PREVIEW: Senior Tipp Club Hurling Championship reaching its group crescendo

Group 3

Nenagh Éire Óg V Loughmore Castleiney

Another contender for the tie of the weekend will see Nenagh tackle the in-form team of the championship so far with survival high on their minds.

To say they had a backlash on poor Lorrha is an understatement but they will need that effort and more to turnover Loughmore who have been quite impressive so far.

Jake Morris is close to unmarkable at the moment but it will fall to others to help pick up the slack as it has been proven - especially in the loss to Holycross Ballycahill - that he can’t drag them through every game.

Loughmore continued their good form with a comfortable win over a fancied Holycross team in round 2, while somehow seeming to have more in the tank, so this will be a very tough game for Nenagh, but they have the quality to do it if they pull a full hour together.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Nenagh while Loughmore will be without Liam Treacy here through injury, while Joey Hennessy is a slight doubt.

Verdict: Loughmore Castleiney

Lorrha V Holycross Ballycahill

Lorrha will be contesting the relegation playoffs at the first time of asking after a really sobering introduction to top-tier hurling in 2024.

They’re certainly better than what they showed in the loss to Nenagh the previous day out, and when the scoreboard began to turn against them, they went into their shell and couldn’t land a punch.

With little at stake and the nature of their loss the previous day out, it’s hard to see them challenging a wounded Holycross team who underperformed somewhat.

Loughmore smothered the youthful Holycross team in The Ragg with young Robbie Ryan their top scorer, while Cathal Barrett’s fitness clearly hampering the Tipp hurler and they will be sweating over his involvement here again, but they will be hoping there will be no drama if they can get the job done here with a bit to spare.

Verdict: Holycross Ballycahill