no fears for Nenagh having beaten Thurles three times in the past twelve years, including a 2020 quarter final in Semple Stadium.

Nenagh continue to frustrate with their only two wins in the championship so far coming against Lorrha twice, suffering defeats to Toomevara, Holycross/Ballycahill and Loughmore/Castleiney.

The talent is there to win this game and the three week break will have given Jake Morris and Ben West a chance to recover further from hand injuries. Nenagh also have a deep panel, but they haven’t hit on the right balance yet in terms of their best starting fifteen, particularly whether to play Conor Hennessy and Adam Healy in defence or attack or vice versa. Defensively, the return of Conor McCarthy from injury in recent week is timely coming up against a lively Thurles Sarsfields attack where Paddy Creedon’s return from the States is timely but will likely start from the bench.

Thurles weren’t really tested in the group stage with comfortable wins over Mullinahone, Moycarkey/Borris and Roscrea, so this will be a major step up for Padraic Maher’s charges. Semple is always to their liking in what has the potential to be a high scoring shootout. Thurles are the safer bet, but Nenagh have the capability of winning. Verdict: Thurles Sarsfields

Senior Hurling Relegation Semi-Finals

By James Hayden

Saturday, 14th September

Borris-Ileigh v Lorrha in Nenagh @ 2.30pm

With just a quarter of an hour remaining in their final group game against Drom & Inch, Borris-Ileigh were top of their group and destined for the knock-out stages but results contrived to send the men in maroon into a relegation battle and they now must face a resurgent Lorrha side who seriously impressed in their final round victory over a fancied Holycross/Ballycahill side.

Lorrha appear to have slightly mis-timed their run in what is their first year back in the senior ranks, but all reports are good from the camp and they will desperately want to avoid a relegation final battle. There are no major injuries to report but they face a stiff challenge in the guise of a well-seasoned Borris-Ileigh side.

Borris’ have had a topsy-turvy season to say the least and bounced back from a poor North final campaign with an opening round win against Toomevara in the county championship. A narrow one-point loss to Kilruane MacDonaghs followed before Drom & Inch edged them out by two points in their final round encounter. Borris-Ileigh will definitely have it all to do to overcome a Lorrha side fully capable of escaping relegation and will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to prevail. Verdict: Borris-Ileigh

Roscrea v Templederry Kenyons in Nenagh @ 4.00pm

Templederry have been beset by injuries this year and it has proved a disappointing campaign for them to say the least. Three losses on the bounce including a loss to Clonoulty/Rossmore in their final group game haven’t been great for morale but the Kenyons are hopeful of having as many as bodies as they can back fit and healthy for this must win clash.

Roscrea have been no great shakes either this year but are fully capable of mustering the troops in a bid to stave off a relegation trapdoor battle. The question is can they get it together for what will undoubtedly be a dogged battle between two sides that will give their all.

Roscrea didn’t impress in their opening round clash with Moycarkey, despite netting four goals that day but a six-point loss to Mullinahone really knocked them out before succumbing to Thurles Sarsfields in their final dead-runner game. Roscrea will have to be extremely wary of Templederry’s attack and will have to keep the likes of Sean Ryan, Eanna Murray and Gearoid Ryan quiet if they are to prevail. Verdict: Templederry Kenyons