On a weekend when the ladies’ football decider produced its moment of controversy, we had our own bit of argy bargy locally in the hurling championship. Drom/Inch avenged their Mid final defeat by Loughmore, but did so in disputed circumstances.
Elsewhere results went according to expectations to set up some enticing quarter-finals next weekend.
The crowds certainly flocked to Holycross on Sunday and they weren’t short of talking points on their way home. The annihilation of Carrick Swans in the opening contest raised an eyebrow or two; and then we had high drama in the second game as the referee seemed to call a premature halt with Drom clinging to a minimal lead.
Referee, Johnny Ryan, certainly got an earful from some irate Loughmore/Castleiney folk as he made his way off the pitch at the end of a gripping game. County minor captain, Brian McGrath, had just missed a chance to level the match as the clock ticked into additional time. Most people expected three or four minutes of lost time to be added due to injuries and other delays, but the referee immediately called a halt, much to the consternation of Loughmore followers particularly.
What makes it more painful for Loughmore is the fact that it’s the second year running their season has ended in similar controversy. Last year they played Sarsfields in the Mid final up in Drombane needing a win to stay in the county race. Once again they were a point down as the game approached full time, and once more the referee blew full time with most followers expecting several minutes of additional action.
This has been a tough year for Johnny Ryan, with controversy appearing to stalk him all season. As an inter-county referee he progressed rapidly in recent years and was thought to be close to an All Ireland final assignment. However, back in early July he was in the headlines following a Wexford/Offaly qualifier game. On that occasion a Wexford ‘penalty’ by Mark Fanning struck the stanchion and returned to play without anybody noticing. Luckily Wexford won the game handily, which took the sting out of the issue.
It later emerged that Wexford had queried the Tipperary man’s appointment for the match given the fact that fellow parishioner, Conor Gleeson, was part of Eamon Kelly’s management team with Offaly.
It’s thought that his inter-county standing suffered as a result of that incident down in Wexford Park and he was overlooked for major fixtures during the summer.
There was recent controversy locally too following a West Tipperary game between Kickhams and Eire Og Annacarty when the former had a player sent off. Ironically in that contest there was a very generous allocation of additional time at the end with Annacarty stealing a very late win through a Conor O’Brien goal.
There was also an issue after the recent Mid minor final between J.K. Bracken’s and Holycross. It’s a lot of aggravation to tolerate in one season and I have sympathy with anyone in that position. Refereeing can be a lonely job with nobody cheering for the man in the middle and everyone finding fault.
Sunday’s game was a tough one to handle involving two teams with history going at it full throttle. The hits were heavy with plenty of swarming around the man in possession and very little scope for open, fluid play.
Drom had the strong wind in their backs for the first half but were slow to make it tell. Eventually the game’s only goal gave them some breathing space and it had an element of good fortune. Seamus Callanan seemed to mishit a ‘65’ but an alert Seamus Butler snapped it and flashed in what turned out to be a crucial score.
A few excellent first half saves by Damien Young were a central part of the story too as Loughmore went for goal at times when perhaps points would have been wiser. Noel McGrath was the stand out player in that half, making some great catches and being hugely involved all over the pitch.
Drom were six-up at the break but Loughmore burst from the blocks early in the second period and within ten minutes had the lead back to a single point. It was really engrossing fare at this stage with the issue very much in the balance. In fairness to Drom they held composure to push out that lead once again; they were never led in the contest.
Seamus Callanan put in a huge second half shift. He had to chase the play because nothing was coming easy. One particular dash outfield to hook a defender was eye-catching. Substitute, Tommy Nolan, also played a significant second half role and of course ‘Woody’ was in the heart of it at half back during a period when Noel McGrath’s influence around the field waned. At the back Eamon Buckley was in typically combative mood and all these separate parts added up to ensure Drom’s progress.
It’s one Loughmore will deeply regret. If they had taken their chances in the first half they could really have turned the screw on Drom. Aidan McGrath hit some huge long-range points in the second half but John McGrath will rue that one that came back off the post and then brother, Brian, had that late miss. There’s no guarantee that they’d have prevailed if more time was allowed but it would have been enthralling to see it unfold.
In all this controversy the County Board can’t off-load everything on the referee either. There was no PA, so many followers didn’t even know who the minute’s silence was for; and a fourth official keeping time would surely have avoided all the hassle. In a game as intense as this the referee is overburdened with responsibility and mistakes are understandable, if unfortunate.
The opening game at Holycross must surely have set some sort of record. I can’t immediately recall any senior championship game where the margin was thirty-six points, though maybe somebody will dig one out of the mists of history.
It’s an unwelcome distinction for the Swans – especially at a time when Davins are celebrating a South intermediate win! This was like seniors versus juniors, a total mis-match where Kilruane simply dictated matters and kept up the barrage to the very end.
I’ve no idea what the background story is, though there must be some explanation for such a total collapse. Swans are competitive in the South and I certainly didn’t expect this type of ‘turkey shoot’. I felt sorry for players like Gerry Walsh and Alan O’Sullivan, bravely trying to stand in the breach against such an onslaught.
For MacDonaghs I suppose it eases them back into the groove after their North final defeat. They looked a team of all the parts, though obviously the quality of the opposition must be factored in. Still I think they won’t be easily beaten next weekend. Niall O’Meara and Jack Peters backboned a strong defence. Seamus Hennessy, the forgotten man of Tipperary hurling, put in a strong shift at midfield. And then they had a decent spread of scorers in attack from ‘Buggy’ O’Meara to county minor, Cian Darcy. All the starting forwards and midfielders shared in the ‘massacre’.
The quarter-finals proper then sees the action switch to Semple Stadium next weekend with the games spread over two games. First up will be Kilruane/Killenaule and Sarsfields/Borris-Ileigh on the Saturday with Clonoulty/Mullinahone and Kiladangan/Drom to follow on Sunday. Reigning champs, Sarsfields, will be strongly fancied to see off Borris-Ileigh but I doubt if there will be strong favourites in any of the other three games.
Sarsfields have had a long wait for this game so it will be interesting to see how they cope. Borris-Ileigh had to battle hard to hold off Burgess last Sunday so they’ll be looking for improvement if they’re to upset the champions. The involvement of county players on both sides will add spice to the tie. A Borris’ win here would certainly grab the headlines but looks very unlikely.
The clash of Kilruane and Killenaule will be an interesting affair. There’s not much between them in the outright betting for county honours with the North side slightly ahead. Killenaule’s record outside the South is poor and they disappointed their fans too in the recent divisional final. Kilruane will be favourites.
The clash of Clonoulty and Mullinahone will be an interesting one as South and West champs lock horns. The betting odds put Clonoulty well ahead though I’m not convinced there’s that gap. Finally Drom will be fancied to handle Kiladangan. They met last year at the same stage with a Liam Sheedy led Drom hitting five goals on their way to a ten-point win. I suspect the North champions won’t be as accommodating this time though Drom will still be tipped to progress.
There’s exciting action promised then in the county quarter-finals, hopefully without controversy.
P.S. A man remembered in the minutes silence at Holycross last week was Loughmore’s, Johnny Fitzpatrick, who passed away recently. At a juvenile game many years back we exchanged words on the sideline where I was told in certain language to go back to Knockavilla. No matter, he was a decent sort with typical Loughmore passion. May be rest in peace.
