Tipp club into Munster Intermediate final after brilliant win over Clare champions in Newport

Safety Direct Champions Challenge Tournament

Knockavilla Kickhams 3-15

Smith O’Brien’s Killaloe 0-13

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams laid down an early marker of their intentions for 2026 with an impressive display in the semi-final of the Safety Active Munster Intermediate Hurling Champions Challenge played last Saturday in Lacken Park, Newport. 

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This novel idea of a tournament for County Intermediate hurling champions was the inspiration of Newport GAA Club, who spotted an opportunity that existed following the decision of counties to send forward their Premier Intermediate winners as their representatives in the provincial Intermediate club championship. 

Upperchurch Drombane proved worthy Tipperary representatives last year as they proudly won not only the Munster Intermediate championship but also went on to win the All-Ireland title.

Newport GAA Club sought approval from Munster Council and received permission to run this new competition for counties Intermediate hurling champions. 

Precedents had already been set with Limerick clubs Killeedy and Knockaderry, running Junior B hurling and football tournaments successfully for many years. 

For this inaugural year, Newport succeeded in attracting four of the Munster counties to participate, considering it was out of season and coming late after the counties' 2025 championships concluded. 

Last Saturday, February 7, the intermediate hurling champions of Waterford and Limerick played the first semi-final, which resulted in a ten-point victory for An Rinn over Murroe-Boher with the scoreline 2-12 to 1-11. 

An Rinn will now meet Knockavilla Kickham’s, who looked very impressive in their 11-point victory over Clare champions Smith O’Brien’s last weekend. 

This game was a big step up in intensity from the first semi-final, with both teams going full belt from the start. 

Kickham’s, who were runners-up in Tipperary, were taking the place of champions Golden Kilfeacle, who were unavailable due to their late campaigns and involvement at the closing stages of numerous divisional and county hurling and football championships towards the end of 2026.

In the early exchanges last Sat the Clare champions were quick out of the blocks and led 0-4 to 0-1 after seven minutes with points from Cathal Stritch, Mike Gough, Eoin Hefron and free taker Jason Monaghan, whilst the single Kickham’s point came from wing forward Michael Gleeson. 

Smith O Brien’s momentum was quickly stemmed by a Kickham’s goal in the eighth minute through full forward Davy Butler, but they quickly replied with two further points by the Killaloe side's impressive full forward Mike Gough. 

Goal scorer Davy Butler kept Kickham’s in touch with a point, and the momentum quickly swung in their favour when corner forward Cormac Carr finished a good move with a green flag, followed by points from Stephen Browne and Davy Butler. 

At the end of the first quarter, the pendulum had now swung in the Tipp side's favour as they led 2-4 to 0-6. 

Smith O’Brien’s star forward Mike Gough reduced the margin with a point, but Kickham’s consolidated their advantage with a further point from Gleeson and a pair of frees from Stephen Browne. 

The Clare champions finished the half strong with points from Anthony Walsh and a free from their captain, Monaghan, but rued missing points from a few scorable frees, which could have left the margin a lot closer. 

Despite playing with the lively breeze, Smith O’Brien’s trailed at half time 2-7 to 0-9 and faced an uphill battle as the weather and ground conditions deteriorated. 

They opened the scoring in the second half with a David O’Shea point, but Kickham’s resumed their superiority with a Stephen Browne point from a free, followed by a fortuitous goal from the same player with a ’65 going all the way to the net.

 Smith O’Brien’s only reply to these five consecutive scores was a point from Mike Gough, taking over the free-taking duties from Monaghan, who was off target with a few earlier chances. Going into the last quarter, the score stood at Kickham’s 3-11 to Smith O’Brien’s 0-11. 

The West Tipp side were now showing signs of that bit extra preparation for the game, as with the assistance of the wind, they added four points from play through excellent centre forward Shane Buckley, two from Senan Mackey and one from Elliot Thompson in the 21st minute. 

Smith O’Brien’s never gave up and in the final stages went low for goals from scorable frees but only showed two points from their many efforts through their centre back, David Gough and his cousin Mick Gough. 

With the rain pelting down in the closing minutes, Knockavilla Kickham’s ran out 11-point winners after dominating the second half, assisted by the wind advantage. 

With all their forwards getting in on the scoring act, their half-forward line of Browne, Buckley and Gleeson led the way, getting a generous supply from their attacking centre back, Lorcan Carr and midfielder Senan Mackey. 

Smith O’Briens were best served by Cathal Stritch, Conor Gerraghty and Mike Gough. Knockavilla Kickham’s now go forward to play in the Safety Active Champions Challenge Final versus An Rinn from the Gaeltacht area in Waterford on Saturday, March 7 at 2pm in Lacken Park, Newport. 

Knockavilla Kickhams: Jack Breen; Eddie Daly, Bill Creamer, Tom O’Driscoll; Diarmad Carr, Lorcan Carr, Jamie Duncan; Dan Lonergan, Ben Ryan; Stephen Browne (1-4, 1-1f), Shane Buckley (0-2), Michael Gleeson`(0-3); Cormac Carr (1-0), Davy Butler (1-2), Elliot Thompson (0-1). 

Subs used: Senan Mackey, Cathal Carr, Shane Morrissey, Conor Farrell, Paudie Slattery, Dean Thompson, Brian Furlong and Michael Shanahan.

Smith O’Briens: James Power; Diarmuid Coleman, Cian Lenihan, Sean McMahon; Michael Ryan, David Gough (0-1f), Dwayne Sheedy; Cathal Stritch (0-1), Eoin Heffron (0-1); Conor Geraghty, Keith Stritch, Jason Monaghan (0-2f); David O Shea (0-) Mike Gough (0-6, 0-2f), Sam Flaherty.

Subs used: Brendan Minogue, Ben Murnane, Jack McCarthy, Cilian Collins, Daragh Nolan, Dean Lawlor, Anthony Walsh (0-1).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)

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