North Clubs dominate drop-zone.
By Noel Dundon.
A weekend of high drama on the hurling field has left the scene very clear indeed as the concluding stages of the FBD Insurance county senior hurling championship approaches.
It will be all-north division relegation battle with Borris-Ileigh, Lorrha Dorrha, Templederry and Roscrea facing the unwanted trial of the drop-zone dog fight – only Lorrha Dorrha won their final group game in the championship and this will perhaps boost their confidence. And, apart from Lorrha Dorrha, only Borris-Ileigh from the remaining teams have actually won a match in the 2024 campaign so far.
So, there can be few complaints then for the clubs involved at this end of the championship, but what an intriguing fight it will be. The divisional aspect of the last three games will greatly enhance the drama and tension – nobody wants to be in this position, but it is the clubs which embrace the scenario best who will survive.
The team which drops will have lost four or more championship games and that surely is enough indication that regrading is necessary and can actually benefit the side. It is never easy to go down; it is very hard to get back up again; but in the greater scheme of things, being competitive in whichever grade a club finds itself is better than continuing on a losing streak all the time – that benefits nobody.
At the other end it’s fairly acceptable to say that the top seeds would have been predictable enough before any ball was thrown-in. Champions Kiladangan; last year’s finalists Thurles Sarsfields; mid champions Loughmore Castleiney; and Toomevara all occupy top slots – this means that the Board is saved having to include preliminary quarter finals and therefore a weekend is spared in the heavy fixture-clogged calendar.
The Runners-up who progress are Kilruane MacDonagh, Moycarkey Borris, Nenagh Éire Óg and JK Brackens. Interestingly, the first three second seed qualifiers all lost their opening games in the round-robin, but recovered sufficiently to make it through – Nenagh Éire Óg lost the opening game and their final game, but by virtue of Lorrha Dorrha sucker punching Holycross Ballycahill with a five goal blitz, they get through on scoring difference. Who saw that one coming??
Take a look at the teams left – nobody from the west, nobody from the south – what does that say about the balance of power in the hurling stakes in Tipperary? Of course had there been a west championship at all Clonoulty Rossmore would likely be in the mix too with a preliminary quarter final – provided they won the west.
It’s the first time in many years that the Clonoulty Rossmore men will not feature in the closing stages of the championship – how fatal their injury-time capitulation in the first round against Kiladangan has proven for them. They were eight up and coasting as injury time approached and found a way to not win the game. It was a disaster for them and it has resulted in their season being unusually abrupt.
So, how will it run now?
One would think that each of the top seeds would be able for each of the runners-up, no matter how the draws work right, right? Of course not – that’s the beauty of sport. Who would have predicted that Lorrha Dorrha would have beaten Holycross Ballycahill this weekend? Not many gave Drom-Inch a chance against Borris-Ileigh, and yet the results went against the bookies form-line.
Well, expect a few more surprises along the way too. JK Brackens will be smarting at having coughed up 2-30 against Kiladagan and they will be out to prove their credentials. Nenagh Éire Óg will be trying to find consistency – this has been a difficulty for them for many campaigns, but if they can get on a run, they can be very dangerous, especially if they get to strut their stuff in Semple Stadium.
Kilruane MacDonagh – champions only two seasons ago remember – are lurking dangerously while Moycarkey Borris are in uncharted waters for the vast majority of their players – they have a free shot and they will relish it. All to play for. Bring it on.