Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Finals Preview

By Shane Brophy

Since the redesignation of the Seamus O Riain Cup as the Premier Intermediate Championship, it is arguable the most competitive hurling grade in the county with fine margins between the majority of the teams and has led to two very competitive semi-finals this weekend which are very hard to call.

Saturday, 28th September

Cashel King Cormacs v Upperchurch/Drombane at FBD Semple Stadium @ 3.00pm

The pre-championship favourites versus the momentum team, that is what we have in this first semi-final between Upperchurch/Drombane and Cashel King Cormacs.

After their surprise relegation from senior last year, Upperchurch/Drombane were most peoples favourites for an immediate return, and they are still on track to do so. However, they will be the first to admit they haven’t hit the heights in terms of performance as they would have hoped so far.

Between the Mid and county championships so far, Liam Dunphy’s charges have six wins out of seven, their only loss coming in round 1 of the county group stage to Carrick Swam, but that loss isn’t a bad one considering the South Tipp side are still in the race for the title.

They have the ability to get goals, seven in the last two games, three of which came in the quarter final win over a high-flying Eire Og Annacarty which they had to dig out, so their character and fitness is where it needs to be.

They’ll need to be at their best against a Cashel King Cormacs side that are coming with serious momentum. Finishing third in their group following a defeat to Gortnahoe/Glengoole and draw with Eire Og Annacarty, they had to rely on their West title wildcard to stay in the championship and boy have they made it count.

The preliminary quarter win over neighbours Boherlahan-Dulla was a grind but the manner of it was huge in terms of coming out the right side of the battle, and they took the confidence and momentum from that into thrashing a very good Thurles Sarsfields side in the quarter final.

They are a team littered with players that have worn the Tipperary jerseys at all levels but that brings with it an expectation level which at times has burdened them, but under manager TJ Connolly, they appear mentally tough, and considering they fell at the semi-final stage twelve months ago, it would be a disappointment if they didn’t at least go a step further. Verdict: Cashel King Cormacs

Sunday, 29th September

Carrick Swan v Gortnahoe/Glengoole at FBD Semple Stadium @ 2.15pm

The carrot it huge for Carrick Swan and Gortnahoe/Glengoole in the second of the premier intermediate hurling championship semi-finals on Sunday.

Carrick Swan have finally managed to bring their South championship form outside the division and head into the semi-finals with massive belief and momentum.

They are the reigning south senior champions having seen off Mullinahone and Killenaule. However, they couldn’t use that as the preliminary quarter final wildcard if their group campaign didn’t work out but the opening round win over Upperchurch/Drombane showed this Swans team is for real and they have continued that through with wins over Ballina and Burgess, their only loss coming against Silvermines when resting some key players when already qualified for the knockout stage. In Calum Lanigan, they have one of the players of the grade while Gavin O’Halloran is ultra consistent.

Gortnahoe/Glengoole were defeated finalists to Roscrea in 2022 and appear back to the form of that year. They slipped back last year, exiting at the quarter final stage to Cashel but in that campaign, they were without Ronan Teehan who took a year out travelling and his return has coincided with a greater consistency in the Mid Tipp side.

Their quarter final win over St Mary’s was hugely impressive, with the return to form of Damien Corbett in that game with two goals a huge boon to a very strong forward line that also contains Keane Hayes. Brian Maher and Conor Gleeson have also been to the fore in the half-back line.

Gortnahoe/Glengoole have more recent experience of playing in Semple Stadium while it is the first time in over a decade since the Swan played there and that might be important in determining the outcome of a tight game on paper.

Verdict: Gortnahoe/Glengoole

Sunday, 29th September

Relegation Final

Newport v Sean Treacys at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh @ 1.30pm

Being in the hunt to compete for the Seamus O Riain Cup in 2025 is on the line on Sunday as neighbours Newport and Sean Treacys come face to face in one of the most important games between these rivals in some time.

Newport have an impressive under 15 team coming through and staying in the second tier would be big for them. Treacys will have much to say in thatin what should be a tight encounter. Verdict: Sean Treacys