Commercials and Loughmore the two favourites once more for Tipp football glory
The football championship has been dominated in recent years by Clonmel Commercials and Loughmore Castleiney. Both will be to the fore again so the championship looks more clear cut than the hurling. Last years semi finalists are all top seeds for this year and all four will be favourites to top their groups in the county championships. The groups are as follows:
Tipperary Football Senior Championship
Group 1: Clonmel Comm, Kilsheelan Kilcash, Drom-Inch, Eire Og Annacarty
Group 2: Loughmore Castleiney, Ardfinnan, Moycarkey Borris, Ballina
Group 3: Upperchurch-Drombane, Arravale Rovers, Killenaule, Cahir
Group 4: Moyle Rovers, JK Brackens, Ballyporeen, Rockwell Rovers
Clonmel Commercials have been the standard bearers for the past decade and will once more be the team to beat with the three Kennedy brothers leading the way for the club in the same way they lead the county side when fit.
Drom-Inch are strong opponents when they focus on the game and they will need the likes of David Butler and Emmet Moloney playing well to progress against the south sides. Eire Og will be in the mix too for the second spot if they can get a win in their first game to set up the group in their favour.
Loughmore as per usual will be expected to come through group 2 but Moycarkey and Ardfinnan will be tested by the Steven O'Brien led Ballina for the other knockout place. Group 3 sees the new force in football Upperchurch, led by county senior player Keith Ryan, up against Arravale while Killenaule are always capable of causing an upset if the Feehans are playing. JK Brackens, with the Cadells and Jack Kennedy providing leadership, will push Moyle Rovers close in group 4 for the top spot and in some ways they have under-achieved in the county championship considering the quality players they have.
Tipperary Intermediate Football Championship:
Group 1: Golden-Kilfeacle, Clonmel Commercials, Moyne-Templetuohy, Moyle Rovers
Group 2: Grangemockler Ballyneale, Fethard, Fr Sheehys, Clonmel Og
Group 3: Mullinahone, Aherlow, Galtee Rovers, Loughmore Castleiney, Thurles Sars, JK Brackens
The Intermediate championship looks like an open field but with Golden Kilfeacle always competitive they will be favourites in group 1. Tipp defender Shane O'Connell is their leader and they have pushed towards the closing stages of the championship in recent years without getting over the line. Grangemockler will be the team to beat in group 2.They are a young developing side who have reached the final in recent times where they met a strong Drom Inch side filled with experience.
Also in the mix there will be Fethard who are looking to reclaim the glory days of old. They will push hard to qualify in top place. Mullinahone did very well in recent years and again they will be in the mix for the knockout stages of the championship from group 3 but the frequency of games will play a part and they need all players fit to compete.
Thurles Sarsfields will be the dark horses here and indeed for the county if they can keep all players fit as the season wears on. Under Peter Creedon they have developed and a cohort of young players are skilful and fast. Last years experience in the Munster club championship will stand to them.
All in all the Intermediate championship is wide open and dual clubs will be to the fore here. The championship structure meant dual clubs were busy last year playing week on week but Loughmore and Upperchurch have both shown that a lot can be achieved by playing both codes.