Loughmore Castleiney punishes poor and porous Templederry in high scoring contest

FBD Insurance Senior Club Hurling Championship - Round 1 - Group 3

Loughmore Castleiney 4-26

Templederry Kenyons 4-18

Loughmore Castleiney’s greater firepower was enough to help them keep them at arm’s length of a gutsy Templederry team as the sides met in an entertaining FBD County Senior Hurling Championship first-round clash played at a rain-swept Borrisoleigh last Saturday afternoon.

Except for a ten-minute period in the first half when Templederry took a one-point lead, the mid-Tipp side were always comfortable but it wasn’t until the last quarter when the wind-assisted side really managed to pull away with a deserved win.

When they were on top, Loughmore looked the real deal, and playing against the strong breeze in the first half they quickly tore into the opposition and were 1-2 to nil in front after just two and a half minutes. Ed Connolly was the goal scorer while Noel McGrath was quick to stamp his mark on the game with two unanswered points in the same sequence.

Realising they needed to stem the tide, Templederry quickly gathered the troops and had their first goal in the fifth minute through Padraig O’Leary after support play by Sean Ryan and Adrian Ryan.

Both Adrian and Sean Ryan would play a huge bid in Templederry’s attempt to stay in the game and after a lot of good hurling they were level at 2-3 to 1-6 when Michael Ryan burst forward from his midfield berth before scoring a great goal in the 12th minute.

Éanna Murray’s sideline ball edged Templederry in front a minute later but Loughmore soon came to grips and after scoring two points they moved four in front after Ed Connolly scored his second major in the 14th minute. The lead increased even more when Liam McGrath scored his third point of the half to lead 2-9 to 2-4 on 15 minutes.

The remainder of the half was dominated by a selection of well taken scores with Templederry recovering as they outscored Loughmore 0-7 to 0-4 with Colm Murray scoring three frees while Michael Ryan and Adrian Ryan scored one each from play while the hard working Sean Ryan scored twice including one from a close in free. By half time it was Loughmore 2-13 Templederry 2-11.

But just like the first half, Loughmore – assisted by the strong breeze – were quick to get into their stride as they scored four unanswered points in four minutes thanks to two John McGrath frees aided by a point each by Philip O’Connell and Liam McGrath.

McGrath was very accurate from his centre forward position and scored six points by the hour's end. Templederry were restless and after Adrian Ryan’s point was matched by one from Noel McGrath, the Kenyons were three in arrears after Conor Looby scored his team’s third goal to make it Templederry 3-12 Loughmore 2-18.

Another Sean Ryan free left the margin at two but Loughmore began to move clear for the third time when they scored 1-2 without replay with the goal coming from John McGrath in the 42nd minute.

That seven point lead was enough comfort for Loughmore and by the 52nd minute they had increased their lead to nine after Ciaran McGrath had his team’s fourth goal to make it 4-22 to 3-16. After two more Liam McGrath scores the margin stood at eleven. It looked like the game was over.

But as the rain continued, as it did for most of the second half there was still time for Templederry to seek out a better score difference and a goal by Pio Kennedy in the 54th minute was a means to curbing the deficit. However, Loughmore held out with Liam Treacy becoming their ninth player to score and bring down the curtain on an intriguing hour.

This win for the 2022 champions put them in the frame for more honours and with a side that possesses such talented players like John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Ciaran McGrath, Ed Connolly, Liam McGrath and John McGrath whose contribution to the game was immense.

Templederry were handicapped by the absence of Gearoid Ryan but with an attack that included Colm Murray, Eanna Murray, Adrian Ryan, Padraig O’Leary and Sean Ryan they showed plenty of scope and could yet finish up in the knockout stages. There was more as Tom Stapleton and Christy Coughlan and Darragh Carey played well in defence.

Loughmore Castleiney: Michael McGrath; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, Darragh McCahey; John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Tommy Maher; Tomas McGrath (0-1), Ed Meagher (0-2); Liam McGrath (0-6), Noel McGrath (0-5), Ed Connolly (2-1); Philip O’Connell (0-1), John McGrath (1-9, 0-6f), Ciaran McCormack.

Subs used: Ciaran McGrath (1-0) for McCormack (42); Liam Treacy (0-1) for T McGrath (47); Eoin O’Connell for Meagher (55).

Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon; Tadgh McLoughlin, Christy Coughlan; Michael Hayes (0-2); Liam McCutcheon, Tom Stapleton, Darragh Carey; Michael Ryan (1-1), Conor Looby (1-0); Dale Donnelly, Adrian Ryan (0-3), Colm Murray (0-7f); Sean Ryan (0-3, 0-2f), Padraig O’Leary (1-0), Eanna Murray (0-2).

Subs used: Odhran Murphy for McCutcheon (HT); Pio Kennedy (1-0) for Looby (43).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)