INTER PREVIEWS: West rivals collide as Intermediate final places go on the line

The FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling Championships move into semi-final weekend with six games across the Senior, Premier Intermediate and Intermediate grades and no shortage of intriguing match-ups.

INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Borrisokane v Ballingarry – Sunday, September 27th, 1.30pm, The Ragg

Borrisokane had to show considerable resilience to reach the last four, coming from five points down at half-time to defeat South champions Skeheenarinky 1-22 to 1-20.

Gary Ryan was particularly influential, scoring eight points from play, as Borrisokane gradually took command around the middle third and produced their best hurling when the pressure increased during the closing stages.

Ballingarry's quarter-final passage was considerably more comfortable as they pulled clear of Clonakenny after half-time to win 2-23 to 1-14.

Simon Blackmore excelled in the sweeper role, while two second-half goals from Ben Ivers ultimately killed off the Clonakenny challenge after just three points had separated the teams at the interval.

It leaves two sides with contrasting quarter-final experiences meeting for a place in the county decider, with Ballingarry's attacking threat coming up against a Borrisokane side which has already demonstrated an ability to recover from difficult positions.

Once again though, the forward capabilities of the South side must be highlighted with Dylan Walsh and Jack Cahill the two who could do the damage to Borrisokane.

Verdict: Ballingarry

Arravale Rovers v Cappawhite – Sunday, September 27th, 2.00pm, Dundrum

The second Intermediate semi-final is an all-West affair between Arravale Rovers and Cappawhite.

Arravale booked their place in the last four with a controlled 0-21 to 0-16 victory over Portroe, continuing a campaign in which they had already secured a seeded position for the knockout stages.

Cappawhite, meanwhile, produced an impressive quarter-final result to defeat Kilsheelan Kilcash 1-16 to 1-12 in Golden. Their championship form has contained some eye-catching results, including an eleven-point victory over Holycross Ballycahill in the opening round, although they were subsequently beaten by Ballingarry before responding strongly to progress from the group.

With the familiarity of two West teams added to the stakes of a county semi-final, there should be little mystery between the sides when they meet in Dundrum.

Dara McCarthy has taken on a leadership role this year for Cappa, being their main scoring source and in recent games, he has been well supported by Conor Martin and Darragh O’Hora but more will be needed from the youngsters again to pick up the slack.

By Sunday evening, the finalists across all three grades will be known, with twelve clubs now just sixty-odd minutes from taking the final step towards county honours.

Verdict: Cappawhite

​

INTERMEDIATE HURLING RELEGATION FINAL

Ballybacon Grange v Clonoulty Rossmore – Saturday, September 26th, 4.15pm, Bansha

Ballybacon Grange and Clonoulty Rossmore meet in Bansha in the Intermediate relegation final, completing the trio of survival battles this weekend.

It is another game where the equation could hardly be simpler, with the winners retaining their Intermediate status and the defeated side dropping out of the grade for 2027.

The game throws up an interesting contrast between Ballybacon Grange and the second team of Senior club Clonoulty Rossmore, but championship form counts for little in a fixture where preserving Intermediate status is the sole objective.

Ballybacon Grange are a team that have so much experience of digging out just one result that can save them from the drop, and considering that Clonoulty have struggled greatly this year, they might just be able to save themselves for another year.

Verdict: Ballybacon Grange