Skeheenarinky Junior A hurlers will be hoping they can make history this Saturday October 25th in Leahy park, Cashel when they will play Nenagh Eire Og in this years County final at 3.30pm. Anticipation is growing ahead of this fixture that a long overdue County final victory is now within touching distance for the parish of Skeheenarinky and Ballyporeen who have never won a hurling County title at this grade. Our last County final appearance was fifteen years ago when we succumbed to Galtee Rovers in the 1999 final, which goes to show opportunities like this do not come around too often.
The whole parish are really willing this team to play to their full potential on Saturday and put their names in the history books. This Skeheen’ side are a young team full of hurling and have come up through the ranks together winning many titles at underage level including back to back South Championships in the minor and U21 grades in the past few years. Many names on this Skeheen’ side would be familiar to Tipperary supporters of both codes with players such as John Martin (All Ireland minor football winner), Eoin Kearney, Conor Sweeney (Tipp senior footballer),and Fionnan O’Sullivan (Tipp minor hurler) having worn the blue and gold over the past few years. This part of Tipperary may be looked on as a predominantly footballing area and with many of this same Skeheen’ side having won the County Intermediate football Championship last year with Ballyporeen, the step up to Senior football has been a major boost to the parish. But these players have always had a love of hurling and they have all the skills to prove it, so hopefully Saturday next will be the culmination of many years of hard work and see this Skeheen’ side finally bring a Junior A hurling County title to the parish.
The path to the final saw Skeheen’ overturn a six point deficit in the quarter-final against Thurles Sars and a five point deficit against Kildangan in the semi-final to earn their place in the final, so we know this side have a fighting spirit which we hope to see in abundance next Saturday. We urge our supporters to come out in force and show your appreciation for the team and the work they have put in to get to the final and hopefully see history in the making.
To manager Declan Hickey, selectors Eamon Maher, Johnny Bourke, Fergal McLoughlin, Joe English and Conor O’Farrell a special word of thanks for the tremendous work they have put in all year and we wish them and all the team the very best of luck on Saturday.
Source: Skeheenarinky