All you need to know about Watergrasshill's Sunday opponents, Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry

Watergrasshill are preparing for a first ever AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship final this weekend, where they’ll face off against Galway’s Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry.

But who are Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry, or TAD as they’re known – and what do you need to know about their championship season so far?

The Galway champions were dominant in their run to the county final and finished deserved winners over Kinvara in the final, making amends for their one goal loss in the 2023 Galway IHC final against Ballinderreen.

To TAD’s credit, their group stage results were nothing short of exceptional – winning by an average of 18.6 points across the three games.

CRUISE CONTROL 

A 2-27 to 0-13 win over Kilbeacanty preceded an 11-point win over Abbeyknockmoy in the second round, while they made sure of topping the group in round three with a thumping of Clarinbridge, 3-28 to 0-12.

That meant a quarter-final clash against Rahoon-Newcastle at the beginning of October – with TAD running out convincing winners, 3-16 to 0-14.

The east Galway outfit encountered their sole one score game when they faced Carnmore in the semi-final, finishing with a winning margin of a couple of points to ensure back-to-back finals.

This time it was imperative they got over the line, and they did exactly that – winning a first Galway Intermediate HC title since 2009 after defeating Kinvara, 2-16 to 0-17.

On that occasion in 2009, TAD also came through as Connacht champions. 

However, their run came to an end in the All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim side St Gall’s, losing by two points in January 2010.

St Gall’s failed to win in that final.

Ironically, the Belfast men were comfortably beaten at the hands of St Lachtain’s, the Kilkenny outfit that will face Russell Rovers in the curtain raising Junior final on Sunday at 12.30pm.

As they did in ’09, TAD made sure to secure the provincial crown once again, defeating Mayo side Tooreen 0-19 to 1-14 at the end of November in the Connacht final – their only provincial fixture this season, due to the structure of the Connacht Intermediate HC.

What followed was a semi-final clash Leinster champions Rathnure St Anne’s of Wexford, with Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry winning by eight points in Glenisk O’Connor Park.

Red cards at the beginning of both halves for Rathnure meant they were always going to be under pressure, though TAD did lose substitute Thomas Murphy to a late red card. 

The forward scored goals in both the semi-final and final of the Galway IHC this year and will be a big loss to TAD if his appeal is unsuccessful.

INTER-COUNTY EXPERIENCE

Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry have quite the blend of youth and experience, with Galway U20 hurler Micheál Power a versatile option. Power starred in TAD’s Galway U20 B HC final win over Ardrahan in 2023 playing as a centre-back and has operated as a sweeper for their intermediates throughout 2024.

Integral to TAD’s fortunes are their former inter-county trio of Pádraig Brehony, Shane Moloney and Paul Killeen. The three made up the core of the Galway minor hurling team that were crowned All-Ireland champions with victory over Dublin in 2011.

They each lined out for the Galway seniors in the years after, with Moloney part of the All-Ireland SHC winning team in 2017, while both Brehony (1) and Killeen (2) have Leinster SHC medals to go with their minor success in 2011.

Though the trio are now into their 30s – they represent experienced options and have proven to be more than capable of causing problems for any opposition.

Moloney’s free taking is integral to TAD, while Killeen is an excellent midfield partner, who finished with 1-1 against Rathnure in the semi-final.

While Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry are now the first Galway club to reach the AIB All-Ireland IHC final since Oranmore-Maree’s win in February 2019, they couldn’t have done it without Pádraig Brehony and Conor Jordan.

The inside forwards combined for 1-8 from play against their Wexford opposition, with Brehony showing he’s still got it – while Jordan travelled home from Strasbourg in time for the semi-final.

They’ll likely be underdogs against Watergrasshill, TAD are certainly capable of springing a surprise. They’ve got quality and players well experienced in Croker.

They should be the Hill’s toughest test of this campaign.