Draws made for County Hurling and Football Championship groups
The draws were made last night (Thursday) for the group stages of the FBD Insurance sponsored County Hurling and Football Championships in the various grades.
In the senior hurling championship, the format remains unchanged with the top two in each group progressing to the knockout stage, along with the divisional champions.
All four groups are extremely intriguing, with the tag of group of death probably going to group 1 where last years runners-up Toomevara and 2023 champions Kiladangan are paired together but an up and coming Holycross/Ballycahill and always competitive Clonoulty/Rossmore feeling they can progress too.
Senior newcomers Cashel King Cormacs have been handed opponents from each of the other three divisions in Thurles Sarsfields, Nenagh and Mullinahone, while Lorrha have been handed a mini all-Mid group containing JK Brackens, Drom & Inch and defending champions Loughmore/Castleiney.
Group 4 appears the most open with last years surprise semi-finalists Moycarkey/Borris joined by recent winners Kilruane MacDonaghs and Borris-Ileigh, with Roscrea making up the quartet who will all feel they can make the knockout stage.
The formats for the premier intermediate and intermediate hurling championships also remain the same, with the eye-catching group in premier intermediate being group 3 with newcomers Moneygall paired with North rivals Ballina and Burgess, as well as title favourites Upperchurch/Drombane.
In the Intermediate championship, following their relegation last year, Newport have been paired with Borrisokane, Carrick Davins and Arravale Rovers.
In senior football, Ballina have been handed a group that includes Clonmel Commercials but will feel they can progress from it in a championship that has the same group format to last year, the only difference is that three teams will be relegated to reduce the numbers from fourteen to twelve for 2026, with the intermediate championship rising from eleven to twelve.
In the Premier Junior Football championship, last years Junior ‘A’ champions Kiladangan have been joined by Borrisokane who return to football competition after not competing in recent years since last appearing at intermediate level in 2022.
The first rounds of the hurling championships are fixed for the weekend of 25-27 July with the football starting the week after, with the first round fixtures to be confirmed in due course.
Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1: Toomevara, Kiladangan, Holycross/Ballycahill, Clonoulty/Rossmore
Group 2: Thurles Sarsfields, Nenagh Eire Og, Cashel King Cormacs, CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Group 3: Loughmore/Castleiney, JK Brackens, Drom & Inch, Lorrha
Group 4: Moycarkey/Borris, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Roscrea, Borris-Ileigh
Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1: Gortnahoe/Glengoole, Thurles Sarsfields, Sean Treacys, Moyne-Templetuohy
Group 2: Templederry Kenyons, Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, Boherlahan-Dualla, Silvermines
Group 3: Upperchurch/Drombane, Burgess, Moneygall, Ballina
Group 4: Carrick Swan, St Mary's, Clonakenny, Killenaule
Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1: Cappawhite, Portroe, Moyle Rovers, Skeheenarinky
Group 2: Ballingarry, Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Drom & Inch
Group 3: Newport, Borrisokane, Carrick Davins, Arravale Rovers
Group 4: Golden Kilfeacle, Shannon Rovers, Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Ballybacon/Grange
Senior Football Championship
Group 1: Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Cahir, Ballyporeen, Aherlow
Group 2: Clonmel Commercials, Ballina, Ardfinnan, Grangemockler/Ballyneale
Group 3: (Moyle Rovers, Loughmore/Castleiney), (Arravale Rovers, JK Brackens), (Upperchurch/Drombane, Killenaule)
Intermediate Football Championship
Group 1: Golden Kilfeacle, Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, CJ Kickhams Mullinahone, Fethard
Group 2: Galtee Rovers, Moyne-Templetuohy, Thurles Sarsfields, Clonmel Commercials
Group 3: Rockwell Rovers, Loughmore/Castleiney, Moycarkey/Borris
Premier Junior Football Championship
Group 1: Cashel King Cormacs, Sean Treacys, Clonmel Og, Moyle Rovers
Group 2: Fr; Sheehy’s, JK Brackens, Borrisokane, Kiladangan