PREVIEWS: Main talking points ahead of huge weekend of Tipperary club hurling

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary quarter-finals

Saturday, September 20th 

Toomevara vs JK Brackens in Borris-Ileigh @ 4pm

The unique competition that is the Tipperary hurling championships means that keen supporters and hurling fanatics will have little time to wait for knockout action, with enticing ties at either end of the hurling food chain in all three grades coming into focus this weekend.

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That is particularly true in the senior grade, where three preliminary quarter-finals will take place over the course of the weekend, beginning with Toomevara facing JK Brackens in Borris-Ileigh on Saturday evening.

This is a tale of two teams arriving at knockout hurling in very different form. Mid champions JK Brackens are on a two-game losing run after defeats to Loughmore Castleiney and Drom & Inch sent them into the preliminary stage. The spark of their Mid Mid championship victory has largely deserted them, and with games coming thick and fast in both codes, they have had little time to regroup.

In stark contrast, Toomevara have, for the second year running, managed to navigate their way out of the group after a first-round loss.

Defeat to Holycross Ballycahill in that opener sharpened their focus and, with their backs to the wall, they responded with impressive and comprehensive wins over West champions Clonoulty Rossmore and North champions Kiladangan to send themselves into knockout hurling with form and confidence.

One blight on the Toome copybook was the red card shown to Kevin McCarthy late in the Kiladangan game. His absence could prove significant, as he has been one of their standout players this season. There are also doubts over the participation of Rory Brislane after suffering a heavy knock late on against Kiladangan.

The sides also met in last year’s quarter-final in Thurles, with Toomevara edging a tight contest. Something similar looks likely again.

Verdict: Toomevara

Sunday, September 21st

Kiladangan vs Kilruane MacDonaghs in Nenagh @ 3:30pm

Elsewhere, Toomevara’s recent conquests Kiladangan and Clonoulty Rossmore will also be in preliminary quarter-final action.

First, an intriguing North derby will see Kiladangan face Kilruane MacDonaghs in Nenagh on Sunday afternoon. Like Brackens, Kiladangan’s form has dipped dramatically since their divisional triumph.

Despite opening their group campaign with a win over Clonoulty, they followed it with back-to-back defeats to Holycross Ballycahill and Toomevara, sending them into the preliminary round.

Those losses will have stung, but it was the manner of the performances – or lack thereof – that will concern the North champions most. They looked lethargic, and with the youthful drive of Dara O’Dwyer unavailable after his straight red against Toomevara, they will need a significant lift in energy and leadership from their experienced heads to get back on track.

The return of Decky McGrath last time out was at least positive, while Willie Connors continues to deliver strong performances. But Kiladangan will require more from the likes of the Flynn twins, the Gallagher brothers, Billy Seymour, and Conor Byrne to turn the tide.

Their opponents, Kilruane MacDonaghs, will feel unlucky to have drawn this tie after finishing second in their group. The extra game adds strain to a panel already picking up injuries, with Jerry Cahill and Craig Morgan both nursing injuries, but are likely to feature nonetheless.

But whoever they can put on the field, they have decent form behind them.

Verdict: Kiladangan

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Clonoulty Rossmore vs Drom & Inch in Boherlahan @ 3:30pm

Finally, Clonoulty Rossmore meet Drom & Inch in the last of the senior preliminaries on Sunday, this one taking place in Boherlahan.

Clonoulty gave themselves a huge boost with their third-round win over Holycross Ballycahill, but they will face an equally buoyant Drom side, who produced their best performance to see off JK Brackens.

Some alterations in terms of position worked the oracle for Clonoulty in that win, with Danny Slattery moving back into the defence to good effect, while the form of the likes of Cathal Bourke, Stephen Ferncombe, and Robert Doyle is a positive for them.

On the other side of the coin, Drom have had a more linear form line so far this term, impressing throughout the group, which culminated in the defeat of Mid champions JK Brackens. The evergreen Seamus Callanan and David Collins have been their main men thus far, while Fintan Purcell, Robbie Long, and Cormac Fitzpatrick have improved with every game.

This is going to be a close game, and it will likely come down to the last few minutes.

Verdict: Clonoulty Rossmore