PREVIEW: All-Ireland title on the line for Tipperary club in Limerick this Saturday

Junior B Series All-Ireland Hurling Final - PREVIEW

Cappawhite vs Kildimo Pallaskenry in Killeedy, Saturday, March 1 @ 2 pm

By Michael McCarthy

Situated in West Tipperary bordering Doon in Limerick, Cappawhite will look to become the sixth winner of the prestigious All-Ireland Junior B Hurling Series final when they take on Kildimo/Pallaskenry of Limerick on Saturday at 2 pm in Raheenagh, home of Kileedy GAA.

The pairing is a repeat of the Munster Final in which the Limerick champions came out on top by the minimum. Doon native Rodger Ryan was the Kildimo sharpshooter that day with a hat-trick of goals to his credit and Cappawhite will have to tighten up on him this weekend. 

Incidentally, the score line was a replica of 12 months previous (3-8 to 1-13) when Tipp’s Drom & Inch staged a late comeback to take the Munster title. 

On that occasion Monaleen were the one point loser but managed to overturn the result in the All Ireland final. Cappawhite will be hoping for a similar turn of fortune. 

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Cappa' have suffered two losses in the championship campaign to date, going down to near neighbours Eire Og Annacarty in the round robin of the West Tipperary Division and the Munster final defeat. 

Golden/Kilfeacle were Cappawhite's first opponents on June 14th where a resounding 3-20 to 0-14 victory saw them up and running, the loss to Eire Og Annacarty (1-26 to 2-15) followed in round two in July before Emly were beaten in round 3 (2-16 to 1-11), a walkover from out of contention Galtee Rovers set up a Quarter Final clash with Knockavilla Kickhams. 

A 3-17 to 0-14 win meant a semi-final tilt against reigning champions Solohead. The game took place under lights in Clonoulty and an Anthony Barry inspired performance(4-05) saw the champions dethroned 4-15 to 2-9. 

Eire Og Annacarty were the West final opponents and a titanic battle ensued. Eire Og did all the running early and led 1-08 to 1-05 at half time and deep into injury time still held that lead, however a long range free, Anthony Barry found its way to the net and extra time was needed. 

Cappawhite outscored their opponents 0-05 to 0-02 to claim a first title (2-16 to 2-13) since 2017. St Patrick's of Drangan were dispatched in the quarter-final (3-15 to 0-11) while Newport (0-18 to 0-15) met the same fate in the semi-final. 

Silvermines of North Tipp were the County final opponents in Kilcommon on October 26th. In a tense and exciting game, Anthony Barry's two goals inside ten minutes would prove to be huge scores as the West Tipperary side won out 3-9 to 0-14 and claim a first ever County Junior B Hurling title and take home the Tim Maher cup. 

Cappawhite had to wait until January to get back into action against Buttevant of Cork, who had dispatched a Dan Shanahan-inspired Lismore, in the quarter-final. 

Anthony Barry again the main man and pilfered another goal in the first half as the Tipp side had three to spare at the final whistle (1-15 to 2-9). 

Barry again was on target for a green flag in the Munster final but on this occasion despite a spirited second half comeback Cappawhite couldn't catch their opponents and Kildimo/Pallaskenry were worthy winners albeit by just one point. 

Three castes of Kilkenny defeated Kilrush/Askamore in the Leinster final and were Cappawhites’ All-Ireland semi-final opponents. The Tipp side led from the off thanks to another Anthony Barry goal inside 90 seconds and when his namesake Pakie netted the second the Tipp side didn't look back. 

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The Leinster side would get as close as two but couldn't find a winner and Cappawhite advanced to the final on the back of a 2-11 to 0-15 victory. 

Cappawhite are managed by Eamonn Buckley and coached by the infamous Bertie Sherlock while Owen Doody is also part of the management team. John Minogue is Eamonn's right-hand man and heads up the logistics team. 

Darragh Barry returned to play in the 2024 campaign following a few idle years and has been a revelation between the sticks. He is assured and confident and well able to marshal the troops. 

Ross Dunne and Ben White have returned from injury to take up positions in the full back line while 2001 All-Ireland medal winner with Tipp Thomas Costello also knocks around the full back line. 

Semi-final man of the match Ciarán Ryan is rock solid in the half back line. Paddy Julian is as lively as ever in the middle of the field and normally when he plays well so does the rest of the team. 

There is no doubting that Anthony Barry is a talisman upfront, but Pakie Barry (no relation), Michael O'Neill, and Eoghan Ryan give lots of help. Ciarán Doody, who started his first game against Three castles, had given lots of firepower from the bench. 

There is a nice blend of youth and experience in the Cappa' team and they are really looking forward to the challenge, and representing Tipperary in an All-Ireland final. 

Clonoulty/Rossmore were the last Tipp team in 2021 to win the title while Thurles Sarsfields (2018), Holycross Ballycahill (2014), Roscrea (2013) and Ballingarry (2008) have all won previously. Killenaule, Upperchurch Drombane and Drom & Inch have been the other Tipp clubs to play on Junior B Hurling's biggest day. 

If you were to drive the R505 starting in Cappamore to Thurles you would pass through eight clubs, four of them have all Ireland titles at Junior B (Doon, Clonoulty Rossmore, Holycross Ballycahill, and Thurles Sars), Cappamore were beaten finalists in 2019, while Eire Og Annacarty were beaten semi-finalists in 2016. 

There is a rich tradition of Junior B hurling in this part of the country. Can Cappawhite add to their County title haul? Here's hoping.