Champs Loughmore humbled by driven Moycarkey

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Moycarkey/Borris 1-19

Loughmore/Castleiney 0-15

Report: Michael Dundon in Templetuohy

An eyebrow raising opening to the County Senior Hurling Championship as holders, Loughmore/Castleiney, bidding for a third consecutive title, slumped to a seven point defeat at the hands of Moycarkey/Borris in round one of group two on Friday evening.

Although Moycarkey knocked out Loughmore in the Mid Championship last year, no one was predicting a repeat performance but, on the evening, a hungrier, in-your-face Moycarkey were full value for the win that sets them up nicely in a group made up of three divisional champions, needing to finish in the top two to progress to the knockout stages.

Loughmore/Castleiney were without injured captain Liam McGrath and on the evening seemed flat, and lacking in energy, and found Moycarkey’s all-action approach difficult to contain.

Eight points from play was a poor return by their standards but no better bunch to put a setback behind them and nobody will be writing Loughmore off at this early stage.

In a lively first half, Moycarkey set out their stall early on with three unanswered points. Loughmore responded with three of their own to be followed by four from Moycarkey for a 0-7 to 0-3 lead going into the second quarter, county goalie Rhys Shelly scoring two.

Loughmore were relying heavily on John McGrath and he added two more to their tally, with one from Ciaran McGrath to leave them just one behind, 0-6 to 0-7 approaching the break. Moycarkey finished the half with a flourish. Killian Cantwell, Niall Heffernan and Rory Darmody pointed before David Costigan netted off a Heffernan pass for an interval lead of 1-10 to 0-6.

It was by no means an unbridgeable gap but it gave Moycarkey a solid platform facing into the second half when Loughmore would have the aid of the light breeze.

The holders resumed with a bang. Four John McGrath points, three from frees, had them hot on the heels. Rhys Shelly pointed to get Moycarkey going but two further Loughmore points from Ciaran’s McGrath & Connolly maintained their momentum cutting the deficit to two points.

Indicative of Moycarkey’s resolve, they did not wilt and they hit the next five points from Heffernan, Cantwell, Costigan, Kieran Morris, and sub Max Hackett.

Trailing 1-16 to 0-12 with eight minutes to go, Loughmore came again with Ciaran Connolly and John McGrath points but there was no let-up in Moycarkey who out-pointed their rivals, three to two in the closing minutes.

Sub Joey Quinn had a goal chance for Loughmore in injury time but Rhys Shelly was equal to it and Moycarkey were celebrating a huge win.

This result throws group two wide open and Moycarkey/Borris, who have been shaping up well in recent years, will now fancy their chances of coming through for the quarter-finals.

Their spirit and commitment were never in question but they now have an added confidence that bodes well for their progress.

Their defence was excellent, inspired by goalkeeper Rhys Shelly, with Tom Ryan and Stephen Walsh. Niall Heffernan and Kieran Cummins had the better of things at midfield with David Costigan and Max Hackett when introduced, lively in attack.

Loughmore/Castleiney will not panic at this setback. They were below their best by some distance but they have the players to turn this around. With the safety net of a guaranteed preliminary quarter-final place, at worst, to rely on, they will still be the team to beat.

Lorcan Egan, Eoin O’Connell and Brian McGrath were prominent in the defence. Ciaran Connolly had another fine outing at midfield but a concern will be his enforced retirement near the finish with what looked to be a shoulder or collar-bone injury. John McGrath was the only real threat in an under-performing attack. The return of John Meagher will be a source of encouragement.

Player of the Match: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris)

Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly (0-3, 2f, 9); Kevin Hayes (6), Tom Hayes (6), Tom Ryan (7); Stephen Walsh (7), Eoghan Hayes (6), Killian Cantwell (Capt, 0-3f, 6); Kieran Cummins (7), Niall Heffernan (0-2, 7); David Costigan (1-1, 7), Joe Egan (6), Rory Darmody (0-1, 6); Bill Flanagan (0-1, 6), Joe Maher (0-1, 6), Kieran Morris (0-5f, 6).

Subs: Max Hackett (0-2, 7) for Flanagan (40); Kevin O’Regan (NR) for Darmody (57); Jack Hayes (NR) for Morris (60).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Lorcan Egan (7), Willie Eviston (6), Eoin O’Connell (7); Tommy Maher (6), Brian McGrath (7), John Ryan (6); Ciaran Connolly (0-3, 7), Noel McGrath (6); Ciaran McCormack (0-1, 6), Tomas McGrath (6), Ciaran McGrath (0-1, 6); Liam Treacy (6), John McGrath (0-9, 6f, 7), Ed Connolly (6).

Subs: Joey Quinn (0-1, 6) for Treacy (35); Philip O’Connell (NR) for McCormack (57); John Meagher (NR) for C Connolly (57).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).