Loughmore’s late rally sinks Drom

Liam Treacy turned in a man of the match display for Loughmore-Castleiney as they came from behind to see off Drom & Inch in a rousing Mid Tipp Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday.

GAA: Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Loughmore-Castleiney 1-18

Drom & Inch 0-20

Report: Michael Dundon in Templemore

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Liam Treacy (Loughmore-Castleiney)

SCORERS – Loughmore/Castleiney: John McGrath 0-10 (8 frees); Liam Treacy 0-5; Liam McGrath 1-1; Ciaran Connolly 0-2.

Drom & Inch: Cormac Fitzpatrick 0-7 (4 frees); John Campion 0-3; Lorcan Campion, Podge Campion, Tommy Nolan 0-2 each; Michael Campion, Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Seamus Callanan, David Collins 0-1 each.

Treacy fired over five points, all from play, and had a huge say in Loughmore’s late rally which, for the second week running, resulted in victory when defeat seemed imminent. It was vintage Loughmore-Castleiney, who, under new management this year with Eamon Kelly as manager, are shaping as serious title contenders at divisional and county level once more.

Drom & Inch made the running all the way up to the 55th minute, and with Loughmore’s shooting somewhat wayward early on, led 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time.

A brace of points each from Lorcan and John Campion and three white flags from free-taker Cormac Fitzpatrick supplied the bulk of their tally with Liam Treacy hitting two for Loughmore to supplement John McGrath’s free-taking. Cormac Fitzpatrick might have had a Drom goal approaching half-time, but the woodwork intervened.

Drom lost their captain Jamie Moloney to a 26th minute injury and David Collins did not start but they appeared to be coping adequately with these absences.

Even when Liam McGrath netted for Loughmore at the start of the second half, to put them ahead (1-7 to 0-9), Drom did not falter, hitting the next five points but Loughmore were not wilting and came back with three of their own, two from Treacy to leave a points between them (0-15 to 1-11) at the three quarter stage.

Points by Tommy Nolan and Cormac Fitzpatrick had Drom 0-20 to 1-13 clear going into the last five minutes but, just as they did against holders Thurles Sarsfields in the quarter-final, Loughmore found an extra gear in those closing minutes. Ciaran Connolly, John McGrath 3 (2 frees) and Liam Treacy whipped over points in rapid succession to draw level on the hour, with McGrath’s final point in injury time securing them their place in the final.

Loughmore-Castleiney’s resilience is legendary at this stage, and it was very much in evidence again in this game. They absorbed sustained Drom pressure for much of the hour but came good at the finish with Liam Treacy having his best game for some time leading the way.

Brian McGrath was a dominant figure at the heart of the defence while Ciaran Connolly, Ed Meagher, and to a lesser extent, John, Noel & Liam McGrath were influential.

Drom & Inch will be justifiably disappointed to lose but can take heart from a decent showing that re-affirms their title-winning potential. The loss of Jamie Moloney so early in the game was a blow and Seamus Callanan was operating with a heavily bandaged knee which hampered his mobility.

The Campions, Lorcan, John & Podge led the charge for them with Kevin Hassett, Jack Ryan, and David Butler also prominent. With the county championship around the corner, they will be hoping to have Jamie Moloney and David Collins fully fit to bolster their challenge.

TEAMS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Ed Meagher (7), Joey Hennessy (6), Willie Eviston (6); John Ryan (6), Brian McGrath (8), Eoin O’Connell (6); Tomas McGrath (6), Ciaran Connolly (7); Tommy Maher (6), Noel McGrath (7), Ciaran McCormack (6); John McGrath (7), Liam Treacy (9), Liam McGrath (7).

Subs: Ciaran McGrath (6) for McCormack (HT); Philip O’Connell (6) for Connolly (37), Ciaran Connolly for T McGrath (47); Daragh McCahey (6) for Maher (54).

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (6); Lorcan Campion (7), Jamie Moloney (6), Jack Ryan (7); Podge Campion (7), Fintan Purcell (6), Kevin Hassett (6); John Campion (7), Michael Campion (6); Tony Cahill (6), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (6), Seamus Callanan (6); Cormac Fitzpatrick (6), David Butler (7), Tommy Nolan (6).

Subs: Stevie Nolan (6) for Moloney (26 inj); David Collins (6) for M Fitzpatrick (40); Cormac Cahill (6) for Butler (51).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).