Lorrha and Templederry battle for Senior Hurling survival
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Relegation Final Preview
By James Hayden
Lorrha v Templederry Kenyons
MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
Sunday, 29th September
Throw-in @ 3.15pm
Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetuohy)
Having put back-to-back promotions together in successive years, Lorrha will be hoping to prolong their sojourn at the pinnacle of hurling in the Premier County following promotion from the Premier Intermediate ranks last year.
Ken Hogan’s charges pushed Borris-Ileigh all the way in the relegation semi-final and will be planning for a better opening half on this occasion against a Templederry side that have really struggled in the top tier this year.
Lorrha will again be dependent on the free-taking abilities of Colm Fogarty while captain and centre-back Michael Dolan will have to ensure his side are firing on all cylinders for this ‘do or die’ encounter.
The versatile Eoin and Niall McIntyre will provide a threat to a Templederry defence that have been decidedly porous all year while the influence of Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher will have to be nullified if the Kenyons are to keep a dangerous Lorrha attack quiet.
Lorrha will be hoping for a repeat performance of their third-round victory over Holycross-Ballycahill and without a doubt possess the necessary wherewithal to overcome a Templederry side that have struggled with injuries throughout the year.
Brian Stapleton and Adrian Ryan appear to be both unavailable for this clash while the vastly experienced Gearóid Ryan has nursed a hamstring injury for the past number of weeks. Liam McCutcheon is also an injury worry for the Kenyons in advance of Sunday’s final having come off early in their semi-final defeat to Roscrea.
John Kennedy and Michael O’Leary have done their utmost to navigate some very choppy waters for the Kenyons this year but one, or maybe both, may be forced to step behind the wire on Sunday after a red card was brandished in their direction by referee, Joe Leahy in their semi-final loss to Roscrea.
A depleted Templederry coughed up a whopping 5-22 score in their semi-final loss to Roscrea, but the big question is there one last big effort in the Kenyons as they bid to stave off the drop to the Premier Intermediate ranks.
It would be pure folly to write them off though as captain Christy Coughlan and his colleagues are fully capable of pulling off a victory when the chips are down. A lot will depend on whether Lorrha can keep Seán Ryan quiet while they will also have to curb the influence of Padraig O’Leary, Eanna Murray, Colm Murray, Pio Kennedy, and Tom Stapleton.
Whatever transpires it will be a North club dropping out of Dan Breen this year and no doubt both sides will give everything they have in a bid to survive the dreaded drop.
Verdict: Lorrha.