Hurling League, Where Everyone currently stands.
County Hurling League in Tipperary is much maligned. The old adage of ‘Tis only the league’ is heard up and down the county however it’s an important outlet for players & managements to get organised games for their teams. Players love the certainty of fixtures, dates are communicated well in advance and plans can me made. A club players dream.
The hurling league in Tipp is competitive but the structure needs work. A ‘three-group’ Division One along with a ‘one-group’ Division four make no sense to us here in The Premier ‘View’ towers. The Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill club had a motion in 2024 that had 12 teams in Divisions one to four and included relegation & promotion. This was taken as a recommendation but wasn’t adhered to.
The argument against relegation & promotion is that the league is not compulsory and a club can drop in & out as they please. Making the league compulsory for teams who play in the County organised competitions, i.e. Senior, Premier Intermediate & Intermediate in hurling would alleviate this issue. As it stands 46 out of the 48 top ranked teams in hurling are playing in the 2025 league. Drom/Inch(intermediate) & Skeheenarinky are the two that do not partake, the former did enter but pulled out after the draws were made. We have no idea why there is three groups in Division 1 and wonder are we pandering to some clubs who wouldn’t like to be associated as a Division two club???
We are divided on the make-up of the Division 5 & 6 leagues as to whether there is a need for the county to be organising these. Should divisions organise their own leagues at Junior A & B level? Some divisions already do so with the North running both Junior A & B leagues, the Mid run a junior league which is divided into 3 divisions catering for Junior A & B teams, while the West provide a very successful Junior B league for their clubs but nothing for Junior A teams. The South run neither.
Maybe these leagues can be ran on a cross-divisional level similar to what happened in Bórd na nÓg in the past, rotate the divisions so they don’t clash with the County Quarter-final draw etc..
Anyway onto the action……..
Hurling League Division 1 – https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
Group 1 sees Borrisoleigh leading the way with four wins from four but they have a crunch top of the table clash with Nenagh Eire Óg this weekend. Top spot is all that matters in Division 1 and this is the only game with something to play for. Nenagh need the win while a draw will suffice for Borrisoleigh. Nenagh suffered an opening day loss to Thurles but have won the following three. Thurles Sars host Kilruane McDonaghs while Clonoulty/Rossmore make the short journey to the Ragg to play Drom/Inch. The winner of Group 1 goes straight to the final.
Round 5
Borris-Ileigh v Nenagh Eire Óg in Borris on May 11th at 12pm
Drom/Inch v Clonoulty/Rossmore in The Ragg on May 11th at 12pm
Thurles Sars v Kilruane due to be played on May 7th is now postponed
Group 2 has JK Brackens in top spot after 3 wins & a draw from four games while Lorrha/Dorrha are in 2nd with 3 wins. These teams square off against each other in Lorrha in round 5 with Lorrha needing a win to qualify for the Semi-final while a draw will do Brackens. Roscrea host Kiladangan while Moycarkey/Borris renew acquaintance with Toomevara.
Round 5
Moycarkey/Borris v Toomevara in Littleton on May 9th at 7.15pm.
Lorrha/Dorrha v JK Brackens in Lorrha on May 11th at 12pm.
Roscrea v Kiladangan in Roscrea on May 11th at 12pm
Group 3 is also a shootout between the top two although in this case they don’t meet each other in Round 5. Holycross/Ballycahill are top on 7 pts following 3 wins & a draw. Senior newcomers Cashel King Cormacs are in 2nd with three wins from four, their only loss coming at the hands of Holycross in round 4. Holycross host Upperchurch/Drombane while Cashel host Mullinahone in round 5. A draw for Holycross will be enough to see them through to the semi-final while Cashel need the win and for Upperchurch to do them a solid. Carrick Swan host Loughmore in the remaining game.
Round 5(All games May 11th at 12pm)
Cashel KC v Mullinahone in Cashel
Holycross/Ballycahill v Upperchurch/Drombane in Holycross
Carrick Swan v Loughmore/Castleiney in Pairc na hEalaí, Carrick on suir.
Winner group 1 straight to the final. Winner Group 2 v Winner group 3 in the semi-finals.
Hurling League Division 2
Group 1 has Gortnahoe/Glengoole on top after 3 wins & a draw, Killenaule & Ballina are in 2nd & 3rd respectively with two wins and a draw each while Burgess are also in the hunt with two wins. As Killenaule & Ballina square off in round 5 Gortnahoe have secured a semifinal spot but positioning is still up for grabs. Burgess would need a win for themselves and a draw between Killenaule & Ballina to sneak into 2nd spot. Clonakenny & Templederry are the other two teams in the group and neither has a win at this point.
Round 5 (All games May 11th at 12ppm)
Gortnahoe/Glengoole v Clonakenny in Gortnahoe
Burgess v Templederry in Kilcolman
Ballina v Killenaule in Ballina
Group 2 has St Marys on top after four victories but travel to 2nd placed Boherlahan in round 5. Marys are guaranteed a semi-final spot but a win for the home side would see them top the group. A win for the south side would see Eire óg Annacarty in with a chance of second in the group depending on scoring difference should they win on the trip up north to Moneygall. They have previously drawn with Boherlahan. Moyne/Templetouhy & Silvermines are the remaining teams and neither have a win so far.
Round 5
Moneygall v Eire Óg Annacarty in Moneygall on May 9th at 7.30pm
Boherlahan/Dualla v St. Marys in Boherlahan on May 11th at 12pm
Silvermines v Moyne/Templetouhy in Silvermines on May 11th at 12pm.
Hurling League Division 3
Group 1 is a 5 team group and all teams are in with a chance of qualifying. Golden/Kilfeacle are presently top on 2 wins from 4 and have played all their games. Cappawhite are second, also with two wins, and travel to Thurles in Round 5 to take on Sarsfields. A win or draw for the West side would see them top the group. Ballingarry make the trip to play Sean Treacys where the home side need a win while a draw for Ballingarry may help them depending on results elsewhere.
Round 5 (All games at 12pm on May 11th)
Sean Treacys v Ballingarry in Kilcommon
Thurles Sarsfields v Cappawhite in Outside field Thurles
Golden Kilfeacle a bye
Group 2 is also wide open with Portroe presently unbeaten with twins & two draws from four games. Newport sit 2nd on two wins and a draw while Shannon Rovers & Knockavilla Kickhams have two wins a piece. Borrisokane & Moyle Rovers are the other two teams involved but neither can qualify.
Round 5 (All games May 11th at 12pm)
Portroe v Moyle Rovers in Portroe
Newport v Knockavilla Kickhams
Borrisokane v Shannon Rovers
Top two in each group qualify for the semi-finals.
Hurling League Division 4
This division in one group of 6 teams with the top 4 qualifying got the semi-finals. Clonoulty/Rossmore, Arravale Rovers, Holycross/Ballycahill & St. Patricks have qualified for the semi-finals with Carrick Davins & Ballybacon/Grange losing out. The order of the top 4 is still to be decided. Clonoulty/Rossmore & Arravale Rovers square off in Tipp Town while Holycross host Carrick Davins & Ballybacon host fellow southsiders St. Pats. An outstanding game between St. Pats & Holycross is to be played on May 16th.
Round 5
Ballybacon/Grange v St. Patricks in Goatenbridge on May 11th at 12pm
Arravale Rovers v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Sean Treacy Park on May 11th at 3pm
Holycross/Ballycahill v Carrick Davins in Holycross on May 11th at 3pm
Round 1 re-fixture
St Patricks v Holycross/Ballycahill in Drangan on May 16th at 7pm
Hurling League Division 5
Division 5 is a 3-group division, similar to division 1, with the winners of group 1 going to the final and the winners of Group 2 & 3 playing each other in the semi-final.
Group 1
Cahir sit top with 4 wins however can still be caught by Thurles Sarsfields. The square off against each other on Friday night. These are the only two teams who can qualify.
Round 5
Kilruane McDonaghs v Boherlahan/Dualla in Cloughjordan on May 8th at 6.30pm
Cahir v Thurles Sars on May 9th in Cahir at 7.30pm
Galtee Rovers v Lattin/Cullen in Bansha on May 11th at 12pm.
Thurles Sars v Galtee Rovers is an outstanding game which isn’t fixed at the moment.
Group 2
Carrick swan have topped the group and qualified as they have the head-to-head on Clonmel Óg.
Round 5
Holycross/Ballycahill v Clonmel Óg in Holycross on May 8th at 7.15pm
Carrick Swan v Gortnahoe/Glengoole in Pairc na hEalaí on May 17th at 5pm.
Mullinhaone a bye
Group 3
Ballingarry are in pole position to qualify here but will need to win v St. Pats in round 5. For Fethard to qualify they need a St. Pats win or draw or a huge win v Killenaule(by 11 pts more than ballingarry beat St. Pats). Killenaule need a big win a long with a St. Pats win for them to have a chance at qualification.
Round 5
Ballingarry v St. Patricks in Ballingarry on May 11th at 7pm
Fethard v Killenaule in Fethard on May 13th at 7.30pm.
Hurling League Division 6
Knockshegowna & Rosegreen have qualified and it’s any two from four for the other qualifiers.
Round 5
Clerihan v Knockshegowna on May 11th at 12pm in Clerihan
Knock v Rosegreen on May 11th at 12pm in Clonmore
Thurles Gaels v Killea on May 13th at 7.30pm in Kickhams Park, Thurles
Round 1 outstanding
Killea v Clerihan – Not fixed