Loughmore’s poise leaves Sars feeling blue

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Loughmore/Castleiney 0-17

Thurles Sarsfields 2-9

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney)

SCORERS – Loughmore/Castleiney: John McGrath 0-12 (8 frees); Ed Connolly 0-2; Ciaran Connolly, Tomas McGrath, Ciaran McGrath 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Paddy Creedon 2-1; Aidan McCormack 0-3 frees; Darragh Stakelum 0-2; James Armstrong, Liam McCormack, Pa Bourke 0-1 each.

The double is still on! Loughmore-Castleiney’s bid for the senior double in hurling and football cleared another hurdle at rain-washed Semple Stadium on Sunday where they were more than two points a better team than the under-performing Thurles Sarsfields in this county hurling semi-final that fell below expectations.

In mitigation, one must record that the dreadful conditions, with squally showers and a fresh breeze, were a hindrance to skilful hurling, and were largely to blame for an error-strewn encounter, an inordinate amount of rucking, some poor striking, with many players finding it difficult to hold their feet on the greasy surface.

Loughmore-Castleiney coped better with the elements and on top of that had a wonderful leader in John McGrath, who was the difference between the two sides, his twelve points, four from play, steering them clear of rivals, who, while much below their best, were still in the hunt right to the end.

In many people’s eyes this was the game of the weekend, but it never really caught fire and was redeemed largely by the closeness of the scoring throughout.

Loughmore were considerably better than Sarsfields, the seventeen scores to eleven, a clearer indication of the balance of play, and their only disappointment was that they left the game hanging in the balance to the very end when their place in the final should have been secured much earlier.

Thurles Sarsfields display was disappointing in the extreme. They had lost to Loughmore in the Mid championship but were reckoned to be much stronger at this juncture. Particularly disappointing was that having trailed by just a point at half-time after playing into the wind and rain (2-4 to 0-11), they made no headway in the second half, and in fact were outscored by a point in that too, even allowing for some slack Loughmore shooting at the finish.

Loughmore showed they meant business from the very start with four unanswered points in six minutes, Ed Connolly, Tomas McGrath, and John McGrath (2 frees) the marksmen.

In their first attack, Sarsfields had a goal from Paddy Creedon, expertly put away off a Liam McCormack pass on seven minutes. McCormack’s pace and Creedon’s finishing power were causing Loughmore problems and Creedon struck again for a 2-0 to 0-5 lead for the Blues.

It was more than their play deserved but they held that slight advantage to the 24th minute when two John McGrath points brought the sides level, 2-3 to 0-9.

Two further McGrath points to which Aidan McCormack replied had Loughmore 0-11 to 2-4 in front at the break, though a powerful surge by Paul Maher might have yielded a Thurles goal before half-time, the attempted pass to Liam McCormack just failing to reach its target.

Sarsfields had to be pleased to have reached the break just a point adrift after so poor a first half-showing.

One expected that they would raise their game on resuming, and with the elements in their favour, but it was Loughmore who continued to do the best hurling and by the three-quarter mark had extended their advantage to 0-16 to 2-5, John McGrath hitting four points and Ciaran Connolly the other with James Armstrong and Aidan McCormack countering for Sarsfields.

Darragh Stakelum had a goal-bound effort for Sarsfields turned away but points from Pa Bourke, Aidan McCormack, and Darragh Stakelum had the deficit down to a point with six minutes left.

Loughmore don’t fold under pressure, and with Noel McGrath doing an amount of tidying up at the back for them, and Sarsfields showing no real urgency in their play, the Mid champions were the stronger at the finish, Ciaran McGrath adding a point to their tally, while three John McGrath frees into the wind failed to reach their target.

This was not Loughmore’s best showing of the year, but it was certainly their most important win, and they will be many people’s favourites to lift the Dan Breen Cup when they meet Toomevara in the final on Sunday week. There is no mystery about their game – it is honest, straight-forward, playing to their strengths, and backed up by a wealth of experience of success in the top flight.

Of course, in the McGraths they have great leaders. John may have claimed the kudos on Sunday but the manner in which Noel & Brian knit things together is also central to their performances. John Ryan, Ed Connolly, and Ciaran Connolly also led by example in this searching test of their title-winning credentials.

Thurles Sarsfields were very disappointed at the finish, not just at the defeat, but largely because they did not play to their ability.

Few of their squad reached expected levels, the exceptions being Denis Maher, Paddy Creedon, Liam McCormack, Darragh Stakelum, and goalkeeper Patrick McCormack. Granted the conditions did not help them, but titles are won in winter time in difficult conditions and potential champions must be able to deal with them.

TEAMS - Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Ed Meagher (6), Joey Hennessy (6), Willie Eviston (6); John Ryan (7), Brian McGrath (7), Lorcan Egan (6); Noel McGrath (7), Ciaran Connolly (6); Tommy Maher (6), Tomas McGrath (6), Ed Connolly (7); John McGrath (9), Ciaran McCormack (6), Liam McGrath (6).

Subs: Liam Treacy (6) for Maher (47); Ciaran McGrath (0-1, 7) for McCormack (49); Eoin O’Connell (6) for Hennessy (53); Paul McCahey (7) for L McGrath (59).

Thurles Sarsfields: Paddy McCormack (7); Paul Maher (6), Denis Maher (7), Stephen Maher (6); James Armstrong (6), Ronan Maher (6), Cian Stakelum (6); Cathal Moloney (6), Stephen Cahill (6); Aidan McCormack (6), Conor Stakelum (6), Liam McCormack (7); Paddy Creedon (7), Darragh Stakelum (7), Eoin Purcell (6).

Subs: Pa Bourke (6) for Purcell (49); Kieran Costello (6) for Cian Stakelum (53); David Corbett (6) for Moloney (53); Seanie Butler (NR) for A McCormack (59); Mossie McCormack (NR) for Armstrong (59).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).