Will it be third time lucky for Shannon Rovers

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January 01, 1970

FBD Insurance Intermediate Championship


'Will it be third time lucky for Shannon Rovers?'

Having lost 2 intermediate county finals in a row Shannon Rovers will be hoping that 2022 will be their year. A quick look at the teams that make up the Intermediate grade and everyone will agree that it won’t be an easy task as once again the Intermediate championship is looking as mouth watering and close as ever. Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams looked very strong in last year’s group stages but needed extra time to get past Kilruane MacDonagh’s in a highly entertaining semi-final. While Shannon Rovers were put to the pin of their collar against Borris-Ileigh in their semi-final while Newport Ballinahinch have already displayed good form this year reaching the league final. Then throw in Toomevara (down from senior) and Boherlahan Dualla (up from Junior) into the mix and it makes it almost impossible to call who will win this year’s championship.


As last year’s finalists Shannon Rovers will be many people’s favourites. Manager Vincent McKenna has plenty of county players to call on with senior goalkeeper Aine Slattery between the posts along with Aoife McGrath and Eimear Fogarty from the junior team while Emma Darcy, Frances Bugler, Niamh Franks, Celine Guinan and Eimear Fogarty were all part of the Tipperary minor panel this year. They get their campaign underway with a tricky away fixture against Newport Ballinahinch. Newport Ballinahinch will be eager to make a top 4 spot this year having missed out last year. They showed good form earlier this year reaching the league final where they lost to Boherlahan Dualla despite scoring 15 points (a score which would win many camogie matches). Former Tipperary Senior panellists Keely Lenihan and Caroline Mullaney will be key to their ambitions this year with Keely scoring 7 points in the league final. Keely’s younger sister Abbie was centre back on the Tipperary minor team that reached the All-Ireland final this year and will also be a crucial player for them this year along with county players Saoirse McGrath and Grace O’Toole.


Boherlahan Dualla play their first ever Intermediate championship game this weekend against Borris-Ileigh. After capturing the league title this year could they do a ‘Kickhams’ on it and go from Junior A to senior in 2 years? As a club they certainly have the momentum. Captained by Sarah Delaney the team includes, Tipperary junior captain Clodagh Horgan her sister and Tipperary minor wing back Emma Horgan and minor forward Lisa O’Connor up front. Borris-Ileigh last won a county intermediate title in 2014. They held their own at senior level for a number of years bringing Burgess-Duharra to a replay in 2017 before returning to the Intermediate ranks a few years later. The team has a nice mix of youth and experience with Tipperary senior joint captain and Julieanne Bourke in defence and teammate Nicole Walsh in the forwards. They also have Niamh McGrath, Noirin Stapleton and Nora O’Brien available from the 2014 winning side. Its manager Sean Maher’s second year in charge and he will be working to find the right balance between the youth and experience.  Aoife Fitzgerald, Emma Maher and Ava Bevans were members of the Tipperary U16 panel this year while they also have the likes of former Tipperary juvenile players Dani Ryan, Emma Galvin and Katie Fitzgerald. They came very close to a final appearance last year and will be hoping to get off to a winning start this weekend.


Kilruane MacDonagh’s will be favourites against Cahir on Saturday evening having beaten them well in the league earlier this year 2-12 to 0-5 points. Aisling McCarthy (AFLW) and Aishling Moloney (cruciate) have been huge losses for them since they came up from junior last year and they struggled in many of their games without them. Tipperary senior player Roisin Howard is their key player while minor dual player Niamh Costigan will also trouble many defenders. Kilruane will be aiming to win the intermediate championship this year after coming so close to beating Kickhams in last year’s semi-final. Tipperary senior player Laura Shinners was their star player that day and will likely man the no 6 spot for them this year. Mary Walsh,  and Lisa Cahill are other standout performers for them.


Having struggled to find their footing at senior level the last few years Toomevara are back in the Intermediate grade this year (a grade they last won in 2019). They will be a handful for any team at Intermediate with Tipperary Junior player Mags Quigley in defence and sisters Shauna and Gill Anne Quirke up front. Elsewhere Laoise Cummins a hard working and skilful forward captains the team. Toomevara are managed this year by Pat McCormack whose daughter Aisling plays corner forward. It will be interesting to see how how they will go at intermediate this year and if they will occupy a coveted top 4 spot after the group stages to qualify for a county semi-final.


Intermediate C/Ship

Boherlahan Dualla v Borris-Ileigh at 6.30pm

Ref: Jason Lyons


Cahir v Kilruane MacDonagh’s at 6pm

Ref: M.Duffy


Newport Ballinhainch v Shannon Rovers at 6.30pm

Ref: Tommy Ryan