PREVIEWS: So much at stake this weekend in the Premier Intermediate and Intermediate grades

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals

Killenaule V Thurles Sarsfields

Killenaule come into this final four clash with the red-hot favourites tag hanging off them, and it is deserved given the run of the competition this year.

Without the services of John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer all year, Declan Fanning has his team playing to the peak of their powers, and beating south rivals Carrick Swans with the ease that they did in the quarter-final speaks to the levels they are reaching, and the confidence in the team.

They lost out in the football last eight to JK Brackens last weekend and came through the game largely unscathed despite the big crossover in players, and they will see a big chance to qualify for a final and a possible 60 minutes away from senior hurling for 2024.

Thurles Sarsfields’ second team were elated at the final whistle of the Burgess win a few weeks ago, as they finally got over the last eight hurdle which has been their stumbling block at this grade for some time, and they will now feel like they are firmly in bonus territory. That makes them a very dangerous animal indeed.

However, Killenaule look like a team playing below their level currently, and if their form holds true and they get to their best, they should be in the final in two weeks time.

Verdict: Killenaule

Cashel King Cormacs V Lorrha

What a clash this is going to be as two teams in good form go head-to-head for a final place in two weeks’ time.
Lorrha were the final team to claim their place in the last four after getting over Clonakenny in a very tight quarter-final in Nenagh last weekend.

It has been a familiar pattern for Lorrha all year, as they topped their county group which contained two very good teams in Gortnahoe Glengoole and Killenaule, but they have been pushed in every game and have had to dig deep for results constantly, which is as much of a positive as it is a negative.

They are very resilient when the game is in the melting pot and they have class in their forwards to turn a game at any moment, as Colm Fogarty turned up for his team in the Clonakenny victory despite others being somewhat under par.

They will face a huge test this weekend though, as Cashel King Cormacs come into this game with perhaps the best form outside of Killenaule, and with the welcoming of Nathan and Devon Ryan back into the fold in recent games, they look like a team full stocked.

Their defence has been very mean to date, averaging just around the 21-point mark and with the added attack threat posed, with Devon Ryan in particular, they have the ability to cause a leakier Lorrha defence plenty of headaches.

The two Connolly’s have been key to the Cashel efforts to date and their influence will have to be curbed by Lorrha to get the result here.

Lorrha have had that habit of leaving teams in games when they shouldn’t, and at this stage of the competition with the level of opponent they have to face, that could prove fatal despite their resilience in tight games.

Verdict: Cashel King Cormacs

FBD Insurance Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals

Moneygall V Boherlahan Dualla
A repeat of the group 3 clash back in August will see two teams with high aspirations face off in Templetuohy this weekend.

That tight group game in Templederry last month was probably up there with the games of the year so far at any grade, with the sides inseparable by the final whistle on a scoreline of 3-19 to 1-25.

They will be very familiar with each other as a result, but it took some late scores from Boherlahan Dualla to draw that game, after building an early lead.

But as they have shown in so many of their games to date, Moneygall’s ability to score heavily is a potent weapon with Paddy and Joe Fogarty in particular in flying form in their quarter-final defeat of Borrisokane two weekends ago.

Add in Sean Kenneally to that mix and you have a real problem for Boherlahan, and they will need to be very mean defensively to have a chance in this one.

Darragh Hickey is a big leader for them up front and he really stepped up for them in the win over Kickhams in the recent quarter-final, but their route to Intermediate glory couldn’t be more difficult, and it may come to an end this weekend.

Verdict: Moneygall

Golden Kilfeacle V Kilsheelan Kilcash

Golden Kilfeacle are in a position that even their most ardent supporter couldn’t have seen coming after two and a half group games.

They backed up that surprise second place with a big win over Drom & Inch, but their young team could struggle against a more experienced, and more potent Kilsheelan Kilcash team with too many aces up their sleeve.

Verdict: Kilsheelan Kilcash

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