Loughmore's craft too much for Portroe
Loughmore-Castleiney 1-24
Portroe 2-11
By Thomas Conway in Dolla
In the closing seconds of last Saturday’s County Senior Hurling Championship group 4 encounter, most eyes in the crowd were fixed on Portroe full-back Colm Gleeson and Loughmore forward John McGrath.
As if to emphasise the integrity of hurling, both players jogged across the field tussling with one another, eventually rolling onto the ground, before bouncing up to the sound of the final whistle, and smiling as they exchanged a warm handshake and pat on the back.
At that stage, any intensity left in the game had been blown away by Loughmore, who found a new level in the last fifteen minutes to close out a praiseworthy Portroe challenge. Noel McGrath was imperious at centre-back, having slotted in from midfield when his brother, Tipperary under 21 star Brian, was forced to depart due to injury in the 24th minute.
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