BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Kilkenny vs Tipperary
Páirc an Chrócaigh, Sunday, 4pm
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
We’re down to the last four in this seasons All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and it’s the first week of July, time moves fast in this condensed model of our national sports competitions. First up at GAA headquarters is the meeting of Cork and Dublin, followed by what we see as the ‘main event’; Kilkenny vs Tipp. Some may read the last line a couple of times, or think there is an error in the line-up, but there isn’t, for the first time since 2019, Limerick are not participating at this stage of the battle for the biggest prize in intercounty hurling. Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s Dublin put in a serious performance to end The Treaty’s 2025 season, despite playing with 14 men for much of the game. The reward for the men from the Capital is a semi-final clash with last year’s beaten finalists, Cork (Throw-in tomorrow, 5pm).
When John Donnelly leads his black and amber clad troops into battle on Sunday afternoon, their potential final opponents will be known, but that will be a matter for another day, the sole focus will be taking care of business against a very dangerous and improving Tipperary side, who have been developing nicely under the guidance of Liam Cahill since his appointment in 2022. The Ballingarry man was handed a 3-year term with the Premier County and if he could lead his native Tipp to All-Ireland glory, or at worst, an appearance in the final, you would imagine an extension would be given. The second of the semi-finals should be a close-run affair, with even the bookies finding it difficult to separate the two sides.
While recent history is all about Limerick, the meeting of the Cats and Tipperary is a clash between two of hurling’s heavyweights. While the Noresiders have been stuck on 36 All-Ireland’s for what feels like an eternity, Sunday’s opponents have 28 big wins to their name, most recently in 2019 when they defeated Kilkenny on a scoreline of 3-25 to 0-20. These two counties know each other well, having clashed in championship hurling 28 times, including an unbelievable 20 All-Ireland finals. Tipperary currently edge the head-to-head with 15 wins to Kilkenny’s 12, along with one draw. The most recent meeting between the sides came in this seasons Allianz Hurling League, when Liam Cahill’s charges ran out 9-point winners in UPMC Nowlan Park, in a game that would be remembered for referee Sean Stack’s dismissal of four players in ten bizarre second-half minutes, three for head-high fouls. Three players from the home side, David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey and Jordan Molloy received their marching orders, while Tipp’s Alan Tynan saw red for the visitors. The Premier County went onto contest the league final, going down to Cork by some ten points as the Rebels superior athleticism, skill, and clinical finishing saw them claim a first Allianz Hurling League title in 27 years at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
There is no doubt that the Tipp boss has got the ‘buy-in’ from his panel and nearly as important, the Premier faithful. He utilised over 30 players during his sides Allianz Leage campaign, and made subtle changes positionally, as he looked to unlock a winning formula. One of the latest additions to the senior ranks is U20 sensation, Darragh McCarthy, has been an absolute revelation for the blue and gold clad side. The livewire forward finished the league as division 1A ‘s top scorer with a hugely impressive tally of 2-48 and while the red card that the young man received against Cork may have earned him a one match ban and more headlines for this incident that his scoring return, Kilkenny will need to keep the shackles on young McCarthy. Indeed, during the semi-finalists league encounter in March, the Toomevara player notched 0-12, eleven of which came from accurate placed ball efforts.
While some of Tipp’s U20 starts have been making waves in the senior setup such as Sam O’Farrell and Oisín O’Donoghue, having gotten the better of Mark Dowling’s Cats team in the final, it is one of the experienced heads that have prominent in the Premier County’s championship campaign to date. John McGrath has been in sparking form leading his side to a last-four berth. The Loughmore–Castleiney man is a real handful, and his stats show just how important he is to his team with the full forward amassing a personal haul of 4-9 in his five games to date. Huw Lawlor will need to be on his game on Sunday to martial his defence against a potent opposition attack, not only McGrath and McCarthy but also the dangerous Jason Forde. The Silvermines clubman has scored from play in all games to date and is also a real leader withing the group. Throw Jake Morris into the mix and you can see why this Tipp side is a dangerous animal. The Nenagh Éire Óg player is one of those enigmatic hurlers, clinical finisher, quick feet and the ability to roam and create space for others.
In the engine room, Cats midfielders Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy will come up against Craig Morgan, who has added much to this vital area of the pitch while also notching 2-4. Alan Tynan and Willie Connors can provide support to Kilruane MacDonagh’s. It will be vital for Derek Lyng’s outfit to win the midfield battle to give their attacking unit a chance to test the Tipp defence. Cats boss Derek Lyng has revealed that former two-time hurler of the year, Eoin Cody is back in training and available for selection, hopefully the Shamrocks Ballyhale man can play some part in Sunday’s semi-final. His South Kilkenny clubmates, Adrian Mullen alongside TJ and Richie Reid, all look set to start and influence the game using their skill and stickwork. The elder Reid will be key in terms of converting the placed ball opportunities, but his aerial ability can also be a very effective weapon for the Marble City side. Having nursed Adrian Mullen back from injury, the former All-Star is getting back into his rhythm and can be a huge asset to the Noresiders against Tipp.
The main attacking threat for Kilkenny this season has been Martin Keoghan. The Tullaroan forward has really blossomed and been a constant goal threat for his side. Mossy finished the league campaign with 2-23 to his name and his pace and directness are useful weapons for this Cats team. Alongside The Sash star will be another strong runner in the shape of Billy Ryan. The Graigue Ballycallan man is another that looks to have improved and is playing with great confidence in 2025. Thomastown’s John Donnelly will get through a mountain of work, a lot of it unseen as his selfless playing style generally leads to others grabbing headlines and scores. As we mentioned, our defence will need to be on their toes in Croke Park, but in Paddy Deegan and Mikey Carey, we have a couple of strong athletic players who will get up and down the Jones’s Road pitch and offer a scoring threat from distance also. Like Eoin Cody, we hope that the towering David Blanchfield will be available, even from the bench for Derek Lyng as he possesses all the attributes to thrive at headquarters. Glenmore’s Eoin Murphy will give plenty of direction to those in front of him and the netminder will hope that he isn’t too busy on Sunday.
As usual the bench will have a big role to play in deciding which team gets to continue their quest for a shot at lifting Liam aloft later in the month. It looks like one of the likely subs for the Cats, Marty Murphy may miss out, the Tullogher Rosbercon player picking up a hamstring injury. The likes of Luke Hogan, Gearoid Dunne and Billy Drennan will all be primed for some action, while O’Loughlin Gaels Fionan Mackessy is another that can provide a few different options for the black and amber.
It would be a great time to end the drought and move onto number 37. To get this chance Derek Lyng and his squad need to get the job done in Drumcondra on Sunday, and it’s difficult to separate these two sides, but semi-finals are for winning, coming out on the right side of the result is the crucial, so let’s get behind the Cats and help get them over the line.
