Major shock as Loughmore/Castleiney are beaten in Tipperary County Senior Football Championship

Moycarkey/Borris 1-5 Loughmore/Castleiney 0-7

Shortlisted as potential champions, Loughmore/Castleiney came a cropper at Gortnahoe on Friday evening, losing to a late Moycarkey/Borris point in round one of group two of the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship.

No one anticipated this result but Moycarkey/Borris fully deserved this win, which throws the division two group wide open and puts the Loughmore/Castleiney boys on the back foot, with absolutely no room for error in their remaining two games against Ballina and Ardfinnan if they are to qualify from the group for the knockout stages.

It was an outcome that did not look likely at half-time, as Loughmore led 0-6 to 0-1 after having much the better of things in the first half. Loughmore lined out without John and Noel McGrath and while they had the breeze with them, they looked comfortably in control, though Moycarkey were battling hard all the way to keep themselves in the game.

Loughmore might have had a goal in the 11th minute but Ed Connolly’s effort whizzed wide of the posts. Loughmore were three points up at the time with Moycarkey yet to score, and one can only speculate how  a goal then might have influenced the outcome.

Liam McGrath was Loughmore’s main man in the half, kicking three points, two from frees, and all the indications were that they would see the game out without undue difficulty.

But Moycarkey had other ideas and inside three minutes of resuming had points from Jack Fallon and James Dillon to encourage them. In the 42nd minute they had a great goal chance but midfielder Eoghan Hayes' shot curled wide as they kept the pressure on their rivals.

Kevin Shelly landed a Moycarkey point from a free in the 48th minute and, indicative of the anxiety in the Loughmore camp, manager Frankie McGrath summoned both Noel and John McGrath from the bench to relieve the situation.

Moycarkey were not to be denied, however, and in the 54th minute Rhys Shelly got on the end of a long delivery to steer home a goal that put his side in front for the first time, 1-4 to 0-6. Loughmore had yet to score in the half and Aidan McGrath was brought on to further bolster their attacking options.

It looked as though they had salvaged a draw when in the 59th minute Liam McGrath pointed a free to level the game. But there was still a twist in the tail, as in the last minute Kyle Shelly swung over a winning point for Moycarkey, who showed great composure as they absorbed the Loughmore pressure in those hectic minutes added on for stoppages.

This was a huge win for Moycarkey/Borris and gives them a great chance of qualifying for the knockout stages when, perhaps, their concern would have been primarily about avoiding relegation. It was a fitting reward for their wholehearted approach, particularly in the second half when they took the game to their rivals in no uncertain way. There were high-fives all round among the Moycarkey players and supporters at referee Joe Leahy’s final whistle.

The Shelly brothers in attack were a big threat all through and Kyle kicked the winner, much to the delight of the Moycarkey followers present. Tom Ryan, Peter Melbourne, Eoghan Hayes, Rory Ryan and Niall Heffernan also worked their socks off to fashion this memorable win for the club.

No better men than Loughmore to bounce back from this setback, with Ardfinnan in their sights in the next round. The absence of the McGrath brothers, when Loughmore had the momentum early on, was significant but the low key second half performance was completely out of character for this team and a lapse they will be keen to redress next time out.

Liam McGrath was their key man in a misfiring attack with the solid work of John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Tommy Maher and Ed Connolly worthy of note. John and Noel McGrath added urgency when they came on but they were then fighting an uphill battle.

Moycarkey/Borris: Paul Dempsey; Chris McCullagh, Tom Ryan, Liam Hayes; Conor Hayes, Kevin Hayes, Peter Melbourne; Eoghan Hayes, Niall Heffernan; Rory Ryan, Rhys Shelly (1-0), Jack Fallon (0-1); James Dillon (0-1), Kyle Shelly (0-3,1f), Darren Flood.

Sub: Mark Heffernan for Flood (41 mins).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Tomas McGrath, Willie Eviston, Eoin O'Connell; John Ryan (0-1), Ed Meagher, Tommy Maher; Brian McGrath, Eamon Connolly (0-1); Liam McGrath (0-4,3fs), Liam Treacy, Conor Ryan; Ed Connolly(0-1), Ciaran McGrath, Cian Hennessy.

Subs: Noel McGrath for C Hennessy (47 mins), John McGrath for Ryan (48 mins), Aidan McGrath for Treacy (52 mins).

Referee: Joe Leahy, Moyne/Templetuohy.