Quarter Finals, Front and Centre, this coming Weekend.
By Noel Dundon, Tipperary Media.
With games kicking off earlier and earlier in the evening it is getting harder to make a lot of them. And, the sad thing is that there are some brilliant games down for decision these days – especially at divisional level.
So, we are at County Senior Hurling Quarter Finals stage of the FBD championship and a hell of a lot to play for next weekend. FBD Semple Stadium will host two double headers, so it will be a bumper weekend there following a busy weekend just gone with the Fiserv fun day providing action of a different kind.
This is the real business end of the championship and it’s where every team which sets out at the start wants to be. Teams falter and fall; others get lucky; others still, unlucky. But, by and large, the best eight teams in Tipperary end up in the quarter finals- that is, the best in-form teams in the county.
Admittedly, the group stages and the kind of draws which emerge can assist some teams and hinder others. There are probably a few sides curling their toes at the present time who would feel that they could take out a few of those still in the last eight. But you know what, they had their chance and their lot is their lot.
Of course it will be the very same after next Sunday – four teams will be alive and another four will have faced hurlings Grim Reaper with their season over for another season, and their hopes and dreams ended.
So, who will those four teams be? – those on the run-in to the semi-finals that is. Well, everything is to play for and apart from perhaps the Kiladangan vs Moycarkey Borris clash, there is more than a strong element of unpredictability about the other clashes. The defending county champions would be expected to emerge from that game on Saturday afternoon and while Moycarkey Borris will have a ‘free-shot’ of sorts, one would expect them to not have the ammunition to inflict fatal wounds on the Kiladangan men.
Although, if they can summon the same kind of approach to the clash as Clonoulty Rossmore did in the first round of the round robin, then who knows? How fortunate the Kiladangan men were to survive that day and they have improved steadily since. They will relish Semple Stadium too, so in reality it points to a difficult assignment for the mid finalists who will be delighted to be featuring at this stage.
Toomevara and JK Brackens – now there’s a tasty dish. Brackens need to find their earlier championship form and put their last outing behind them. They too will be happy to be plying their trade in Semple Stadium and will hope to use the expanses to their advantage.Toomevara will like it too and any space afforded to Darragh McCarthy and co could prove crucial. Having lost the U19A semi-final last weekend the Greyhounds will wish to remain in the senior mix – they are fancied, but Brackens are a most dangerous foe.
Loughmore Castleiney have the look of a team which could win the Dan Breen Cup. They have more than ticked all the boxes so far this season and we all know how they perform at this stage of the championship. But, Kilruane MacDonagh’s have form too. Both are recent champions; both would have expected to kick on and win more; both have designs on relieving Kiladangan of the silverware; both will feel that this is a 50/50 game. It’s hard to argue with both. A breaking ball could call this game.
Those who witnessed Sarsfields and Nenagh going at it last year in Borrisoleigh know what a cracking game it was. Expect a similar clash on Sunday. Discount the north men’s form en-route to this stage – they are most fortunate to be here with two defeats to their name already – Nenagh Éire Óg will come to Thurles with all guns blazing. The question is, will Sarsfields? Their form has been up and down – they hadn’t won a game up to the first round of the county championship, but have won all their games since. Are they coming to their peak at the right time? Time will tell, as it always does.
Prediction for next weekend then? Two mid victories and two north ones – question is which two? Enjoy what should be a bumper weekend and do your best to get to the games. Remember, nothing beats being there.