Impressive Loughmore cruise into football final

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-16

Moyle Rovers 0-5

Report: Michael Dundon at Leahy Park, Cashel

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Liam McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney).

SCORERS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Liam McGrath 0-7 (5 frees); Philip O’Connell 1-1; Ciaran McGrath 1-0; Liam Treacy 0-2; Brian McGrath, Eamon Connolly, Eoin O’Connell, Lorcan Egan, Noel McGrath, Conor Ryan 0-1 each.

Moyle Rovers: Riain Quigley, Liam Boland (frees) 0-2 each; Ger O’Sullivan 0-1.

The double is still on for Loughmore/Castleiney!

On Sunday, they destroyed a fancied Moyle Rovers in this County Senior Football Championship semi-final, and on Sunday week will seek to halt Clonmel Commercials bid for a three-in-a-row, but before that comes a senior hurling final against Toomevara on Sunday next.

Moyle Rovers went into this game as South & County League champions. Unbeaten all season, many were tipping them to break the monopoly enjoyed by Commercials and Loughmore on the football championship, but, playing way below their best, they were taken apart by a rampant Loughmore side who played them off the park.

The game was over at half-time. By then, Loughmore, with Liam McGrath a key figure in attack scoring six points, had established a 0-11 to 0-2 lead, and were coasting.

Competitive in the opening exchanges, as they shared four points in six minutes Moyle Rovers quickly lost ground. Brian McGrath put Loughmore ahead after ten minutes and then followed a flood of scores, principally from Liam McGrath, but with Noel McGrath and Ed Connolly also getting in on the act.

There was more trouble for Moyle Rovers as they lost Ben Owens to a black card after 25 minutes. It was to prove costly as Loughmore exploited their numerical advantage. They added three points per Liam McGrath before half-time and were cruising.

Moyle Rovers needed a big second half if they were to redeem themselves, but it was not forthcoming. They were deeper in trouble inside a minute of resuming as a crisp Loughmore move ended with Ciaran McGrath giving Sean Ryan in the Moyle Rovers goal no chance for a goal that definitely put the game very definitely beyond the South sides reach.

Moyle Rovers fate was sealed and to rub salt into the wound they coughed up another goal after 41 minutes when Philip O’Connell who had just been introduced for Loughmore careered through for their second goal and a 2-12 to 0-2 lead.

To end a miserable day for Moyle Rovers they had Ben Owens red-carded for a rash challenge. Again, Loughmore took advantage and had points from sub Conor Ryan, Philip O’Connell, and Liam Treacy in injury time for the most comprehensive of victories.

In the closing twenty minutes, Loughmore management withdrew some key players to protect them ahead of Sunday’s hurling final, a luxury they never expected in their wildest imagination.

They also lined out without team manager and goalkeeper Shane Hennessy, who was injured, with brother Joey deputising. On this form they will fancy their chances of relieving the Commercials boys of the O’Dwyer Cup, but that confrontation will be put aside for now as the hurling decider is next on the agenda.

Liam McGrath was Loughmore’s key man as they established control in the first half, his ability to kick points off left or right a delight to watch. He was not alone. Lorcan Egan, Liam Treacy, Brian McGrath, Ciaran McGrath, and Noel McGrath were also heavily involved, and the subs introduced also contributed significantly, an indication of the growing strength in depth in the Loughmore-Castleiney panel.

Moyle Rovers will want to forget this game in a hurry. They were without injured Stephen Quirke who was a big loss to their attack, but nothing seemed to go right for them on the day with few of their players playing to form. They have been trying for a few years to destabilise the monopoly enjoyed by Loughmore and Commercials in the championship, but this effort fell well short of what is required and so they must regroup for another year.

Luke Boland, Ben Owens, Rian Quigley and Ger O’Sullivan did all they could to get things going but with little success as Rovers performance did not properly reflect the talent they have in their squad.

TEAMS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Joey Hennessy (6); Lorcan Egan (7), Willie Eviston (6), John Ryan (6); Daragh McCahey (6), Mossy McGrath (6), Eoin O’Connell (6); Noel McGrath (7), Liam Treacy (7); Brian McGrath (7), Tommy Maher (6), Eamon Connolly (6); Liam McGrath (8), Ciaran McGrath (7), John McGrath (6).

Subs: Philip O’Connell (7) for C McGrath (40); Aidan McGrath (6) for L McGrath (43); Ed Meagher (6) for J McGrath (48); Ciaran Connolly (6) for N McGrath (52); Conor Ryan (7) for T McGrath (54).

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan (6); Conor McGrath (6), Graham Vaughan (6), Jack Harney (5); Cathal McKeown (6), Luke Boland (7), Brian McKeown (6); Ben Owens (5), Rian Quigley (7); Cian O’Sullivan (5), Liam Boland (7), Rory Collins (6); Dara Ryan (6), Ger O’Sullivan (7), Shane Foley (6).

Subs: Richard Power (6) for Harney (25); Killian Butler (6) for C O’Sullivan (25); Dean English (6) for S Foley (35 inj); Diarmuid Foley (6) for B McKeown (38); Michael O’Reilly for Ryan (54).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).