Loughmore off the bottom putting Clonoulty under pressure

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-21

Clonoulty/Rossmore 2-18

Report: Michael Dundon

at St Michael’s Park, Holycross

In their third outing, a first win for champions Loughmore/Castleiney, who absorbed a determined recovery by Clonoulty/Rossmore on Sunday to get their defence of their title back on track.

An unusual game this in that both sides were guaranteed a preliminary quarter-final at worst on the strength of their successes at divisional level but with the spectre of relegation also looming in the background, it made for a serious contest.

The two-time defending champions produced their best hurling for some time in a blistering opening seven minutes. Inside a minute, Ciaran McCormack ran onto a John McGrath pass for a Loughmore goal.

Brian McGrath, Ed Connolly, and Liam McGrath added points before John McGrath pounced for a second goal on five minutes. A brace of Liam McGrath points from frees had them ahead 2-5 with Clonoulty/Rossmore yet to raise a flag.

It was an incredible start by the title-holders and even at that early stage, it was hard to see Clonoulty recovering but the West champions did not throw in the towel and outscored their rivals for the remainder of the game. It was a gutsy response to their plight and one which should give them encouragement as they face into the preliminary quarter final.

Robert Doyle had Clonoulty’s first point in the seventh minute as they set about chasing down their rivals. Stephen Ferncombe was on his game also with three points and by half-time the deficit was down to seven, 0-9 to 2-11.

It was not an unbridgeable gap but it was clear that Clonoulty were going to need goals if the gap was to be bridged, and in that opening period they never threatened Aidan McGrath’s line.

After the sides had shared four points at the start of the second half, Clonoulty got the goal they craved when Cathal Bourke netted off a Michael Ryan delivery.

Trailing 1-11 to 2-13, their hopes were raised but over the next seven minutes Loughmore shot three points for and eight point advantage going into the last quarter.

Clonoulty kept up the pursuit and with two minutes of the hour left they had the deficit down to four points. In injury time, they were just a goal behind and as they sought a levelling green flag they shot two poor wides.

Noel McGrath, operating at centre-back, with brother Brian in a more advanced position, eased Loughmore nerves with a point to which Stephen Ferncombe responded but, in the end, Loughmore/Castleiney claimed the spoils.

No question about it, Loughmore’s great start won the day and ended their losing sequence but injuries to Liam McGrath, John Meagher, and Ciaran Connolly will be a concern as they face into the business end of both hurling and football championships.

They will take great heart from the quality of their opening burst but subsequently were not as dominant and allowed Clonoulty back into the game though they never looked like being caught.

Their reshuffled side had Brian McGrath in attack and Noel in defence, an experiment that worked well. John & Liam McGrath were on top of their game in attack. Philip O’Connell had a fine outing in attack with Willie Eviston and Lorcan Egan also prominent.

Clonoulty/Rossmore’s poor start left them with too much ground to make up but they did not fail for want of effort. With scoring difference a factor in determining positions, Borris-Ileigh, Loughmore and Clonoulty all finishing with two points, late wides were costly.

Stephen Ferncombe led the way throughout with Robert Doyle also driving them on. John O’Keeffe, Jimmy Maher, Ronan Heffernan, Jack Ryan, and Michael Ryan played their part for the West champions.

Player of the Match: John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney)

Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Willie Eviston (7), Eoin O’Connell (6); Tommy Maher (6), Noel McGrath (0-1, 7), John Meagher (6); Ciaran Connolly (0-1, 6), Tomas McGrath (6); Ciaran McCormack (1-0, 6), Brian McGrath (0-1, 7), Philip O’Connell (0-3, 7); Liam McGrath (0-6, 4f, 7), John McGrath (1-6, 0-3f, 9), Ed Connolly (0-3, 6).

Subs: John Ryan (6) for Meagher (32 inj); Ciaran McGrath (6) for E Connolly (36); Joey Quinn (6) for C Connolly (48 inj); Liam Treacy (6) for L McGrath (55).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (6); Danny Slattery (7), Robert Doyle (0-1, 7), Tommy Ryan (7); John O’Keeffe (0-1, 7), Ronan Heffernan (0-1, 7), Jamie Davern (7); Nathan Slattery (6), Sean O’Connor (6); Jimmy Maher (0-1, 6), Cathal Bourke (1-0, 7), Michael Ryan (0-2, 7); Stephen Ferncombe (1-9, 0-6f, 8), Jack Ryan (0-1, 6), Stephen Quinn (0-1, 6).

Subs: Thomas Butler (6) for N Slattery (HT); Philip Kelleher (0-1, 7) for Ryan (53); Aidan Loughman (6) for Maher (55).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).