Loughmore Castleiney take home Dan.
by Noel Dundon, Tipperary Media
With half the double complete, Loughmore Castleiney will put on the war paint again next Sunday to complete another remarkable achievement following the capturing of their fifth ever county senior hurling championship – they now stand in eighth position in the pecking order having moved one clear of Clonoulty Rossmore and Holycross Ballycahill. They are now one title behind Kilruane MacDonagh’s and Roscrea, but they won’t be worrying about that for the time being.
Of course Clonmel Commercials will have a lot to say about that double as they go in search of their own three in a row and their fifth title in six years with Loughmore Castleiney’s 2021 title being the only time the O’Dwyer cup left south Tipperary in that time.
It was a fine final with a big attendance – the biggest for quite a few years – and the fact that all four divisions were represented on the day certainly added to the swell. And, the game didn’t disappoint.
Essentially, Loughmore Castleiney did what Loughmore Castleiney do, and what they have been doing all year long – they eked out victory in a close, tight and tough encounter with John McGrath doing the lions share of the scoring; Noel McGrath having a growing influence on proceedings as the game wore onwards; and Brian McGrath giving an absolute exhibition at centre back. Surely, the younger McGrath was the real Man of the Match??
This was game dominated by the defences and when decent ball did find its way into the attacking division, Loughmore Castleiney had the greater ability to make it work. Interesting that 1-2 was pilfered off both benches with Conor O’Meara proving Toomevara’s top scorer from play despite his short cameo. You just feared for Toome’ when the game took on the pattern it did because these are exactly the kind of games that the masters from mid-Tipperary do not lose.
Toomevara will have their regrets but it won’t be for missed chances – they only struck three wides in the game. Instead, the regrets will perhaps more with frees given away – John McGrath hit 0-10 from placed balls for instance. Still, the Greyhounds will put this game down to the learning curve in a season which saw them achieve much. For the champions, well, it’s congrats again to this incredible group.
Cashel crowned Seamus O’Riain Kings.
So, We’ll have a west Tipperary senior hurling championship in 2025 again after a one year hiatus following Cashel King Cormacs return to the Tipperary hurling summit. The Cashel men had it all to do to sweep aside Carrick Swans in the curtain raiser to the senior final on Sunday – the dismissal of the south Champions corner back Jack Murphy had a big influence on the game, shortly after Devon Ryan had shot Cashel in front.
The Champions make a welcome return to the Dan Breen ranks after a ten year gap having been relegated in 2014. They will battle it out with Clonoulty Rossmore in the senior championship next year and if they continue to make progress as they have done over the last two campaigns, they will have a big say in the division.
For Swans, getting to the final will give them great incentive to go a step further next year. It’s a tall ask considering the quality sides in the Championship but their ambition has to be to push on and win the Seamus O’Riain Cup. A South title should not satisfy their appetite.
Unique Camogie decider in the offing.
The remarkable run of senior camogie success in Tipperary of Drom-Inch finally came to an end with Clonoulty Rossmore knocking them out of the Championship at the semi-final stage – it was sweet revenge for four county final defeats in-a-row at the hands of the same opposition.
The up-shot of it all is a unique final pairing of Clonoulty Rossmore and newcomers Thurles Sarsfields who have made enormous strides since winning promotion a few seasons ago.
By virtue of their record of reaching five county finals in succession, Clonoulty Rossmore are regarded as favourites for this one and who would begrudge Cáit Devane and co, a county medal after so long hurling in the trenches. Thurles Sarsfields won’t see it that way though and they will view this as a real opportunity to win an historic first title for the club.