Noel McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney, and Robbie Quirke, Toomevara, in Tipperary SHC Final action. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tipperary SHC Final
Loughmore-Castleiney 2-19 Toomevara 1-17
By Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium
Loughmore/Castleiney were crowned Tipperary senior hurling champions for the fifth time in their history after getting the better of Toomevara in the decider at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.
It ensures that the Mid Tipperary side remain on course for a third senior hurling and football double in eleven years as they turn their attention to the football decider against Clonmel Commercials, back at the Thurles venue next Sunday.
But for the moment they can bask in the glow of being once again crowned the best hurling team in Tipperary as they completed an unbeaten campaign, inspired by a 1-13 haul from John McGrath in a man of the match performance.
His goal in the final minute of normal time finally killed off a gutsy Toomevara challenge after their super sub Conor O’Meara, their only survivor from their previous success in 2008, scored a brilliant goal to bring his side back within two.
But Loughmore/Castleiney aren’t a team that does panic and from the very next play, McGrath sealed their second hurling title in four years.
A final between two of the hurling blue-bloods in the county, the game failed to fully ignite before the crowd of 6,842 as the sides went score for score for much of the first half, McGrath and his Toomevara counterpart Darragh McCarthy unerring from frees.
Brian McGrath got the first score from play in the fifth minute, but a good point from Conor O’Farrell and an assist to Jack Delaney had Toome in front before Kevin McCarthy doubled the lead.
Two frees from John McGrath brought Loughmore level before the McCarthy brothers Kevin and Darragh restored Toome’s two point lead but John McGrath’s first from play on 23 minutes had Loughmore back on terms and playing second fiddle for much of the half, went in leading at half time 0-12 to 0-10.
Darragh McCarthy was Toomevara’s star man on route to the final but was well checked in the main by Lorcan Egan but also was starved of quality ball, managing his only point from play shortly after the restart.
There was never more than a score between the sides in the second period but you never felt Loughmore were under any degree of pressure but when Robbie Quirke pointed on 56 minutes to close within two, a late Toome raid looked on.
However, Loughmore’s bench was the difference and with Ciaran McCormack (2) and Ciaran McGrath on the scoresheet, Eoin O’Connell linked up with fellow sub Paul McCahey who goaled on 57 minutes and that looked that.
However, a superbly finished goal from Conor O’Meara two minutes later, as part of a 1-2 haul, looked like it would set up a dramatic climax until John McGrath put an end to that.
Scorers for Loughmore/Castleiney: John McGrath 1-13 (9fs, 1 65), Paul McCahey 1-0, Ciaran McCormack 0-2, Brian McGrath, Ciaran Connolly, Ciaran McGrath, Liam McGrath 0-1 each.
Scorers for Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 0-9 (8fs), Conor O’Meara 1-2, Jack Delaney, Kevin McCarthy 0-2 each, Conor O’Farrell, Robbie Quirke 0-1 each.
Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Lorcan Egan, Joey Hennessy, Willie Eviston; John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Ed Meagher; Noel McGrath, Ciaran Connolly; Tommy Maher, Tomas McGrath, Ed Connolly; John McGrath, Liam Treacy, Liam McGrath.
Subs: Ciaran McCormack for Treacy (38); Ciaran McGrath for Hennessy (40); Paul McCahey for L McGrath for (54); Eoin O’Connell for Ryan (56); Darragh McCahey for T McGrath (60+1).
Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Seamus O’Farrell, Andrew Ryan, Liam Ryan; Josh McCarthy, Barry O’Connell, Jack Ryan; Robbie Quirke, Conor O’Farrell; Jack Delaney, Darren Delaney, Mark McCarthy; Adam Hall, Kevin McCarthy, Darragh McCarthy.
Subs: Joshua Powell for S O’Farrell (42); Conor O’Meara for Hall (44); Jake Hackett for J McCarthy (45); Colm Canning for J Ryan (52); Paul Ryan for M McCarthy (54).
Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)
