No romanticism in Loughmore as they regain Senior Football title

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final

Loughmore/Castleiney 0-2-11 (15)

Clonmel Commercials 0-1-11 (13)

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney)

SCORERS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Liam McGrath 0-7 (1x2play, 0-4 frees); Ed Connolly, Joey Quinn, Eoin O’Connell (2play) 0-2 each; Tommy Maher, John McGrath 0-1 each.

Clonmel Commercials: Cian Smith 0-4 (2 frees); Sean O’Connor (1 free), Peter McGarry (2play) 0-3 each; Seamus Kennedy, Ross Peters, Tadhg Condon 0-1 each.

The clash of the county’s football heavyweights saw Loughmore/Castleiney once again upset a fancied Clonmel Commercials to claim their seventeenth County Senior Football title on Sunday in a feisty encounter more memorable for the commitment of both sides rather that the quality of the football.

Unbeaten in their run to the final, Clonmel Commercials were chasing a 23rd title, but Loughmore/Castleiney, freshened by an infusion of young blood, and as they have done so many times before, had the measure of their rivals down the home-straight.

In a strong finish, they got over the line with late points from Joey Quinn and John McGrath, to become the first winners of the Philly Ryan Cup, presented by the Ryan family in memory of the stalwart Tipperary and Commercials goalkeeper who passed away twelve months ago to the day on Sunday last.

Romantics would suggest that, in the circumstances, Commercials should win, given also that the late Philly’s son Shane was goalkeeper for the Clonmel side but, Loughmore/Castleiney had their own agenda, and in keeping with their great tradition, ground out the desired result, coming good at the death to qualify also for the Munster club championship where they travel to Cork for a quarter final on November 8th.

A cagey encounter initially, played at pedestrian pace, the sides concentrated on retaining possession. Both spurned goal opportunities as they shared eight points after eighteen minutes.

A two-pointer from Liam McGrath followed six minutes later by a similar effort from Eoin O’Connell were instrumental to Loughmore’s going in at the break, 0-9 to 0-6 ahead.

Loughmore lost Ed Meagher to injury after 27 minutes, his brother John replacing him, and they had every reason to be the happier of the two sides at the interval though both had lots of room for improvement in the second half.

The second half followed a similar pattern but when Peter McGarry two-pointed Commercials level after 42 minutes (0-11 each), it was followed four minutes later by a Ross Peters point for the lead, Commercials looked to be on their way.

A mass flare-up between the Clonmel scores could have seen red cards issued but referee Will Fitzharris showed considerable restraint. When the dust settled, Loughmore had Ed Connolly and Liam McGrath points to get ahead.

Tadhg Condon responded for Commercials to level at 0-13 each with five minutes left. Loughmore/Castleiney are the masters of such situations.

Just as they had done in their semi-final win over Kilsheelan/Kilcash, they showed bottle when the chips were down. Joey Quinn nudged them ahead, followed quickly by a John Mcgrath point for a two point advantage with as many minutes left.

There was still time for Commercials to rescue the defence of their title and with John McGrath getting a black card after 61 minutes that possibility strengthened but no better men to face adversity than Loughmore/Castleiney, who battened down the hatches to record as memorable win as they had enjoyed in this great era in the club’s history.

With the exception of Moyle Rovers’ success in 2018, these two clubs have dominated the championship since 2012, Commercials winning eight times and Loughmore claiming their sixth in that period. Not surprisingly the rivalry between them is intense and it showed no sign of abating on Sunday.

Loughmore/Castleiney supporters and players revelled in the victory, afterwards deeming it one of their greatest ever. A year that started at low-key for them in both hurling & football has yielded a rich bounty, this is a triumph they will relish.

The introduction of youngsters like Joey Quinn, Philip O’Connell and Darragh McCahey energised their game, and paid rich dividends in the spacious Thurles arena.

Liam McGrath was named the official man of the match after an excellent game, but the work of Ciaran Connolly throughout was of epic proportions. As ever Noel McGrath and Brian McGrath had big games as did Ed Connolly and Eoin O’Connell.

Clonmel Commercials particularly wanted to win this year but they were never allowed settle into their expansive game by tight-marking opponents.

Seamus Kennedy tried very hard to drive them on but too many of their big guns did not reach their usual heights. Cathal Deely, Joe Higgins, Sean O’Connor, and Cian Smith did their bit but overall, it was a disappointing performance by them.

TEAMS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Shane Hennessy (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Eoin O’Connell (7), Darragh McCahey (6); Tommy Maher (6), Noel McGrath (7), Ed Meagher (6); John Ryan (6), Ciaran Connolly (9); Ed Connolly (7), Brian McGrath (Capt 7), John McGrath (6); Liam McGrath (7), Philip O’Connell (6), Joey Quinn (7).

Sub: John Meagher (6) for E Meagher (27 inj).

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan (6); Tadhg Condon (6), Ross Slattery (6), Jamie O’Keeffe (6); Kevin Fahey (6), Seamus Kennedy (Capt 7), Tadhg Sheehan (6); James Morris (6), Joe Higgins (7); Cathal Deely (7), Darragh O’Connor (6), Ross Peters (6); Peter McGarry (6), Sean O’Connor (7), Cian Smith (7).

Subs: Thomas Charles (6) for Slattery (38); Rory O’Dowd (6) for Sheehan (46).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Kilsheelan/Kilcash).