Loughmore and Commercials tipped to advance to county senior football final in Tipperary
Semi-finals down for decision this weekend
Kilsheelan/Kilcash and Upperchurch/Drombane will be attempting to cause major upsets in this weekend’s FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship semi-finals.
Kilsheelan take on champions Loughmore/Castleiney at Leahy Park, Cashel at 3pm on Saturday, while Upperchurch will face Clonmel Commercials at the same venue at 3.30 on Sunday.
The smart money suggests that Loughmore and Commercials will emerge to renew their rivalry in a repeat of last year’s final, when the Mid team completed another county senior hurling and football double, while preventing the Clonmel team from completing the three in a row.
Loughmore have looked unstoppable in the hurling and football championships this year and have already qualified for the hurling decider following last weekend’s defeat of Holycross.
They beat Ballina by 3-18 to 0-12 in the football quarter-final, a game for which John and Noel McGrath were rested.
Kilsheelan will need to be at their very best to stop Loughmore in their tracks. However, they’ll have taken much encouragement from their 2-9 to 0-7 win over JK Brackens in the quarter-final, when goals from Jamie Roche’s penalty and Daire Brennan provided the springboard for their win.
Clonmel Commercials, meanwhile, needed extra-time to see off the challenge of neighbours Moyle Rovers in their quarter-final clash in Fethard.
They’ll be looking to the leadership and inspiration provided by players such as Seamus Kennedy, Kevin Fahey, Michael Quinlivan, Jack Kennedy and Seanie O’Connor in their bid to reach another final.
Although all the talk is about another final meeting with Loughmore for what would be the fourth time in six years, they’ll still be wary of Upperchurch.
The Mid team had a convincing 1-11 to 0-5 win over Aherlow in the quarter-final and can call upon players of the calibre of Paul and Luke Shanahan, Conor Fahy and Keith Ryan.
However, they're sure to have one eye on their County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final against Carrick Swan the following weekend.
Ardfinnan referee Derek O’Mahoney will take charge of the Kilsheelan/Loughmore clash.
The referee in the Commercials v. Upperchurch game is Seanie Peters, Aherlow.
Both games will finish on the day.