Time for teams to stand up and be counted in Tipperary hurling championships

An open field as the business end of the championship looms

Clonoulty/Rossmore manager Declan Ryan, whose team are looking for their first win in the FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship. Picture: Vincent Flynn

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In the rugby world, clashes between England and France are often referred to as “Le Crunch”. It seems an apt term for those grinding collisions, when beef meets beef.

In our hurling universe we have our crunch moments too and the coming weekend is one of them. There’s no hiding, stand up and be counted now or slink away into the background for another year. Final placings are at stake in all groups.

It’s a tribute to the system that so much has still to be decided as we approach the third and final round ahead of the knockouts. A few certainties emerged from the last day, such as Kilruane’s exit and Brackens facing relegation, but otherwise the stakes are really high for most teams.

In Group 1 Drom/Inch are already through to the quarter-finals and their weekend opponents, JK Brackens, are into the relegation pot, so that’s as close as it gets to a dead rubber game across the four groups. Of course, Drom will still want to maintain the winning habit ahead of the knockout stages.

There’s much at stake, however, in the other game in this section, between Nenagh and Mullinahone. The Eire Og side, as north champions, have the fall-back security of a preliminary quarter-final, but I’m sure they’ll want to maintain winning momentum. For Mullinahone there’s the comfort of knowing that they’re safe from relegation and have a free shot at Nenagh in a bid to make the knockouts.

There are various permutations that could emerge from Group 2, with every team having something at stake, including Kilruane MacDonaghs who’ll wish to avoid relegation when they face Moycarkey. For the mid side there’s the possibility of still making the knockouts if they win and Roscrea lose to Toomevara. In that scenario the teams would be tied on three points and after drawing in their earlier round it would come down to score difference.

Kilruane’s abysmal form so far must give Moycarkey encouragement, which would be a real turn-up if the reigning champions were to face a relegation battle. Toomevara are already guaranteed knockout action irrespective of weekend results.

In Group 3 Loughmore are in pole position after two wins but they’ll need a result against Upperchurch to fully secure their position. If they were to lose and Holycross defeat Templederry then the three teams would end up on four points, with score difference coming into play to decide the order. On the other hand, if both Upperchurch and Holycross lose then they’d be tied on two points with Templederry, leading to another mathematical sort-out via score difference.

Group 4 is undoubtedly the most fascinating of the lot. Borris-Ileigh top the group on three points followed by Kiladangan and Sarsfields on two apiece and Clonoulty on one. The west side face Kiladangan while Borris engage Sarsfields. Remember also that Sarsfields and Clonoulty are guaranteed preliminary quarter-finals as divisional winners, though unless you win out the county that won’t exempt you from relegation if you finish bottom of the group.

It’s an intriguing group with perhaps Kiladangan and Borris-Ileigh marginal fancies to come out on top, but I wouldn’t be rushing to the bookies.

Somewhat like last year it’s an open field as we head towards the final stages of the championship. We had six different winners in the past six years so what’s the likelihood of a seventh this time? You could make a case for either Drom or Nenagh giving us another new winner but I wouldn’t go beyond that.

The battle lines are also drawn in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. Cashel KC are in the driving seat in Group 1 with two wins out of two but nothing is yet finalised in this section. Moyne/Templetuohy seem to be in trouble after being promoted just two years ago.

Group 2 is wide open with Swans on three points, Sarsfields and Annacarty on two apiece and Sean Treacys on one point. Anything can happen in the final round where Swans play Eire Og and Treacys tackle Sarsfields.

In Group 3 Burgess are already through, with their game against Clonakenny deciding top spot. Relegation will be at stake in the clash of Newport and Silvermines, though the former have an unlikely chance of making the qualifiers.

Lorrha hold the whip hand in Group 4 with the clash of Killenaule and Gortnahoe to decide who joins them in the knockouts. Portroe are deep in relegation bother irrespective of the outcome in their game with Lorrha.

The intermediate grade has its own intrigue ahead of the weekend games. Davins top Group 1 but all could change depending on results. Cappawhite top Group 2 but once again it’s all to play for. Golden/Kilfeacle are struggling and face a survival challenge against Ballingarry.

Group 3 likewise is wide open. Moneygall and Boherlahan each have three points in a section where Moneygall’s weekend clash with Kilsheelan is another crunch fixture. On known form Boherlahan should be able to cope with Shannon Rovers.

Finally, in Group 4 Borrisokane head the table, with Upperchurch pointless after two games. Again, there are several possibilities ahead of the weekend games, though it will take something of a miracle for the “Church” to avoid relegation.

So, oodles of intense hurling action then on the horizon for the coming weekend. The fallout will be fascinating – who’s in, who’s out, who’s heading for the relegation trapdoor? If there’s a downside it has to be the sheer volume of games – 24 in total – making it impossible to attend more than a sampling of the action.

Of course, if some people had their way the clubs would still be idle – and would likely remain so until October. The hankering after the old order of September All-Irelands is loud and insistent among a certain cohort of pundits and journalists, especially those operating on the national stage.

They have short memories. For decades the hue and cry was rightly focused on the plight of the club. Despite catering for around 97% of the playing population, the club scene was being corralled into an ever-decreasing space where the inter-county game was king. Club games were fitted in like an inconvenience wherever a space existed. Games were sporadic and planning for them was impossible. The club scene was a mess.

Thankfully, like a silver lining on a very dark cloud, Covid supplied the solution. An emergency situation decreed that the club and county seasons had to be split and, lo and behold, people suddenly realised that the solution to the clubs’ woes was in plain sight all along. Now, however, after just a few years of the new model some want to drag us back into the dark ages again.

Martin Breheny has been a cheerleader of this movement, recently citing a Sunday Independent survey as if it was a referendum on the issue. According to the sub-heading the poll “proves” that the public at large wants to go back to September All-Irelands. When did a snapshot survey on anything ever provide proof?

The argument is that the GAA cedes publicity to other sports in mid-summer. It’s as if the games suddenly disappear from view once the All-Irelands are over. Well, last Sunday we had the Wexford hurling final on TG4 and reams of newsprint devoted to club action countrywide. Various streaming services brought games galore to the public while thousands more attended matches live. Yet all this appears to bypass some people.

Maybe Messrs Breheny and company should get out more and see what’s really happening.