County League 101
The year is moving on and in a split season that was to provide certainty there is actually none at all for club players and in this instance, we absolutely love it. Tipp are back in the All-Ireland series and the club divisional championships are on hold pending…… It is not ideal but at the same time nobody would change it with the senior hurlers in the ascendency. It is increasingly likely that divisional championships in some divisions will have a midweek slot should Tipp make the best weekend of the year, All Ireland Semi-final weekend July 5th & 6th.
Liam Cahill, to his credit, has allowed players to get game-time throughout the county league where possible with Seamus Kennedy popping up early, Dylan Walsh, Conor Bowe & Gearoid O’Connor seeing time in the latter rounds while Johnny Ryan, Noel McGrath & Brian McGrath saw game time for their respective clubs in a divisional league this week. It is refreshing and welcomed from a county manager.
Anyway, onto this weekend…. Semi-finals weekend in the County Hurling leagues across all divisions.
Division 1 – Johnny Ryan cup
There is only one semi-final in this division. We have made our feelings known on this in the past so no need to cover old ground. Borris-Ileigh are straight to the final courtesy of topping group 1. Four wins(Clonoulty, Thurles sars, Kilruane & Drom) along with a draw against Nenagh in round five saw them unbeaten in the round robin.
They will play the winners of the other two group winners of two & three, JK Brackens & Holycross/Ballycahill. Incidentally all three teams at the knockout stage are unbeaten. The Brackens topped group 2 with an opening day draw with Roscrea and then four wins on the trot against Moycarkey, Kiladangan, Toomevara & Lorrha.
They average roughly 28.5 points per game while conceding 22.4. They only failed to score a goal in one game while firing five past Kiladangan in round three. Considering three of their victories came against perennial Dan Breen knockout sides it has been a particularly good league for the side based in Templemore. The ‘Cross had a similar record in the County League, with four wins & a draw to top their group. Victories over Mullinahone, Loughmore, Cashel & Upperchurch & a round three draw against Carrick swan saw them onto nine points. Average scoring of a touch over 25ppg while conceding 21ppg.
This game is loaded with mid rivalry so will have an interesting feel to it. Holycross put up a huge score against the Brackens in a Cahill cup quarter-final but came a cropper last Wednesday to Loughmore in the County League semi-final. Cathal Barett also retired early with an injury so hopefully he will be fit to take his place.
JK Brackens v Holycross/Ballycahill on Sunday 25th May at 12pm in The Ragg. Kevin Jordan on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Brackens to come out on top. Barrett & the two Ryans too big of a loss to the ‘Cross men.
Division 2 – Jim Devitt Cup
Gortnahoe/Glengoole topped County League group 1 unbeaten. Three wins and two draws saw them top with eight points. Wins over Burgess, Ballina, & Templederry along with draws against Kilenaule & Clonakenny. They averaged just under 26ppg conceding a little over 19ppg. They play group 2 runners-up and old foes St. Marys.
The Clonmel side went four out of five in the round robin beating Moneygall, Silvermines, Eire Óg Anacarty, & Moyne/Templetouhy with their only loss coming in round five against Boherlahan. St. Marys averaged just under 26ppg while conceding 20ppg. These two sides met in the Premier Intermediate Quarter finals in 2024, and Marys will be hoping to avoid a goal blitz which was their ultimate undoing in Clonoulty in that encounter.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole v St Marys in Cashel on Sunday 25th@ 1.30pm. Peter Carroll on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Marys to come out on top, Peter McGarry to play a part in it 😉
Boherlahan/Dualla topped group 2 with four wins & a draw to finish on 9pts. They accounted for Moyne, Moneygall, the ‘Mines & St. Marys while a draw in Anacarty was their only dropped points. Scoring 20.8ppg conceding 17ppg. Defensively they seem very strong but may need to find scoring. Their opposition are south men Killenaule who finished second in group 1.
They had a 3-1-1 record in the round robin with the wins coming over Templederry, Clonakenny & Ballina, A draw with Gortnahoe and an 8-point loss to Burgess. They toped scored in the group averaging over 27ppg and conceded just under 22ppg.
Boherlahan/Dualla v Killenaule in Littleton on May 25th at 11am. Johnny Dooley on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Killenaule’s scoring prowess to come out on top in a tight battle.
Division 3 – Jim Fogarty Cup
The first semi final sees Group 1 table toppers Thurles Sars play County League Group 2 runners up Newport. The Sars topped the group on 5pts & score difference from Ballingarry. It was a very tight group with four of the five teams on two wins. Sars had wins over Sean Treacys & Cappawhite, a loss v Golden and a draw with Ballingarry. Scoring just under 25ppg and conceding 16.66ppg.
Newport had a 3-1-1 record to finish on 7pts behind north rivals Portroe. They had wins over Shannon Rovers, Borrisokane & Kickhams, a draw with Port while suffering an opening day loss to Moyle Rovers in Munroe. They averaged a smidgen over 26ppg conceding just under 23ppg.
Thurles Sarsfields v Newport in Dolla on Saturday May 24th @ 6pm. PJ Nolan on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Sars with a sprinkling of seniors to come out on top.
Port were unbeaten with three wins & two draws. Wins over Shannon Rovers, Kickhams & a walkover from Moyle Rovers with draws against Newport & Borrisokane saw them finish on 8pts. The average a little over 21ppg and concede 18ppg.
Their opponents are last year beaten Intermediate finalist Ballingarry. Ballingarry had wins over Golden/Kilfeacle & Sean Treacy, lost out to Cappawhite & drew with fellow table toppers Thurles Sars. They averaged 17ppg while conceding 16ppg.
Portroe v Ballingarry in Borrisoleigh on Sunday May 25th@ 12pm. Joe Leahy on the whistle
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Dylan Walsh to tip the balance and Ballingarry to the fore.
Division 4 -James Holohan Cup
This was a one group County League, yeah don’t ask us why. Arravale Rovers topped the group on four wins & a draw and meet fourth place finisher Holycross/Ballycahill in the semi-finals. Arravale had the beatings of Carrick Davin, St. Pats, Ballybacon & a walkover from Clonoulty/Rossmore but lost heavily to semi-final opposition Holycross.
They averaged 20.75ppg and conceded 15.75ppg which is a serious feat considering they shipped 2-26 in that loss. Holycross had three wins over Ballybacon/Grange, Arravale Rovers & Carrick Davin but fell to Clonoulty & gave a walkover to St. Pats. The averaged a group high 29ppg & conceded 17.75.
Arravale Rovers v Holycross/Ballycahill in Dundrum on Sunday May 25th @ 3pm. Donie Horan on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ Verdict – Two games on the one day is hard for any club and with players on county teams & injured the second team may suffer. Arravale to overturn their round robin loss with Johnny Ryan leading the charge.
The second division four semi-final sees South junior side St. Pats square off against Clonoulty/Rossmore. Pats finished second on head-to-head and have performed really well throughout the league. They had wins over Carrick Davin, Clonoulty, Ballybacon & received a walkover from Holycross. They averaged 20.25ppg and conceded 16.75ppg. While Clonoulty had wins Ballybacon, Davins & Holycross while losing out to Pats and giving a walkover to Arravale Rovers. They average 22ppg & conceded just under 18ppg.
St Patricks v Clonoulty/Rossmore in Boherlahan on Saturday May 24th @7pm. Cian Ryan on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Clonoulty/Rossmore with no senior commitments to come out on top.
Division 5 – Bannon Cup
Another 3 County League group division. Cahir are straight to the final and must await the winners of fellow & all south semi-finalists Carrick Swan & Ballingarry.
The Swan topped Division 2 with three wins over Clonmel Óg, Holycross(3) & Mullinahone but lost out to Gortnahoe in the last round. They topped the group on head-to-head over Clonmel Óg and averaged 24.25ppg and conceded 19.5ppg. Ballingarry topped group 3 with three wins and score difference secured them top spot over Fethard who they drew with in rd.2. The three wins came over Fr. Sheehys, Killenaule & St. Pats and they averaged 22.75ppg and conceded 16ppg.
Carrick Swan v Ballingarry in Cloneen on Sunday May 25th @7pm – Paul Guinan on the whistle
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Carrick Swan AET.
Division 6 – Pauline Coonan cup
Knockshe are unbeaten in the county league with four wins & a draw. They averaged just under 24ppg and conceded 13.75ppg. Clerihan finished third with two wins and averaged under 13ppg & conceded just under 16ppg.
Knockshegowna v Clerihan in Templemore on Sunday May 25th @ 3pm. Gerry Treacy on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Knockshegowna to come out on top.
Rosegreen topped division six on score difference with four wins and a draw. They averaged just under 27ppg and conceded just under 14ppg across the five games. Thurles Gaels finished in fourth with two wins from five. They averaged 14.4ppg and conceded 21.6ppg.
Rosegreen v Thurles Gaels in Holycross on Sunday May 25th @ 7pm. Merk Gennery on the whistle.
The Premier ‘View’ verdict – Rosegreen to come out on top.
All fixtures are updated on Tipperary GAA | Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Thiobraid Árann
County Football Leagues
There were no semi-finals in the footballs leagues and the four finals were played on the weekend May 16-18.
Commercials had two points to spare over JK Brackens, 0-20 to 1-15 in the Division 1 final & take home the Dr. Clifford cup. Commercials were five down at the break but with had four 2-points in the second half with three of them coming from the boot of Darragh O’Connor to tank for their comeback win. Brackens were not helped by a second half red card.
Commercials claim Division 1 league title with narrow win over rivals JK Brackens – Tipperary Live
The Tipperymans cup for the Division 2 champions went West where Golden/Kilfeacle needed a second half goal blitz to get the better of Grangemockler/Ballyneale 5-14 to 2-15
Goals prove crucial as Golden Kifeacle win Tipperaryman’s Cup – Tipperary Live
Moyne/Templetouhy had seven points to spare over Clonmel Óg, 1-16 to 2-09, while Borrisokane proved too strong for Killenaule, 4-12 to 1-11 to take home the Division 3 & Division 4 football shields.
Considering three of their victories came against perennial Dan Breen knockout sides.