Tipperary SHC Final replay

Loughmore-Castleiney 2-14 Thurles Sarsfields 2-13

By Noel Dundon at Semple Stadium

Loughmore Castleiney completed the county senior hurling and football double at Semple Stadium. The victory capped a memorable year for them.

Just a point separated the sides in the end and a thrilling finish saw the Loughmore Castleiney men hold out for the win, although Sarsfields had plenty of chances to get the equaliser and could have laid claim to a number of opportunities to tie up the game in the final seconds.

But, it was Loughmore Castleiney's year and a fairytale ending capped a marvellous year for the dual club with Noel McGrath lifting the Dan Breen Cup for them.

Sarsfields led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the water break despite having endured a jittery start to the game - Pa Burke getting two of their scores to go along with Ronan Maher, Denis Maher and Aidan McCormack scores. Loughmore Castleiney had a number of goal chances which went abegging but points from John McGrath (2) was all they could mine from the period - they also hit six wides in that first quarter, so although they were creating chances, they were failing in their bid to land them.

And, by the end of the half, Loughmore Castleiney were to double that wides tally to 12 as they trailed at the break by 0-9 to 0-6 in a game which failed to reach the expected heights by the half way mark. Denis Maher was causing all sorts of problems for the Loughmore Castleiney defence and he was to be scorer and provider (2) for Pa Burke as Sarsfields continued to tag on scores – Burke being the pick of the attackers on show in the half.

Loughmore Castleiney had found their range in attack too and once midfielder Tomas McGrath had their first score from play in the 21st minute, they followed up with John and Noel McGrath scores to trail by three at the break.

It was all Loughmore Castleiney in the third quarter as they blitzed Sarsfields. Three points in as many minutes from John McGrath, Evan Sweeney and John Meagher tied the game up. And, a Biran McGrath goal sent them crashing into the lead by the 7th minute.

Sarsfields were in all sorts of bother but a Denis Maher goal right on the water break brought them back to within a point 1-11 to 1-10 and a grandstand finish seemed possible again.

That finish materialised but it seemed as though the victors had the game won when Liam McGrath goaled for them in the 22nd minute as they went four up with five to go. Sarsfields battled back and a mistake led to sub Conor Stakelum setting up his brother Darragh for a fine goal which left a point it - a deficit cancelled by Ronan Maher a minute later.

Then John McGrath rifled over the winning score for Loughmore-Castleiney.

Scorers for Loughmore Castleiney: John McGrath 0-7, Liam McGrath 1-0, Brian McGrath 1-0, Noel McGrath 0-2, Ciaran Connolly, Tomas McGrath, John Meagher, Evan Sweeney, Ciaran McCormack 0-1 each.

Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: Denis Maher 1-2, Pa Burke 0-4, Aidan McCormack 0-3, Darragh Stakelum 1-0, Ronan Maher 0-2, David Corbett, Sean Butler 0-1 each.

THURLES SARSFIELDS: Patrick McCormack, Paul Maher, Padraic Maher, Seosamh Ryan, David Corbett, Ronan Maher, Jack Derby, Stephen Cahill, Michael Cahill, Darragh Stakelum, Billy McCarthy, Aidan McCormack, Pa Bourke, Denis Maher, Paddy Creedon.

Subs: Kieran Moloney for Michael Cahil; Conor Stakelum for Paddy Creedon; Seanie Butler for Aidan McCormack; Eoin Purcell for Darragh Stakelum.

LOUGHMORE CASTLEINEY: Aidan McGrath, Willie Eviston, Joey Hennessy, Lorcan Egan, Tommy Maher, John Meagher, Brian McGrath, Ciaran Connolly, Tomas McGrath, Liam Treacy, Liam McGrath, Noel McGrath, Ed Connolly, Ciaran McGrath, John McGrath.

Subs: Evan Sweeney for Ed Connolly; Ciaran McCormack for Liam Treacy; John Ryan for Tommy Maher; Conor McGrath for Tomas McGrath.

REFEREE: John McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams)