Tipperary SHC: Kiladangan and Kilruane MacDonaghs to meet in preliminary quarter-final

Kilruane MacDonaghs defeated Kiladangan in the 2022 Tipperary SHC final after a replay. The two sides meet in a preliminary quarter-final this year. Pic: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

The Tipperary SHC preliminary quarter-final draw has thrown up a repeat of the 2022 county final between Kiladangan and Kilruane MacDonaghs.

Two-time champions Kiladangan failed to make the top two in their group, but had the fallback of a preliminary quarter-final due to winning the North title.

Kilruane’s final-round victory over Roscrea ensured the elimination of 2019 winners Borris-Ileigh. They will carry fond memories of that replay success over their near neighbours from three years ago.

Kiladangan will need to reinvigorate their stalled challenge after hefty defeats in consecutive games against Holycross-Ballycahill and Toomevara.

They will meet on Sunday, September 21, at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh (3.30pm throw-in).

With none of the North, Mid, or West divisional champions escaping the group phase, three preliminary quarter-finals are required against second-placed qualifiers.

Toome’s championship prospects were rescued by 1-12 from Darragh McCarthy to emerge from Group 1. Their reward is a preliminary quarter-final against Mid champions JK Brackens, who have also lost successive games to Loughmore-Castleiney and Drom & Inch.

Toome ended Brackens’ charge last year at the quarter-final stage with a 0-26 to 0-21 victory. The rematch is set for Saturday, September 20, at Borrisoleigh (4pm).

Drom & Inch will meet West winners Clonoulty-Rossmore in the other prelim contest the following day at Boherlahan (3.30pm).

Clonoulty finished bottom of their group and will face a relegation play-off unless they win the county title. However, they have form at this juncture, winning their last three preliminary quarter-finals, including memorable triumphs over Thurles Sarsfields and Loughmore.

Their last meeting against Drom ended in a 2017 defeat to the Séamus Callanan-inspired side.

While three of the group-stage runners-up were drawn to play divisional champions, Cashel King Cormacs avoided the same fate and will advance directly to the quarter-finals alongside table-toppers Holycross, Nenagh Éire Óg, Loughmore, and Moycarkey-Borris.