FBD Insurance Championship Preview

Senior: Who can stop Drom-Inch’s reign? 

Senior

Group 1

Clonoulty Rossmore, Silvermines, Cashel King Cormacs, Shannon Rovers, Thurles Sarsfields

Group 2

Drom-Inch, Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Borris-ileigh, Burgess Duhara, Eire Og Annacarty

Will it be 6 in a row for Drom-Inch in 2024 or can Clonoulty Rossmore win their first title?

Or will the winners come from outside the 2 finalists of the last 4 years? These are the questions that are on most people’s minds as we look ahead to the start of the FBD Insurance senior championship. A 6^th county title in a row would be a huge ask for Drom-Inch especially when you look at how close Thurles Sarsfields  and Clonoulty Rossmore came to beating them last year. But still they had they know how and experience to grind out a victory on both occasions and that experience will likely stand to them once again this year. Speaking to Tipperary Camogie at the recent championship launch defender Eimear Cahill spoke of finding it easy to be motivated again this year. A new manager in David McGrath and coach in Brendan Healy is sure to bring some fresh ideas to the set up while they also have plenty of strength in depth with the club fielding both a senior and Junior A team. Key players include Mairead Eviston, Eimear McGrath and Mary Burke.

Clonoulty Rossmore looked really impressive in the league winning both the senior and junior b and they look to have strengthened their panel going into this year’s championship. Cora Hennessy is back operating outfield where she was sorley missed last year while other key players include Clodagh Quirke, Eimear Loughman in defence and Cait Devane and Courtney Ryan up front. Thurles Sarsfields had a brilliant 2023 narrowly losing to Drom-Inch in the semi-final. Caoimhe Stakelum, Lucy Purcell and Leanna Coppinger all played big roles in Tipp’s minor All-Ireland victory and the Sars manager David Maher will be hoping they’ll carry that good form into the senior championship. Karen Kennedy captains the team and is their most influential player while Aoife Dwyer and Emma Carey are other notable players. They will be looking to build on last years impressive form and have a big say in this year’s championship. Borris-ileigh reached last year’s semi-final and put in an excellent second half performance to really put Clonoulty Rossmore to the pin of their collar. Despite being the Tipperay senior goalkeeper this year Nicole Walsh is expected to play outfield while manager Sean Maher will be hoping Tess Ryan will be available as she struggled with injuries this year with Tipp. Julieanne Bourke is another important player for Borris and is usually tasked with marking the opposition’s main attackers. Borris have plenty of youth on their side with Ava Bevans and Aoife Fitzgerald winning minor All-Ireland titles this year. Again this year there is 2 groups of 5 with the top 4 teams making the quarter finals. While the bottom two teams face relegation. Nenagh Eire Og were relegated last year while Shannon Rovers won promotion from Intermediate. They have a new management team this year and it will be interesting to see how they go in their first year up senior. Silvermines have a new manager also this year in Pat Ryan who previously guided Drom-Inch to 4 county titles in a row. They will be hoping to go further than last year when they were defeated in the quarter final. Eire Og Annacarty will have been disappointed they didn’t get further last year and are a side with plenty of talent with Eva O’Dwyer, Gemma Fox and Orla O’Brien all part of the All-Ireland winning Junior team. Cashel, Knockavilla and Burgess are 3 teams who are similar in that they all have a number of Tipp senior and Junior players in their starting 15 and all 3 have the capabilities of beating any of the opposition but do they have the strength in depth to get through a whole championship on top, it remains to be seen.

Intermediate:  

Group 1

Newport Ballinahinch, Cahir, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Moycarkey Borris

Group 2

Toomevara, Moneygall, Nenagh Eire Og, Boherlahan Dualla

This year the Intermediate championship is split into 2 groups of 4 teams. There is never much between any of the intermediate sides with games each week always very hard to call. Newport Ballinahinch were impressive winners of the league and will be hoping Emma Flanagan will bring her good form from the Tipp Juniors into the club championship while they also have Eimear Carey and Saoirse McGrath to call upon along with Tipp minor full back Aoife Mellerick. Roisin Howard and Niamh Costigan are two big players for Cahir while Kilruane MacDonagh’s will have Laura Shinners and Amy Quinlisk in their ranks. Kilruane had a very poor championship last year so will be hoping for big improvements from the start. Moycarkey Borris are up from Junior A having also won the Junior B the previous year. To win 3 county finals in a row would be some achievement but with players like Sarah Corcoran, Kate Ralph and Molly O’Dwyer they will go a long way in the intermediate championship. Having being beaten in last year’s final Moneygall will be hoping they can go one step further. They’re another team with plenty of talent with Mary Ryan, Edwina King and Caithyln Treacy to name just a few. Having been relegated last year Nenagh Eire Og will want to put down an early marker as they begin their championship campaign. Grace O’Brien is a huge asset up front and opposition teams will have to have a plan to try and curtail her influence. Toomevara were impressive this year in the league, losing out in the final. They also have Jill Anne Quirke to come back into the side fresh off a great year with the Tipperary Juniors. Boherlahan Dualla have settled in well to Intermediate having won promotion from Junior A a few years ago.  Sarah Delaney and Clodagh Horgan are just two of their more experienced players while they also have county minor stars Paula Quirke and Sarah McLoughlin to call upon.

Junior A 

Group 1

Drom-Inch, Kiladangan, Gortnahoe Glengoole, Brian Borus, St Rita's Fethard,

Group 2

Holycross Ballycahill, Templemore, Ballina, Lorrha Dorrha

Moycarkey Borris were the standout team in 2023 beating Brian Borus in the semi-final and Holycross Ballycahill in the final. Both Brian Borus and Holycross met in this year’s league final with Brian Borus taking victory. They have been knocking on the door at Junior A for a number of years (lost to Moneygall in the 2022 final) and will be hoping this year lead by captain Helena Walsh they can make the breakthrough. Holycross Ballycahill are managed once again by the experience Declan Carr. They will look to get back to the final and make amends for last year. Elana McGrath is a lively forward who won a minor all Ireland this year while the experience of Claire Stakelum will also be vital for them this year. St Rita’s were beaten in the semi-fianl for the last 2 years so will be looking to go at least one step further and reach a final. Thye were impressive winners in the U21 tournament and the majority of the side will be the backbone of their junior side. Gortnahoe Glengoogle are up this year having won the Junior B in 2023. Their captain Sophie Pembroke recently was player of the match in this  All-Ireland Junior final. Tipperary junior captain Sinead Meagher will be the key forward for Kiladangan this year while in Aoife Gleeson they have an excellent keeper. Ballina struggled in last year’s championship so will be hoping for a big improvement this year. Templemore had some impressive results last year that they will be looking to build on and in Shona McBride they have a recent All-Ireland Junior winner. Clodagh McIntyre had a great season with Tipperary  this year and will no doubt be Lorrha’s most influenetail player. She will need plenty of assistance though if Lorrha were to reach the last 4.

Junior B

Group 1

Cashel King Cormacs, Ballingarry, Silvermines, Portroe, Carrick Swans

Group 2

Ballybacon Grange, Roscrea, Eire Og Annacarty, Clonoulty Rossmore, Moyle Rovers

Gortnahoe Glengoole were crowned Junior B champions last year after a replay against Moyle Rovers. Moyle Rovers will be hoping with Gortnahoe now promoted the chance will be there for them to excel. Hazel Brennan was part of the Tipperary junior panel that won the All-Ireland while Eabha Dolan, Ellie Franklin and Ava Wall won Minor All-Irelands with Tipp this year. Clonoulty Rossmore will also be serious contenders this year having won the league final impressively beating Annacarty in the final. Like Annacarty how they fair will depend a lot on whether they loose key players to their first team as the championship progresses. Portroe were beaten by Moycarkey Borris 2 years ago in the final but failed to get past the semi final last year.  On their day they too are a match for any team. Ballybacon Grange won the Junior C last  year and along with Ballingarry, Carrick Swans and Roscrea  have have lots of young players in their side and are well capable of taking point off each other so an intriguing competition awaits.

Junior B2

Group 1

Shannon Rovers, Moneygall, Kiladangan, Borris-Ileigh, Brian Borus

Group 2

Knockavilla Donaskeigh, Toomevara, Burgess Duharra, Holycross Ballycahill, Moycarkey Borris

The Junior B2 competition is one that is growing in numbers every year as more clubs establish second teams.This year that are 10 clubs in all with 2 groups of 5 teams, a reflection of the great development being done in clubs. With it being club’s second teams it can often be hard to predict as some teams will lose players to their first team as the championship progresses. Toomevara were beaten in last year’s final by Annacarty so will be hoping to go one step further this year. Shannon Rovers lost the 2022 final and reached the semi-final last year so they also have a good track record in the competition. For the likes of Knockavilla, Kiladangan and Moneygall it will be their first time having a second adult team and their teams compose of a real mix of youth and experience. Holycross, Brian Borus and Burgess all did well in the league and should go well in the championship.

Junior C

Slieve Felim, Rockwell Rovers, St Patrick's , Moyne Templetuohy

This is the second year of the Junior C competition which is for clubs fielding adult teams for their first time ever or in recent years. Ballybacon Grange were the winners in 2023 beating Slieve Felim in a tough final. Having the experience of last year’s final and having won the league Slieve Felim will be most peoples favourites to win this year’s championship. They also have some great underage talent coming through and are a club that are really thriving. They didn’t however get it all their own way in the league final with St Patrick’s lead by the excellent Lucy O’Brien pushing them all the way. Rockwell were beaten in last year’s semi final and that will stand to them heading into the championship where they will also be hoping to have a big say. Moyne Templetuohy make up the final team in the competition and with a mix of youth and experience they will also be a tricky assignment for any opposition.