First major final meeting will decide destination of Intermediate title

THIS year’s Intermediate hurling championship has produced some great contests and, long before the knock out stages, there were several contenders. Last year Mountmellick were underdogs but after drawing with Abbeyleix they completed the job in style at the second attempt. This year they have continued their progress, reaching the Premier Intermediate semi-final.

This year Slieve Bloom began well after a good league campaign but lost narrowly to the Harps in the opening round of the championship. They would lose at home to Clonad but, despite that turmoil, they managed to reach the semi-final.

Trumera, having spent a few years in Premier Intermediate, soon learned the demands were too much for a club with barely 15 and three substitutions. Back in Intermediate they soon realised that many teams had improved. After a poor league they showed improvement and put together a few good outings and could hardly believe their good fortune when they were paired with fellow parishioners Mountrath.

Clonad hold the unique distinction of winning 14 senior championships. They claimed their first in 1930 beating Ballygeehan on a score of 5-1 to 3-1, captained by Lar Brady. Their most recent was in 1992 when beating neighbours Portlaoise 0-16 to 2-7.

To this day they have no Junior or Intermediate title to their name. In 1948 they met neighbours Shanahoe three times in a junior final before Shanahoe emerged victorious. Their only junior title was a ‘B’ title in 2000 overcoming Camross 3-7 to 1-12.

This year they have shown improvement and two weeks ago reached the Junior ‘C’ Championship final where their opponents were Borris/Kilcotton and they were worthy winners.

Other early challengers were Ballypickas and Park/Ratheniska, then they latter turned their passion back to the big ball. Last week that bore fruit and celebrations are still ablaze around the Rock of Dunamaise.

On to the semi-finals and both were deserving winners.

Mountrath were hot favourites but in the end thy were lucky to escape against underdogs and fellow parishioners Trumera. The game ended in a dramatic finish and extra time continued in the same vein. Everybody, including Clonad, knows how difficult it is to get past Trumera. But at the final whistle Mountrath were winners 4-19 to Trumera’s 2-24, a score which would win many games.

In Rathdowney the same day, Clonad and Slieve Bloom lined up for the second time in the championship. Clonad were clear winners when the teams clashed at the scenic venue of Slieve Bloom. Two early goals laid the foundations for Clonad and at the interval they led by four points.

The second half was a thriller. Slieve Bloom battled back and reduced the margin to two points. Clonad showed a hunger missing in other close games in recent times and a magnificent save by team captain, Jimmy Farrell added to a great passing movement, started by Barry Cormac, a former Kildare star, when he picked out of all men, the ex Slieve Bloom sharp shooter, Ross Holmes. He sent a perfect pass to a great Clonad name, Jim Norton who laid it on to Fionn Holland and he blasted the match winning three pointer.

Who will win? Well, early on Mountrath were warm favourites with a strong backroom team of Tommy Hill, manger, Cathal Carroll and the one and only Dan Russell, a winner of three intermediate medals and you can throw in Cathal Carroll.

Clonad have the advantage of one of the most experienced hurling men in the county, David O’Brien. He is surrounded by Clonad men who have craved success for many years.

This game promises to be a thriller and it might even take another meeting to decide the destination of the title.