Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Finals Preview

By Liam Hogan

Moneygall v Cappawhite

The Ragg

Sunday, 29th September

Throw-in @ 12.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)

Moneygall and county intermediate hurling semi-finals are common place in recent years and next Sunday they will contest their fourth semi-final in a row when they face Cappawhite at The Ragg.

The North champions are enjoying a great year in 2024. Unbeaten in their group games they won all with ease but their quarter final win over Portroe two weeks ago was not without a fright or two. Their eight point win needed the best from their forward line where Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally are the leaders. This is not to say that it’s a two-man show as Bob Kenny, Sean & Paddy Fogarty have taken turns to come up with vital scores when required.

Adam Hogan and Aodhan Ryan have more or less won all their midfield battles to date but there is one fly in the ointment where the backline has given team manager Dan Hackett a moment of bother now and again. This was clearly the case in the quarter final when they conceded three goals in the first half. However, Brendan Toohey and company have the knack of producing timely clearances to keep the team afloat.

They will earn victory if they can get over Cappawhite who needed extra time to get over Shannon Rovers in the quarter final. The West side should have had the game wrapped up in normal time but great goalkeeping by Rovers keeper John Flannery kept them on hold and for a period in extra time it looked as if they had lost their way until Gearoid Lennon fired home the goal which steered them to victory.

Cappawhite have talented hurlers in attack, not least Willie Barry and Dara McCarthy in the full forward line. Both David Buckley and Sam Carmody cover a lot of ground while Cappawhite welcomed the return of Conor Martin from injury as he returned to action in the quarter final win.

Ryan Renehan and Tom Treacy are experienced campaigners in defence as is Sean Ryan at full back while goalkeeper Jerry O’Neill has brilliant accuracy with his puckouts. Over the past five years, Cappawhite have been the nearly men as they are rarely beaten by big margins.

Unfortunately, Moneygall’s better all round team should prevail as their bid to gain promotion to the premier intermediate grade continues to be their mission.

Verdict: Moneygall

Ballingarry v Golden Kilfeacle

Leahy Park, Cashel

Sunday, 29th September

Throw-in @ 12.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)

There shouldn’t be any surprise as to these teams reaching the last four.

Ballingarry, always competitive, but without making the last eight last year, served notice of their intentions this year with their big win over Moneygall in the County League Division 3 final in early summer.

Granted, the Moneygall team were short the services of Sean Kenneally and Brendan Toohey, but there was never any doubt about the outcome as Ballingarry wasted no time in taking the game by the scruff of the neck having the tie wrapped up by half time.

They have reached this semi-final unbeaten so far in championship but needed all their expertise in claiming their narrow win over Knockavilla Kickhams in the quarter final.

The subs bench earned their pay day as Patrick Burns scored two goals in the last ten minutes to seal the victory.

They have plenty talent up front with Ben Ivors, Ger Fennelly and Conor Vaughan. In Dylan Walsh, they possess one of the best free-taker in all of Tipperary. He has won so many games for the maroons and will be needed to continue on the same road as the defence can be tested as evident against Knockavilla.

They face a Golden Kilfeacle team with a forward line well capable of picking off scores as evident in their quarter final win over Borrisokane.

The Westerners have a front six that are all under the age of 21 so are full of energy and have an eye for the posts as Ben Currivan and Jack Leamy showed in their latest win.

Cian Ryan and Seanie O’Halloran know where the goalposts are also as they commanded midfield while their defence of Eoin Marnane, Niall Heffernan, Cian O’Connell, and full back Shane O’Connell will keep a close eye on the opposition.

Golden Kilfeacle reached last year’s final but lost to Boherlahan-Dualla and have the talent to make the final again.

The club is enjoying a great season as the footballers are through to the Intermediate semi-final as well and the hurlers should go one better this time. Verdict: Golden Kilfeacle