Stephens day replay as senior football final ends level

Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Final

 

Loughmore-Castleiney       2-7

Cahir                                      1-10

 

By Michael Dundon in Cashel

 

Champions Loughmore-Castleiney’s hold on the O’Dwyer Cup hung by a thread at Cashel on Sunday as Cahir led them by a point with time running out, but in typical Loughmore fashion they grabbed a draw courtesy of a point by Cian Hennessy a minute from time.

While the non-aligned in the 1,550 attendance thought it a fitting end to a terrific contest, both sides will feel they could have taken the honours, but Cahir have the greater reason to be disappointed that they did not add to the title they first won back in 2003.

In terms of possession, they had the edge but a tendency to over work the ball, particularly in defence, did not  reap the desired dividend on a heavy pitch, when a more direct approach would have saved energy and left them less exposed to handling errors. Furthermore, their attack, for all its possession never tested Dominic Brennan in the Loughmore goal

Loughmore, for their part, were denied two likely goals. The first incident came as early as the third minute when Cahir goalie Brian Enright brilliantly saved a Cian Hennessy effort after the Cahir defence was ripped open. The second came in the 39th minute when Evan Sweeney wriggled his way through the Cahir defence but in a goalmouth scramble his attempt for goal hit the post. In between times, they enjoyed some periods of superiority  but were also under the Cahir cosh for longer than they would have expected.

It all made for an engrossing encounter, with lots of endeavour from both and while Cahir may be the more dismayed that they did not finish the job, Loughmore will feel that they can do better and will be glad of the replay to put that belief to the test.

Cahir certainly settled the better despite that early fright when Cian Hennessy brought the best out of goalie Brian Enright, and despite the fact that John McGrath opened the scoring with a pointed free for Loughmore. Dave Lonergan levelled for the South men in the fourth minute and four minutes later, wingback Robbie Costigan got on the end of a Paddy O’Flaherty delivery to deflect it to the net for a huge boost for morale. O’Flaherty followed immediately with a point for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Cahir were flying.

Loughmore-Castleiney were struggling to get into the game. Noel McGrath was coming under a lot of pressure from Eddie Kendrick at midfield, and Liam Treacy was subdued at this stage but in the 12th minute, against the run of play, John McGrath, a constant threat to Cahir, won possession to set up his cousin Liam McGrath for a  settling goal.

Six minutes later defender Tomas McGrath sallied upfield to kick a great point for Loughmore and in the 20th minute, things got even better for them when Cian Hennessy, after his first attempt was blocked by Brian Enright, blasted to the net at the second attempt, John McGrath again being the provider.

Indicative of the quality in the Cahir side they responded to that setback with a powerful last ten minutes to the half as Liam Casey dominated at midfield. Dean Lonergan, Padraig Whelan (2) and in injury time, Benny Hickey, from a free, had points to give them an interval lead of 1-6 to 2-2.

Anybody’s game at this stage, but Loughmore had more room for improvement and when Liam Treacy and John McGrath pointed frees for them in the opening seven minutes of the second half, they looked to be on their way. Then came Evan Sweeney’s near miss two minutes later before Cahir regrouped. Padraig Whelan, from  the sideline, fourteen yards out, kicked a great point to level for Cahir and Benny Hickey followed with another in the 42nd minute for the lead.

Now the response came for Loughmore as Tomas McGrath kicked his second point of the game to level and Liam Treacy nudged them ahead from a free at the three quarter mark.

Stirring stuff with both sides throwing everything into the fray physically, to keep referee Paddy Russell on his toes. Once more Cahir equalised, Eddie Kendrick pointing after a smashing passing sequence that started in their own backline. John Ryan burst out of the Loughmore defence shortly afterwards but his shot came to nought.

With six minutes to play Benny Hickey pointed a Cahir free for the lead, and with the final whistle looming, they looked set for their second title, and their first since 2003.

Loughmore’s fighting qualities are well-known. There was no panic and in a break from defence Cian Hennessy was the right man in the right place to tie the game with just one minute of actual time to play, and that is how it finished, with the teams scheduled to meet again in the replay on St Stephen’s Day in Cashel at 1.00pn

An acceptable result on both sides, with Cahir, who started as outsiders, now confident they can topple the champions, while Loughmore will be expecting a better performances in the replay in a bid to put titles back to back for the first time and bring the championship to the parish for the thirteenth time.

John McGrath was Loughmore’s most productive performer with a hand in most of their best work. Liam Treacy, in the second half, John Ryan, Liam McGrath, Tom King, Tomas McGrath, and Cian Hennessy, who made the most of a late call-up, were foremost in their bid to retain their crown.

Cahir’s key men delivered when it mattered. Brian Enright was excellent in goal, while Robbie Costigan and Aidan Casey shone in defence. Liam Casey at midfield, looked the best player on the field, while Paddy O Flaherty, Dean Lonergan and Benny Hickey, all made significant contributions tot heir cause.

Roll on the replay.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Liam Casey (Cahir)

Scorers – Loughmore: Cian Hennessy 1-1; Liam McGrath 1-0; Tomas McGrath, Liam Treacy (frees), John McGrath (frees) 0-2 each.

Cahir: Benny Hickey (2 frees), Padraigh Whelan (3 frees) 0-3 each;Robbie Costigan 1-0; Dean Lonergan 0-2; Eddie Kendrick, Paddy O’Flaherty 0-1 each

 

Loughmore-Castleiney: Dominic Brennan (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Willie Eviston (6), Tomas McGrath (7); Tom King (6), Ciaran McGrath (6), John Ryan (7); Noel McGrath (6), David Kennedy (6); Aidan McGrath (6), Cian Hennessy (7), Liam Treacy (7); Liam McGrath (6); Evan Sweeney (6), John McGrath (7).

Subs: Joe Nyland(6) for Sweeney (47); John Meagher (6) for Egan (49); Eamon Connolly (NR) for Kennedy (58).

 

Cahir: Brian Enright (7); Mikey O’Connor (6), Gerald Hally (6), Conor Casey (6); Sean O’Connor (6), Aidan Casey (7), Robbie Costigan (7); Eddie Kendrick, Liam Casey (8); Benny Hickey, Paddy O’Flaherty (7), Shane Murphy (6); Padraigh Whelan (6), Dean Lonergan(7), James McGrath (6).

Subs: Eoin Donaghy (6) for M O’Connor (37); Niall McKenna (5) for Murphy (52).

 

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)