The Heat is On

The stakes rise to another level this weekend with a raft of knockout hurling and camogie championship games around the county.

By Shane Brophy

The senior hurling championship semi-finals will take the limelight with the last four teams an whose-who of clubs familiar with being at this stage of the championship.

The first semi-final this Saturday has a fresh look to it with Toomevara, chasing a first final appearance and title in sixteen years up against a Moycarkey/Borris, who haven’t been in at this stage since 1984 when they went onto win their last title.

This semi-final will be preceded by the first premier intermediate hurling semi-final between Cashel King Cormacs and Upperchurch/Drombane, and it will be the same format the following afternoon, when the second premier intermediate hurling semi-final between Carrick Swan and Gortnahoe/Glengoole preceding the second senior semi-final between Mid rivals Loughmore/Castleiney and Thurles Sarsfields.

Maintaining their status will be the name of the games in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday as both senior and premier intermediate hurling relegation finals will be played with neighbours Newport and Sean Treacys meeting in the premier intermediate decider, followed by the senior final between Lorrha and Templederry Kenyons.

Sunday will see both the intermediate hurling championship semi-finals played with North champions Moneygall up against Cappawhite at The Ragg while Golden Kilfeacle and Ballingarry meet in Cashel while the Junior ‘A’ hurling semi-finals see North champions Kiladangan up against St Patrick’s in Templetuohy with Holycross/Ballycahill up against Moyle Rovers in Cashel.

The Junior ‘B’ hurling quarter finals will also be played this Saturday along with Kilruane MacDonagh’s under 19 ‘B’ hurling final against Arravale Rovers.

The county minor hurling finals are also down for decision on Saturday with a mouth-watering ‘A’ final between Mid rivals Durlas Og and Holycross/Ballycahill, teams littered with players on the All-Ireland winning Tipperary team, while Roscrea face off against Golden Kilfeacle in the ‘B’ decider.

It has the potential to be a big Saturday for Moycarkey/Borris whose intermediate camogie team are in a county semi-final earlier in the afternoon against Boherlahan-Dualla at the Ragg along with the second semi-final between Cahir and Moneygall, while Saturday evening also sees the four quarter finals in the senior camogie championship with holders Drom & Inch up against Shannon Rovers, a West derby between Clonoulty/Rossmore and Eire Og Annacarty, Thurles Sarsfields v Knockavilla Kickhams and the tie of the round between Burgess/Duharra and Cashel King Cormacs.

So, all in all, plenty of wet the appetite for most communities around the county to get excited about.