Split season has benefitted Loughmore - Noel McGrath

By Shane Brophy

Loughmore/Castleiney captain Noel McGrath has put his club’s consistency over the past two years down to the split season in the GAA calendar.

Plans were afoot to separate the inter-county and club seasons fully, however, Covid-19 brought all that forward where for the last two years the club game in particular has thrived with inter-county players able to focus fully on their respective campaigns, without trying to mix both.

“It’s very enjoyable,” Noel admitted.

“Between 2020 and 2021, Covid meant both were split seasons and for any player, whether they are playing inter-county or club, having that run of training and matches with a particular team is massive and has been very enjoyable.

“Going back through the years with the club we have had good runs before and they were times we were training regularly with the club, in 2013 when Tipp were knocked out early in hurling that year, so we had a good run at it (Loughmore/Castleiney) won the senior hurling and football double), so it definitely helps the club with everyone training all the time.”

For many, what Loughmore/Castleiney are doing is remarkable to be so consistent in both hurling and football. Next Sunday’s county senior hurling fine match against Thurles Sarsfields will be their fifteenth consecutive weekend in action since their championship season began with a Mid quarter final win over JK Brackens on August 8th.

“That’s just the way it has been, and we don’t really know much different,” Noel added.

“When club championship got going when I started playing with Loughmore/Castleiney, it has been almost every second week no matter what, even if there wasn’t a split season before that.

“We just get on with it. Since we were juveniles, that was the way it was, hurling one week and football the next. We don’t really think about it, it is just the way the club is as the foundation of the club is built on and is something we enjoy doing, and we are getting serious enjoyment out of this at the moment, as we have over the last number of years.”

After the double disappointment of 2020, to get back to both senior hurling and football finals is a feat few clubs could achieve and while they have no silverware to show for it, yet the run Noel and his teammates have been on is a special feeling.

“It has been a great run again this year, but we still have no silverware to show for either last year or this year,” he stressed.

“So, while it is great what we have done and get serious enjoyment and getting great enjoyment in the whole parish and created a great buzz, we still need to get over that line and Sunday is going to be as tough a game as any against Thurles Sarsfields.

“It’s great to be there; if you are not there you can’t win so we are delighted to be there and have a chance to compete and to play on the day and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Noel McGrath has seen it all with both Loughmore/Castleiney and Tipperary and is philosophical in having to accept that you win some and you lose some but isn’t one to tap into defeats to spur himself on for the following year.

“There are times when you look back on defeats that might spur you on a bit, but it is over twelve months now since (losing both finals) and things change,” he added.

“We just have to take every game on its merits. Last year was a learning curve for us all and the disappointment of it keeps you going and that is why we all love sport, it sucks you in, it gives the highs and the lows, and while the lows are low, the highs are very high as we saw against Moyle Rovers last weekend, games like that give you great encouragement to keep going.

“Sunday will be a game on its own merits. It is 2021 and last year won’t have a massive bearing on it. It’s two teams going at it and looking to win the County Final.

“Thurles Sarsfields have some unbelievable players with numerous county medals in different age groups and new players coming onto the scene who have been doing well at underage and are now stepping up to play senior.

“They will be looking to do the exact same thing we are doing and that is to win the county final. County Final day in Tipperary is a massive thing and is something we all dream of being involved in, and when you are involved in it you want to put on your best show, and I am sure Thurles Sarsfields and ourselves will be looking to put on the best show we can for our clubs.”