Late June start earmarked for North Championships
Following Tipperary’s elimination from the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, the North Tipperary GAA Board have provided an update for clubs on schedules from senior to junior level.
The next four weekends will see the County Leagues coming to a conclusion with the hurling league semi-finals on 28-29 May with their football equivalent on the June Bank Holiday weekend, with the hurling finals on 11-12 June with the football finals the weekend after that, leading into the start of championship fare for the last weekend in June, unless Tipperary senior hurlers have to play Kerry in a senior hurling championship relegation playoff.
The Hibernian Inn North Senior Hurling Championship is scheduled to begin on the last weekend in June with MacDonagh Park in Nenagh hosting a quarter final double-header on Sunday 26th June with Toomevara taking on Borris-Ileigh at 3.00pm, followed by a repeat of last years final between holders Kiladangan and Kilruane MacDonaghs at 5.00pm.
Templederry Kenyons and Nenagh Eire Og await the winners in the semi-finals on Sunday 3rd July with the final to be played on 16-17 July, ahead of the start of the group stages of the county championship on 22-24 July.
In the new North Premier Intermediate Championship, the three quarter finals will be played on Saturday 25th June with MacDonagh Park in Cloughjordan hosting a double header with Kiladangan up against Silvermines at 5.00pm and Newport v Roscrea at 7.00pm, while at the same time in Toomevara, Portroe take on great rivals Ballina.
The three quarter final winners will join Burgess in the semi-finals to be played on Saturday 2nd July with the final two weeks after that. However, should the Tipperary footballers progress deep into the Tailteann Cup, it may well impact the start of this championship because of Steven O’Brien’s Ballina.
The North Intermediate Championship will get the championship fare underway on Friday 24th June when Borrisokane take on Ballinahinch in Puckane at 7.00pm. The winners will progress to the semi-finals the following Friday against Shannon Rovers, while holders Moneygall face Lorrha in the other semi-final.
The North Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship will commence on Friday 3rd June while the North Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship will commence on Saturday 18th June.
The North Junior ‘B’ Hurling League Final which was scheduled for that date is postponed and will be re-schedule a new date. In order for the Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship to come back on track with calendar dates, round 3 of the Championship will have to be played on Wednesday July 20th.