Dan Breen will have a new home as County Hurling Finals details are confirmed

By Shane Brophy

The Dan Breen Cup won’t be spending another winter in the North division as the last two winners Borris-Ileigh and Kiladangan fell at the semi-final hurdle of this years County Senior Hurling Championship last weekend.

Instead, it will be an all-Mid affair as Thurles Sarsfields and Loughmore/Castleiney will meet in the decider, as they did in 2014 when Sarsfields won the first of a four-in-a-row.

Such is the level of talent on its way in the Cathedral town with Sarsfields having won the U19 ‘A’ county title and Durlas Og the U13, 15 & 17 equivalents, they could be set for another period of dominance in the near further.

However, Loughmore/Castleiney will have something to say about that in the short-term when they square off with their great rivals in this year’s final which has been fixed for Sunday, 14th November at Semple Stadium, with a 3.15pm start for live television coverage on TG4.

If the game ends it a draw, it will go to a replay as the Tipperary champions are not due out in the Munster Club Championship until the semi-final stage on 11-12 December against the Clare or Waterford champions.

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started in March 2020, the County Board will host it’s first club double-header as the senior final will be preceded at 1.00pm by the Seamus O Riain Cup final between Templederry Kenyons and Killenaule. This will be Templederry’s first ever county final at senior level with their previous county successes coming at intermediate level in 2000 and 2008.

Templederry were the only North team to survive last weekend’s semi-finals with Moneygall and Nenagh Eire Og exiting the intermediate and junior ‘A’ championships. The intermediate final between Moyne-Templetuohy and Kilsheelan/Kilcash will be played in Littleton on Saturday, 13th November at 2.15pm while the junior ‘A’ final between Holycross/Ballycahill and Skeheenarinky will be on the same day in Golden at 12.30pm.

Saturday week will be a busy day on the club front with the O Riain Cup Relegation final between Burgess and Lorrha finally set to take place after two deferrals with the sides meeting in Nenagh at 1.30pm while Kiladangan’s junior ‘B’ team will play their county semi-final against JK Brackens in Moneygall at 2.00pm.

Also on Sunday, 14th November, Nenagh Eire Og will play Clonakenny in the County Junior ‘B’ Football semi-final in The Ragg at 11.30am while at the same time in Dolla, Ballina will play JK Brackens in the County Under 19 ‘A’ Football semi-final.

With the County Senior (Drom & Inch v Clonoulty/Rossmore) and Intermediate (Knockavilla Kickhams v Shannon Rovers) Camogie finals on as well, the weekend after next promises to be a bumper one on the club front with a lot of destinations of silverware set to be determined.