Loughmore-Castleiney 0-9 Clonmel Commercials 0-8
Report by Ed Donnelly (sites.tipperary@gaa.ie)
Loughmore-Castleiney have qualified for the 2016 Tipperary Water County Senior Football Final following a hard earned one point victory over the defending County and Munster champions Clonmel Commercials in an absorbing encounter at Boherlahan on Sunday.
Don’t let the lack of scores guide you in terms of whether this was a good game or not. Played in dry but windy conditions, this game was tight from the start and every score was very well earned as both sets of defenders were dominant.
Click here to view photos from the game
Loughmore won the toss and elected to play in the scoreboard end of the ground. However, from the throw-in, Michael Quinlivan set off on a long solo run through the Loughmore defence before laying off to Eoin Fitzgerald who scored a point from play. Quinlivan added a point from play in the fourth minute before Evan Sweeney got Loughmore-Castleiney off the mark with a point in the fifth minute. Liam McGrath equalised from a free a minute later before 10 minutes where no score was recorded. Clonmel did have a goal chance in the 12th minute but Michael Quinlivan’s tap on from close range was well saved by Dominic Brennan in the Loughmore goal.
As the game entered the second quarter, Loughmore added two pointed frees from Liam McGrath before Jason Lonergan scored a point from play for Commercials in the 23rd minute, their first score for 19 minutes. Ian Fahey had another Commercials goal chance in the 24th minute but he was dispossessed by the Loughmore defence just as he was about to shoot. A Cian Hennessy point from play followed in the 28th minute and after another Commercials goal chance was cleared at the expense of a 45’, Michael Quinlivan duly dispatched the long range free to end the first half action with Loughmore in front by 0-5 to 0-4.
Commercials took their time to return to the field for the second half action and with the half-time pep talk still clear in their mind, recorded two quick-fire points from Michael Quinlivan, first from play and then a free to ensure the Clonmel side took the lead. Loughmore responded with a pointed free by Liam McGrath in the 34th minute to level matters before a Jack Kennedy point from play a minute later put Commercials back in front again.
Loughmore would lose defender Ciaran McGrath soon afterwards as he received a black card to be replaced by Willie Eviston. Within two minutes, Clonmel captain Kevin Harney would also receive a black card and he was replaced by Conal McCullagh. Liam McGrath was now having a pronounced impact on the game and in the 39th minute, he burst through the Commercials defence only to see his well struck shot fly over the crossbar to level proceedings when a goal seemed likely. Three minutes later, Tomas McGrath put Loughmore back in front with a long range point from play.
Soon afterwards however, Liam McGrath’s day was at an end as he received a black card for a deliberate trip. Eamon Connolly replaced McGrath but it looked as if it may be a fatal set-back for Loughmore. What followed was a ten minute spell without a score as both teams attacked at will but were unable to break down their opponent’s defence.
Commercials forward Jason Lonergan had to retire due to injury in the 51st minute before Cian Hennessy kicked a good point from play two minutes later to put Loughmore two points to the good. Seamus Kennedy was now also struggling with injury before eventually he had to retire in injury time as Loughmore repelled attack after attack from Commercials.
Five minutes of additional time were signalled and Commercials won a 20 metre free in front of goal which Michael Quinlivan duly converted to leave just a point between the teams after 63 minutes. This was Commercials first score of any description in 28 minutes which illustrates their biggest problem in this game.
A number of long balls now rained down on the Loughmore rearguard but time after time, the defence won the breaking ball and when John Meagher won the last delivery ahead of Michael Quinlivan in the 66th minute, referee Derek O’Mahoney had seen enough and blew for full-time amid wild celebrations by Loughmore-Castleiney players and supporters alike.
Loughmore’s defenders were outstanding on this occasion led by John Meagher and Tomas McGrath. Noel and John McGrath dominated the midfield sector for much of the game while up front, Liam McGrath and Cian Hennessy always looked dangerous. For Commercials, they too had their best players in defence with Kevin Fahey in particular looking back to his best after being away for the summer. Michael Quinlivan tried hard up front but got little change from the Loughmore full-back line and his best work was done out the field.
Loughmore-Castleiney will have little time to rest on their laurels as a County Final date with Moyle Rovers awaits on Sunday next at 2:30pm in Leahy Park Cashel. Moyle Rovers themselves recorded two good wins over Aherlow Gaels and Kilsheelan-Kilcash in recent days and while Loughmore’s upset victory over the defending champions Commercials may see them installed as favourites, Sunday’s semi-final at Boherlahan was certainly a war of attrition and how they recover this week will determine whether the Mid champions can get back up to the levels required to win their third County Senior Football title in four years.
Click here to view photos from the game
Loughmore-Castleiney: Dominic Brennan; Lorcan Egan, John Meagher, Joseph Hennessy; John Ryan, Tomas McGrath (0-1), Ciaran McGrath; Noel McGrath, Liam Treacy; Aidan McGrath, John McGrath, Brian McGrath; Liam McGrath (0-5, 0-4 frees), Cian Hennessy (0-2), Evan Sweeney (0-1)
Subs: Willie Eviston for Ciaran McGrath (37m, black card), Eamon Connolly for Liam McGrath (43m, black card), David Kennedy for Cian Hennessy (64m)
Clonmel Commercials: Paul Nolan; Kevin Fahey, Donal Lynch, Jamie Peters; Luke Moore, Seamus Kennedy, Danny Madigan; David Lyons, Aldo Matassa; Kevin Harney, Jason Lonergan (0-1), Ian Fahey; Jack Kennedy (0-1), Michael Quinlivan (0-5, 0-3 frees), Eoin Fitzgerald (0-1)
Subs: Conal McCullagh for Kevin Harney (38m, black card), John Harney for Jason Lonergan (51m, injured), Shane Taylor for Seamus Kennedy (63m, injured)
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)
By Jonathan Cullen Sun 23rd Oct
