FBD Insurance Junior A CHampionship Preview

'Moneygall  looking to go one step further!'

Nine teams will contest this year’s Junior A Championship with Holycross Ballycahill, Templemore, Drom-Inch, St Rita’s Fethard and Moneygall making up group 1. Group 2 consists of Lorrha, Ballina, Kiladangan and Brian Borus. Having lost last year’s final to Boherlahan Dualla Moneygall will be expected to have a big say in this year’s championship. With Mary Ryan commanding things at centre back and Mairead Teehan in terrific form they will be a very formidable outfit once again. Mairead Teehan was joined on the Offaly senior panel this year by Edwina King and Catriona Doughan while former Tipperary All-Ireland winner and All-Star Julie Kirwan also returns to the team this year which will boost their chances of success. Moneygall take on a Templemore side who will fancy their chances this year after some impressive displays in Junior A last year. Both sides will be keen to get their championship off to a winning start. Throw in is at 6pm in Clonmore on Saturday. Drom-Inch ran Moneygall close in last year’s county semi-final and have plenty of good quality players that could go a step further this year such as Grainne Long, Kate Fogarty, Patricia McGrath and Niamh Shanahan. Like any second team their success or failure could depend largely on whether players are used on the first team. They travel to Fethard on Sunday evening for their opening game against St Ritas’s who are in their 3rd year up in junior A having won the Junior B in 2019. They were beaten in the 2020 league final against Boherlahan Dualla and will be hoping to continue to make strides this year. The team includes 4 players who haven been on county Minor panels in the last few years, captain Alison Connolly,Leah Coen ,Nell Spillane and Aine Ryan. Along with Tipperary senior football players Lucy Spillane and Carrie Davey and Kate Davey plus with the experience heads of Dee Toomey and Katie Ryan there is a very good balance to the team.

Holycross Ballycahill are another team that will go into this year’s championship with confidence after a good league campaign where they were beaten in this year’s league final by Kiladangan after extra time. Claire Stakelum had a good season with the Tipperary juniors this year and will no doubt bring that form into the club championship. Anna Gavin and Siobhan Ryan have all previous experience playing with Tipperary while Meabh Ryan was a sub on this year’s minor panel.

It’s new terriorty for Lorrha this year having captured the Junior B title in style last year. They certainly won’t shy away from the challenge of playing against more experienced Junior A teams. Tipperary senior player Clodagh McIntyre is a huge asset in their team and usually operates in midfield. While Caoimhe Kennedy, Elaine Hogan and Katie Kennedy have previously donned the blue and gold. Their opening game is at home this Sunday against Ballina who has Tipperary Junior panellist Aoibhean Ward in their team. Brian Borus will make the long trip to Kiladangan for their opening fixture. Kiladangan were impressive this year when capturing the league title. Paula Kelly and Emma Mulqueen scored some lovely points in that final and will be key to Kiladangan’s progress in the championship. Sinead Meagher is also another key player and will trouble any defence with her excellent fielding and ability to score from distance. Brian Borus are formidable outfit and are more than capable of beating any of their opponents. Kacey Meehan was the county minor goalie this year while Mary Barrett and Alison O’Mahony were on the county junior panel. They have lots of pace and I expect them to improve greatly again this year having recently come up from Junior B.

FBD Insurance Round 1 Championship Fixtures (First named team at home)

Saturday 20th Aug

Jnr A C/Ship Grp 1

Templemore v Moneygall at 6pm in Clonmore

Ref: Donal leahy

Jnr A C/Ship Grp 2

Kiladangan v Brian Borus at 6.30pm

Ref: Mike Ryan

Sunday 21st Aug

Jnr A C/Ship Grp 1

St.Ritas v Drom-Inch at 6pm

Ref: Jim Symons