FBD Insurance Adult Club Championship Preview

The dust has firmly settled on the intercounty camogie scene and attention has now turned to the eagerly anticipated FBD Insurance Adult Club Championship. This is the third year of FBD Insurance’s sponsorship of the camogie club championship and since they have come on board it has really elevated the competitions to new levels as the growth and interest and attendances at games has rocketed in recent years. As has the competition on the field which each grade keenly contested and producing classic encounters week in week out with 2023 expected to be no different.

Senior

The senior championship involves 2 groups of 5 with the top 4 teams in each group reaching quarter finals. Drom-Inch’s bid for an impressive 5 county titles in a row took a huge setback recently with the news that goalkeeper Caoimhe Bourke has suffered a cruciate ligament tear ruling her out for the season. One of Drom-Inch’s top players last year her loss will be immense as she has produced some of the standout moments of the championship in recent years. They still have huge talent in the McGrath sisters Aoife and Eimear, Niamh Treacy and Mairead Eviston but whether they can cope with the loss of Caoimhe along with keeping the hunger and drive going for another season is remain to be seen. Clonoulty Rossmore pose their biggest threat in recent years pushing them all the way in last year’s final. Younger players such as Kate Ferncombe and Lorna Ryan are improving with every season and along with the more experienced Cait Devane, Courtney Ryan, Clodagh Quirke and Eimer Loughman they will be hoping 2023 is the year they can make the breakthrough. Eire Og Annacarty and Cashel both reached last year’s semi-final and boasts plenty of county talent. Annacarty’s Ciannait Walsh and Jean Kelly in particular had great years with the Tipp Juniors while for Cashel Karin Blair cemented her place in Denis Kelly’s starting team. Cashel can also call on the experience and talents of Una O’Dwyer and Philly Fogarty but it’s whether Irish senior hockey talent Caoimhe Perdue is available that could be the difference of going one step further and reaching a senior final in 2023. Outside of last year’s top 4 is Thurles Sarsfields, Knocavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Silvermines, Burgess Duharra and Nenagh Eire Og – 5 teams more than capable of beating any team in the championship on a given day. Kickhams will be stronger with the return of Caoimhe McCarthy from injury, Sarsfields have arguably the best player in Tipp in Karen Kennedy while Silvermines had strong representation on the Tipperary Junior panel this year. Consistency will be key for all in order to be in the business end of the championship. The final team to key a watchful eye on in this year’s senior championship will be Borris-ileigh who put down a serious marker by winning the league earlier in the year to continue their winning ways after Intermediate championship success in 2022. Julieanne Bourke, Tess Ryan and Nicole Walsh are household names with Tipp seniors while Katie Fitzgerald was key to Tipperary Juniors great run to an All-Ireland final. A fascinating championship awaits. 

Intermediate 

Seven teams will contest this year’s Intermediate championship with the top 4 teams making the semi-finals. Like last year there is just one group so consistency and peaking for a semi-final will be key. Kilruane MacDonagh’s pushed winners Borris-Ileigh all the way last year losing out after two periods of extra time. Lisa Cahill will be key for them in defence while Laura Shinners was a huge goal getter last year. Shannon Rovers have been runners up in recent years and with Aine Slattery, Celine Guinan, Niamh Franks, Aoife Mcloughney and Laura Leenane they will be strong contenders again this year. They were beaten earlier in the year in the league final by a very impressive Toomevara who in Gill Anne Quirke and Gemma McCarty have two of the top forwards in this year’s championship. Moneygall will relish the opportunity to make an big impact in their first year back at intermediate and with Mary Ryan, Niamh Larkin and Julie Kirwan they have plenty of talent. Newport Ballinhainch were unlucky not to reach a final last year but have lost Keeley Lenihan to travels from last year’s starting 15 while her sister Abbie continues to struggle with an ankle injury. They will look to Saoirse McGrath and Caroline Mullaney to lead their bid for glory. Roisin Howard had an excellent year with Tipperary this year and will be key to Cahir’s success again this year. They put in some brilliant performances last year but lost out in some tight games. Boherlahan Dualla will also be hoping for a big impact this year having had a debut season last year at intermediate level. Clodagh Horgan impressed for Tipperary Juniors this year while Paula Quirke, Danielle Ryan and Anna Murphy are other key players to look out for.

Junior A 

Brian Borus led by Tipperary Junior player Eimer Myles will be hoping they can go one step further this year but will also be well aware of the threat all the clubs in this grade pose. Group 1 consists of Brian Borus, Kiladangan, Templemore, Drom-Inch and Lorrha. While Ballina, St Rita’s Fethard, Moycarkey Borris and Holycross Ballycahill make up group 2. Holycross Ballycahill defeated Kiladangan in the league final after a replay and both are likely to do well in the championship. Moycarkey Borris while only coming up from Junior B have huge potential with lots of underage talent such as Amy Callanan, Kate Ralph and Sarah Corcoran. Clodagh McIntrye will be Lorrha’s key player while Templemore, Drom-Inch and Ballina will be a handful for any opposition. 

Junior B

With Moycarkey Borris the standout team last year promoted to Junior A the 8 other clubs from last season will be confident of doing really well this season. While Clonoulty Rossmore who won last year’s Junior B2 will also look to handle the step up well. Having been beaten in last year’s final Portroe set out their intentions early this year capturing the Junior B league. Trish O’Halloran is their main player at centre back while Aisling Sheedy, Yasmin Madden and Grace Mulrooney are others who impressed last year. Gortnahoe Glengoole, Carrick Swans, Ballingarry, Moyle Rovers, Silvermines, Cashel King Cormacs, and St Cronan’s make up  the remaining teams. Again another closely contested championship is on the cards. 

Junior B2

Shannon Rovers were beaten finalists in 2023 and if they don’t loose too many players to their Intermediate team will be serious contenders again this year. Others who have come close to winning this competition since it’s formation include Eire Og Annacarty and Toomevara. Borris-Ileigh have entered a team this year for the first time while Burgess Duharra and Holycross Ballycahill reached the league final this year (which Holycross won) indicating the strength of both clubs also. While Brian Borus who continue to grow from strength to strength also have a second adult team competing at Junior B2. A very difficult competition to predict with every club confident of doing well. 

Junior C

Only 3 teams contest the newly formed Junior C championship this year namely Ballybacon Grange, Rockwell Rovers and Slieve Felim. It will be Rockwell Rovers and Slieve Felim’s first time ever competing in the Adult Championship having earlier competed in the league. All 3 clubs have put in huge work since their formation and have enjoyed success at juvenile level so  it’s no surprised that they have reached this stage. Ballybacon are a bit further down the road in development and won the league earlier in the year but not after a close battle with Rockwell. It should prove to be a another closely fought competition that will go right down to the wire. 

This Weeks Fixtures

Senior

Group 1 

Sunday 20th August 

Nenagh Eire Og Vs Silvermines in Nenagh @ 2pm

Drom-Inch Vs Burgess Duharra in Drom-Inch GAA @ 11am

Group 2

Friday 18th August  

Clonoulty Rossmore Vs Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in CLonoulty GAA @ 7.15pm 

Sunday 20th August

Borris-Ileigh VS Cashel King Cormacs in Borrisoleigh @ 2pm

Intermediate

Saturday 19th August

Cahir VS Kilruane MacDonaghs in Cahir GAA @ 7pm

Sunday 20th August

Moneygall Vs Shannon Rovers in Moneygall @ 11.30am

Toomevara Vs Boherlahan Dualla in Toomevara @ 2pm

Junior A 

Group 1

Saturday 19th August

Brian Borus Vs Kiladangan in Ballylooby @ 6.30pm

Templemore Vs Drom-Inch in Clonmore @ 7pm

Group 2

Saturday 19th August

Ballina Vs Moycarkey Borris in Ballina @ 7pm

St Rita’s Fethard Vs Holycross Ballycahill in Fethard GAA @ 7.15pm

Junior B

Group 1

Saturday 19th August

St Cronan’s Roscrea Vs Cashel King Cormacs in Roscrea @7.30pm

Ballingarry Vs Carrick Swans in Ballingarry @ 7pm

Group 2

Friday 18th August

Silvermines Vs Portroe in Dolla @ 7.30pm

Saturday 19th August

Moyle Rovers Vs Gortnahoe Glengoole in Monroe @ 7.30pm

Junior B2

Group 1

Wednesday 16th August 

Burgess Duharra Vs Holycross Ballycahill in Kilcoleman @7.30pm

Group 2

Friday 18th August

Borris-ileigh Vs Eire Og Annacarty in Borrisoleigh @ 7.30pm

Junior C

Thursday 17th August

Slieve Felim Raparees Vs Rockwell Rovers in Drombane @ 7.30pm