Tipperary have new Munster hurling champions after a magnificent display sinks Waterford champs

Safety Direct Champions Challenge Munster Intermediate Tournament Final

Knockavilla Kickhams 1-27

An Rinn 0-18

Following their county final disappointment last October, Knockavilla Kickhams gained some compensation by winning the Safety Direct 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 arising from 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 the county’s 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 championship. 

An Rinn, the intermediate hurling champions of Waterford, won the first semi-final with a ten-point victory over Murroe Boher and in the second semi-final, Knockavilla Kickham’s had an eleven-point victory over Clare champions Smith O’Brien’s. 

Kickham’s as 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 2025. 

For Kickhams, it was a great boost to pick up a trophy so early in the new season, and it augurs well for their hopes in 2026.

In the early exchanges last Saturday, the Tipp representatives were quick out of the blocks despite playing against a stiff breeze and led 0-5 to 0-3 after six minutes with points from Senan Mackey, Elliot Thompson, and three from impressive wing forward Stephen Browne, with two of those from frees. 

During this period, they also fluffed two goal chances whilst the An Rinn points came from midfielder Ferdia Ó hAodha and two from the speedy Caoláin Mac Craith, who was a constant threat throughout. 

Kickhams kept their noses in front with three Browne points from frees and two from their recent Tipperary senior panellist, Adam Daly. An Rinn stayed in touch with points from corner forward Conaire Ó Síothcháin and Jack Ó Lonáin, plus a further free from Caoláin Mac Craith. 

After the first quarter and three points down, they fought back and scored four consecutive points from Ó Síothcháin, Ó Lonáin, and two more from Mac Craith to lead for the only time in the game in the 22nd minute. 

Kickhams powered back before the break with points from Daly, Cormac Carr, Michael Gleeson and another Browne free. Jack Ó Lonáin replied for An Rinn, and a free from Mac Craith left them one point in arrears at the half-time break 0-13 to 0-12, despite playing with wind advantage.

An Rinn levelled immediately on the restart with a sweet point from play again from Mac Craith, but received a killer blow one minute later when their keeper misjudged a rolling ball and helplessly watched Kickhams full forward Davy Butler nip in behind and tap home the game’s only goal. 

The same player added a point a few minutes later as Kickhams started to take a stranglehold on the game with keeper Jack Breen now launching missile-like clearances and puckouts, assisted by the wind, directly down on the An Rinn full back line. 

Further points from Daly, Lorcan Carr, Thompson, Browne and Shane Buckley gave them a seven-point lead going into the final quarter, with just a two-point response from An Rinn coming from Ó’Lonáin and a free from Mac Craith. 

The last quarter was dominated by a rising Kickhams scoring a further eight points from O’Driscoll, two each from Daly and Browne and three from late sub Ben Ryan. An Rinn’s only reply was two pointed frees from Mac Craith, with their final score coming from Jack Ó Lonáin. 

Caoláin Mac Craith was their outstanding marksman, scoring ten of their eighteen points, with most of the remaining scores coming from their two corner forwards, Ó Síothcháin and Ó Lonáin. Kickhams had an outstanding display from their centre back and captain, Lorcan Carr, who received the Man of the Match award. 

In all, eleven of their players got on the scoresheet with Stephen Browne deadly accurate from frees and play, whilst county man Adam Daly chipped in with six points. Overall, Knockavilla Kickhams will be very happy with their participation in this tournament as they looked very impressive in both their games against Smith O’Brien’s and An Rinn. 

They are the first holders of the Safety Direct Cup, and as they will still be playing at an Intermediate level in Tipperary, they could very well be back to retain the trophy in November this year as Tipperary County Champions.

Knockavilla Kickhams: Jack Breen; Eddie Daly, Bill Creamer, Tom O’Driscoll (0-1); Michael Mc Cormack, Lorcan Carr (0-1), Jamie Duncan; Senan Mackey (0-1), Adam Daly (0-6); Stephen Browne (0-9, 0-5f), Shane Buckley (0-1), Michael Gleeson(0-1); Cormac Carr (0-1), Davy Butler (1-1 ), Elliot Thompson (0-2). 

Subs used: Diarmad Carr, Ben Ryan (0-3); Dan Lonergan; Dean Thompson.

An Rinn: Pádraig O Murchadha; Corey De Roiste, Oisín Ó Dúnaigh, Lorcán Ó Curraoin; Eamonn Ó Crotaigh, Ray O Ceallaigh, Fionn Ó Murchú; Jack Ó Floinn, Ferdia Ó hAodha (0-1); Níoclás Breatnach, Ben Mac Ualtair, Tadhg Breathnach; Conaire Ó Síothcháin (0-3), Caoláin Mac Craith, (0-10, 0-6f), Jack Ó Lonái .(0-4)

Subs used: Tiarnach Ó Siothcháin; Conor Ó Cuirrin; Seánaí Mac Craith; Cian Ó Riagáin; Seán Mac Gearailt; Ruadháin De Faoite, Senan Ó Drócháin.

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)

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