This is Loughmore’s time

KILLINAN END

As ever County final day provides the most binary of distinctions. In the homes of Loughmore and Castleiney they will winter with the satisfaction of having retained the County Senior title for the first time. It might also be claimed that, despite the interventions of several other clubs at different times, this is their time - their golden years as it were. It will be interesting to see how that parish can withstand the usually inevitable ravages of time. Will they revert to the pack or remain perennial contenders? Judging by the new young blood that joined several Loughmore-Castleiney players in the pre-match parade they certainly appear to have an active youth policy in that parish.

In the shorter term they can now look forward to the tantalising prospect of a tilt at three in a row. The challenge of joining the modern ranks of Thurles Sarsfields, Roscrea, Kilruane MacDonaghs and Toomevara, will provide a new angle on motivation and the chance of hurling immortality. It is one thing to measure yourself against the likes of Roscrea or Kilruane, but perhaps the real value of multiple titles is seen when you consider very good teams which have not managed it. Loughmore-Castleiney have been very consistent and indeed around the quarter-final stage of this year's championship when it seemed up for grabs the eye was drawn towards them as likely winners. The climb gets steeper of course with Moycarkey/Borris learning lessons from this year, Holycross/Ballycahill a year further in their development, JK Brackens a vibrant threat, and a young Sarsfields’ team with more time under the belt. And that's just in Mid Tipperary.

Nenagh Eire Og may have finished second best but they certainly proved there's much life in the north of the county. Clearly Loughmore-Castleiney will have to look beyond that rich seam of hurling ability surrounding the cathedral town. It would have been a super sweet win with a Nenagh man as County chairperson, and Éire Óg will have regrets. The ponderous movement of the ball out of defence especially in the first half only facilitated the opposition defence. Despite five points from play by Jake Morris – a fair haul from any single player – they struggled to isolate Jake consistently in a way that would really hurt Loughmore. Poor handling towards the end of the game especially let Nenagh down badly. Several times fumbling caused movements to break down; players were dispossessed and turned over at critical junctures.

Loughmore-Castleiney missed frees but none that were very obviously scorable. A few that went astray as the end for Nenagh were costly in a close game. They did bring much to admire, tearing into their opponents and if anything, winning the physical collisions. Put simply, scores for the defending champions seemed to come a little easier on a day of good scores, if also one of freak goals. A couple of Jake Morris points from the sideline, a monster sideline cut from Loughmore, as well as Noel McGrath’s long-range late point will endure in the memory.

In theory their exit from the football championship should provide a bit of respite for the Tipperary champions as they look ahead to a Munster campaign. Not since 1990 have their opponents from Clare taken to the field in this competition. In the intervening period all bar one of Loughmore’s County Senior hurling titles have been won. Nonetheless it can be assumed that Clare’s champions are a very good and in-form team. Their desire to perform and indeed progress to a final will only be enhanced by their support in Cusack Park. This is their golden opportunity too. Tipp’s champions have experience and know-how in tight matches but will get their fill of it in Clare's capital.

The other side of the draw highlights the novelty that Clare’s representatives will provide. Three clubs with considerable Munster championship experience will fight it out for the other berth in the final. Sarsfields of Cork, while defending champions, are dwarfed reputationally by Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh. Despite their loss last year Ballygunner will be considered favourites but Limerick’s champions will take beating even if the aura of invincibility around Caherdavin has dimmed.

Further down the road the winners of Munster will have it all to do in a semi-final against Leinster’s champions. After the novelty of Na Fianna’s All-Ireland win last year, a familiar figure is emerging once more from Kilkenny. Shamrocks Ballyhale beat O’Loughlin Gaels in what was generally regarded as a very poor spectacle of a County Final in the Marble City. This could easily be dismissed as regression after Thomastown’s fresh breakthrough last year. But it is worth acknowledging Shamrock’s ascent to top spot on the roll of honour in Kilkenny. Just 47 years after winning a first ever title, overtaking the famed Tullaroan is an extraordinary feat. It wasn’t all plain sailing with two seasons spent at Intermediate in the mid-90s but to regenerate with different generations across nearly half a century is truly exceptional. Even with the age-profile of the team or at least several of its key players slipping ever upwards they probably remain the team to beat.