John McGrath helped Loughmore-Castleiney secure another Tipperary SHC and SFC double. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Tipperary SFC Final
Loughmore-Castleiney 0-11 Clonmel Commercials 0-7
By Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
Loughmore-Castleiney were crowned double county senior champions in Tipperary after a hard working performance gave them their second top title in the Premier County in the space of seven days.
Having won the hurling title last weekend, the side turned out again and defeated Clonmel Commercials by a four point margin having held a five point interval lead - they had faced a very strong breeze in that second half but worked like trojans to keep the Commercials challenge under wraps. It is the club's third double in 11 years in Tipperary.
Having played with the very strong breeze in the first half Loughmore-Castleiney held a 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead, and they were full value for that advantage. They had cut through Commercials on a number of occasions and were far more positive on the ball as they attacked rather than retreated when in possession.
Eoin O'Connell and Liam McGrath had early scores for the Loughmore-Castleiney men. McGrath was to be their main man in attack as he finished the half with 0-5 to his name including two beauties with either foot.
The gap stood at 0-7 to 0-2 after 21 minutes - Cian Smith and Sean O'Connor getting the Commercials scores while Brian McGrath's fisted point for Loughmore-Castleiney could as easily have ended up in the net.
The Clonmel lads had two before half time through Peter McGarry and full back Tadhg Condon, but Liam Treacy and Liam McGrath again his back to Loughmore Castleiney to give their side a five point lead. It was not an enormous advantage considering the strength of the breeze, and the big question was, would it be enough?
It proved to be and the point from Noel McGrath after 20 seconds upon resumption set them on their way. - a score which represented half of their scores in that half.
Commercials were simply unable to break down the champions and despite having scores from Sean O'Connor, Padraic Looram and Cathal Deely in the second half, they were unable to get any closer to their opponents who had outstanding performances from Noel and John McGrath while Willie Eviston in defence was a total rock for them in the full back line.
Commercials, who were looking for their third title in succession, were a frustrated bunch as the half wore onwards and their efforts proved futile as they resorted to lobing high ball into the square in search of a goal - it wasn't to come though and Loughmore-Castleiney held out for another famous victory.
Scorers for Loughmore-Castleiney: Liam McGrath 0-5 (3fs), Brian McGrath 0-2, Liam Treacy 0-2, Noel McGrath, Eoin O'Connell 0-1 each.
Scorers for Commercials: Sean O'Connor 0-3 (1f), Peter McGarry, Cathal Deely, Cian Smith, Padraic Looram and Tadhg Condon 0-1 each.
Loughmore-Castleiney: Joey Hennessy, Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, John Ryan, Tommy Maher, Mossy McGrath, Eoin O'Connell, Noel McGrath, Liam Treacy, Darragh McCahey, Brian McGrath, Eamon Connolly, LIam McGrath, Ciaran McGrath, John McGrath.
Subs: Philip O'Connell for Eamon Connolly; Aidan McGrath for Ciaran McGrath; Eddie Meagher for Mossy McGrath; Ciaran Connolly for Darragh McCahey; CIaran McCormack for Liam McGrath.
Commercials: Shane Ryan, Kevin Fahy, Tadhg Condon, Ross Slattery, Rory O'Dowd, Michael Quinlivan, Padraic Looram, Cathal Deely, Jack Kennedy, Cian Smith, Peter McGarry, Conall Kennedy, Joe Higgins, Sean O'Connor, Ross Peters.
Subs: Colman Kennedy for Joe Higgins; Michael Murphy for Rory O'Dowd; Aldo Matasso for Ross Peters; Ryan Lambe for Cian Smith.
Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy).
