Intermediate Club Hurling Power Rankings, The 5th and Final One for 2024 with added Final Prediction.
16. Upperchurch/Drombane
Just failed to deliver all Year, at this grade with a lot of the focus within the club on a swift return for the first Team to the Senior ranks, which didn’t materialize either. A Year to forget for the Mid Club.
No Change.
15. Ballybacon/Grange
The Great Escape done, for another Year. Their most complete performance of the Year with their highest scoring total. Óisin Ryan gave them a real platform.
No Change.
14. Skeheenarinky
13. Arravale Rovers
12. Clonoulty Rossmore
11. Carrick Davins
10. Kilsheelan Kilcash
9. Drom & Inch
8. Borrisokane
7. Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams
6. Portroe
5. Shannon Rovers
4. Cappawhite
Happy to be there one ‘pundit’ said. The West men gave a good account of themselves and had victory in their sights but the experience of Moneygall and lack of discipline on their own side will haunt them over the Winter.
No Change.
3. Golden Kilfeacle
A lot of peoples second favourites all year, came a cropper in the semi-final. Will look back on the game with some regret and maybe doubling up on Dylan Walsh was the way to go. Ben Currivan’s early second half injury didn’t help matters.
Down 1.
2. Ballingarry
They have shown all the resilience needed to win a County final throughout the competition. Unbeaten all Year, they will be full of confidence none more so than Dylan Walsh whose 0-12 point haul in the semi-final was key to that victory.
Up 1.
1. Moneygall
The North men retain their number 1 position in our Rankings but, can count themselves lucky Cappawhite didn’t take their chances in the semi-final. It may have been the kick in the backside, Moneygall needed and they’ll be on high alert going into the final.
No Change.
Intermediate Hurling Final Prediction.
Saturday October 12th in Templetouhy will see the culmination of the FBD County Intermediate Hurling Championship.
It’s hard to argue against the notion that the two best teams are not in the final. Both teams go into the final unbeaten in the Divisional and County Championships while Ballingarry are unbeaten in 2024 in League and Championship. Moneygall have suffered only one defeat in 2024 and that was against their Final opponents, Ballingarry in the Division 3 League final at the same venue back in June. Ballingarry running out comfortable 1-24 to 1-13 victors on that occasion. One Caveat to that result though, Moneygall were missing 8 Players that have since featured in this Year’s Intermediate Championship.
Both sides have been relegated from the Senior grade in the recent past, Moneygall dropped down at the end of the 2010 season with the Championship restructure that took place that Year, while Ballingarry suffered the same fate in 2020, beaten by Sean Treacy’s in the Premier Intermediate Relegation Final. The re-structuring of the championships into three tiers of 16 sees both currently plying their trade in the Third tier.
The sides meet in Championship action for the 3rd time in four years with Moneygall coming out on top in the previous two encounters. Both were close games with Moneygall coming out on top 1-19 to 1-16 in the 2021 quarter-final while a late Sean Kenneally penalty was the difference between the sides in the 2022(1-14 to 1-12) round robin.
Both teams have one Tipperary Intermediate title under their belts with Ballingarry winning the inaugural title in 1979 while Moneygalls victory came in 1991. Moneygall were beaten finalists in 2022.
Moneygall have played 5 games in this years Championship cantering to victory in the first 4 games with winning margins of 11, 10, 30 and 8 Points but, were made to work hard for their two-point semi-final victory over Cappawhite. Ballingarry on the other hand are used to battling in their 4 games so far in the County Intermediate Championship have come out on top by the minimum on all four occasions.
Dylan Walsh carries the scoring load for the South men amassing a whopping 3-37 in the Championship so far with 2-14 coming from general play. Conor Vaughan is an able back-up contributing 1-09. For Moneygall it’s the Quadruple threat of brothers Joe and Paddy Fogarty alongside Seanie Keneally & Adam Hogan who are to the fore. Keneally has scored a brilliant 6-23 from play and is the top scorer for Moneygall, Joe Fogarty (2-33), Paddy Fogarty (4-10) & Adam Hogan (2-20) also have handsome totals.
Moneygall rightly go in as favourites, as they have been from the start of the competition but don’t rule out a shock. The Northmen have been on high alert since the semi-final and will also have the League Final result in the back of their mind.