Loughmore produce another dramatic recovery
Loughmore/Castleiney 1-8
Moyle Rovers 1-7
Report: Michael Dundon in Golden
It’s not often that Lorcan Egan scores for Loughmore/Castleiney but he has never registered a more crucial point than that he fisted in the sixth minute of injury time to secure his side a place in the County Senior Football final at the expense of Moyle Rovers after a thriller on Saturday.
Loughmore are the masters at getting a result when their backs are to the wall and this they demonstrated once again with a fight-back that had the crowd on its toes as the game slipped well into injury time with extra time seeming inevitable. Both sides had their chances of a winner but it fell to Lorcan Egan to show the composure and cuteness to fist the ball over the bar from close range in a brilliant finale to an epic encounter.
Moyle Rovers were gutted and understandably so. They had made all the running and led 0-3 to 0-2 at the first water break and then 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time. It was a fascinating contest as both sides opted for a possession game, defending in numbers when the opposition had the ball, and sweeping forward in waves when in possession.
With both sides working hard to close off the paths to goal, scoring options were at a premium. Shane Foley and Stephen Quirke had Rovers two up after five minutes but Conor Ryan and Liam McGrath squared for Loughmore before Riain Quigley, then looking a serious threat, edged Rovers ahead at the water-break.
Nothing changed in the second quarter as the teams shared four points leaving Moyle Rovers ahead 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.
The third quarter saw Rovers extend their advantage marginally, points from Quirke and Peter Acheson to which John McGrath replied for Loughmore, leaving the game poised at 0-7 to 0-5 going into the last quarter.
The tension went up a notch at this stage, ignited by a side-line melee. Evan Sweeney pulled a point back for Loughmore but when Stephen Quirke, a constant threat to Loughmore, netted in the 51st minute, it was very much advantage Moyle Rovers (1-7 to 0-6).
Loughmore didn’t panic. Conor Ryan pointed a free after 53 minutes, and two minutes later, when a Ryan free fell short, Moyle defenders were slow to react and John McGrath blasted home a levelling goal for Loughmore.
It was hearts in the mouths stuff from this to the extended finish. Liam Boland had a chance for Rovers as did Noel McGrath for Loughmore and as the clock moved well beyond the hour, extra time seemed inevitable, but Lorcan Egan then had his moment. Supporting a Loughmore attack the defender kept his wits about him to fist over the winning point when all paths to goal seemed closed off.
A more exciting climax you could not script, but Loughmore’s senior double ambitions are alive and prospering thanks to the excellence of John McGrath, Willie Eviston, Tommy Maher, Evan Sweeney, and match-winner Lorcan Egan.
No joy for Moyle Rovers yet again despite the best efforts of Peter Acheson, Riain Quigley, Luke Boland, Danny Owens, and Stephen Quirke.
Player of the Match: John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney)
Loughmore/Castleiney: Shane Hennessy (6); Lorcan Egan (0-1, 7), Willie Eviston (7), Ed Meagher (6); John Ryan (6), John Meagher (6), Tommy Maher (6); Liam Treacy (0-1, 6), Noel McGrath (6); Aidan McGrath (6), John McGrath (1-1, 9), Eamon Connolly (6); Conor Ryan (0-3f, 6), Liam McGrath (0-1, 6), Conor McGrath (5).
Subs: Evan Sweeney (0-1, 6) for C McGrath (HT); Ciaran McGrath (6) for A McGrath (42), Joey Hennessy for Connolly (52), Aidan McGrath for Maher (60+4).
Moyle Rovers: Ciaran Kenrick (6); Cathal McKeown (6), Jack Harney (6), Diarmuid Mulcahy (6); Paddy Morrissey (6), Luke Boland (7), Stephen Quirke (1-3, 0-2f) 7); Ben Owens (6), Danny Owens (7); Dara Ryan (6), Peter Acheson (0-1, 7), Richard Power (6); Riain Quigley (0-1, 6), Liam Boland (0-1, 6), Shane Foley (0-1, 6).
Subs: Cillian Crowe (6) for Mulcahy (HT); Aidan Foley (6) for Luke Boland (50 inj); David Foley (6) for Ryan (55), Luke Fogarty (6) for S Foley (56).
Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).