PREVIEWS: An action packed weekend in store as club hurling commences

FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship

Friday July 22

Ballybacon Grange V Cappawhite in Cahir @ 7.30

The loss of their west crown will be a sore point for Cappawhite as they face a team which has been sticky for them recently.
Dara McCarthy’s return from long term injury has been a welcome addition to them, and while Ballybacon got the better of them in their last meeting back in 2020, there could be a reversal here.

Verdict: Cappawhite

Golden Kilfeacle V Boherlahan Dualla in Cashel @ 7.30

These teams come into this game off the back of two very different results after their divisional finals.
Golden were very close to clinching a double of intermediate titles after winning the football equivalent the week prior. They will have confidence from the loss though, and have a lot of potential with Jack Leamy and Ben Currivan really coming of age already.

Boherlahan will be delighted with their win over Drom & Inch, and this came without a few regulars like Eoin McLoughney, Andrew Downey, Johnny Ryan, Colm O’Dwyer, and Ned Ryan.

Getting a win here would be a big boost for the mid men, and they will feel if they can get bodies back from the treatment room, they will have good interest in the county this year.

Verdict: Boherlahan Dualla

Saturday July 23

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams V Ballinahinch in Kilcommon @ 7.30

Two teams with seemingly opposite trajectories face off in this one, with a Kickhams team being bolstered with underage talent, against the old dogs for the hard road in Ballinahinch.

Both sides have been mainstays at this grade for a while now, but Ballinahinch have been regressing of late, with a big loss to Borrisokane highlighting this further.

Kickhams showed real composure to shrug off Golden in the west final, with Orrin Jones proving to be a big player after coming on. They should have too much here for Ballinahinch.

Verdict: Kickhams

Shannon Rovers V Kilsheelan Kilcash in Templetuohy @ 7.30

Another winner versus losers clash from the divisional finals. Kilsheelan are a team on the up and will be looking to go one better this year, after their final loss to Moyne Templetuohy in 2021.

Rovers were essentially dismantled in the north final - albeit by a very strong Lorrha team - and they will need to settle down quickly as they face another frontrunner in this year’s championship. Mark Kehoe and co though, should be far too strong on the day.

Verdict: Kilsheelan Kilcash

Carrick Davins V Lorrha in Templemore @ 7.30

Lorrha come into this game as raging hot favourites, after their totally domineering north final performance. They looked a level above at this grade, with Colm Fogarty looking extremely dangerous, and they face a Davins team down a few key players. Such is Lorrha’s form though, this should be one sided with a convincing win for the north men.

Verdict: Lorrha

Sunday July 24

Arravale Rovers V Drom & Inch in Dundrum @ 12.30

Drom & Inch will be eager to put the last few weeks behind them, after the intermediates made it two mid final losses in quick succession.

They will have a fairly settled team, but may be without David Collins who could be taken by their seniors. Arravale are a team who will once again be looking to stay in this grade, and they will need big performances from Johnny Ryan and Mikey O’Dwyer to get a result here.

Verdict: Drom & Inch

Ballingarry V Moneygall in Templetuohy @ 1.00

A repeat of the quarter-final from last year’s championship, Ballingarry will be looking for a bit of revenge after that narrow loss.

Ballingarry were really poor against Kilsheelan Kilcash in the south final recently, and their over reliance on Dylan Walsh for scores was a real issue on the day, and something they need to address.

Moneygall will have to plan without Joe Fogarty who is away in the US, and Sean Kenneally who is a doubt through injury, and the loss of those two could swing it Ballingarry’s way.

Verdict: Ballingarry

Borrisokane V Skeheenarinky in Littleton @ 7.00

A penalty shootout loss against your neighbours is never a good way to finish your last competitive outing before the county fare, but that’s what Borrisokane have to get past.

Rovers produced an ambush of sorts as underdogs , and Borrisokane will be eager to put that performance behind them. They have a very young team these days, but still have that sprinkling of experience in the likes of Gary Ryan and Philip Austin in the forwards, but they should get back on the horse here against a Skeheen’ side who conceded their south championship game against Ballingarry.

Verdict: Borrisokane