Extra time thriller sees Loughmore Castleiney to narrow Cahill Cup victory

Cahill Cup Final

Loughmore-Castleiney 1-30

Drom-Inch 1-29

Loughmore Castleiney’s new manager Eamon Kelly of Kiladangan, got his season off to the best possible start with a narrow extra-time win over Drom-Inch in a lively Cahill Cup senior hurling final at Holycross last week.

The Cahill Cup is third in line for Mid clubs behind the Mid and county titles, but it is still a prestigious honour to claim and Loughmore Castleiney will be very happy to have this silverware on their sideboard so early in the year.

With both teams short some regulars, this clash will not be a reliable yardstick towards predicting likely championship success but both will derive satisfaction from a contest that could have gone either way but which Loughmore, on balance, deserved to win, given that they were the more errant in their shooting, something they will address in the coming weeks.

There were positives for both too. Drom & Inch will be encouraged by the displays of promising young players like Cormac Cahill and Eoghan Kennedy while for Loughmore Eoin O’Connell had a good outing and Philip Hennessy and Ciaran Connolly’s return to action will be welcome.

The encounter never had the intensity of a championship game but it was a free-flowing contest with little between the sides at any stage. David Collins' goal after 17 minutes gave Drom a 1-5 to 0-4 lead and at half-time, their advantage was 1-8 to 0-10. David Butler (4) for Drom and Ciaran McCormack (5) for Loughmore were the key marksmen with everything to play for facing into the second half.

The trend continued in the second half but the balance looked to have swung in Drom’s favour when Loughmore lost Ciaran McGrath to a red card after 19 minutes with Drom ahead 1-15 to 0-15. 

Loughmore didn’t falter however and though trailing by two points as the game moved into injury time, Ciaran McCormack and Edward Meagher hit levelling points to send the game to extra time. 

Loughmore had a Joey Quinn goal two minutes after resuming, tapping home from close range after Eoin Collins, the Drom goalie, parried a goal effort. This was to prove the decisive score, helping Loughmore to an interval lead of 1-24 to 1-23. 

Tomas McGrath hit three Loughmore points in the second half of extra time to keep Loughmore noses in front of a spirited Drom bid to regain parity. 

David Butler pointed a free on 80 minutes to leave just a point between them, obviously hoping for one more chance of an equaliser from the puck-out but it did not materialise and Loughmore regained the trophy they last held in 2019.

It is a most encouraging win for  Loughmore as the serious business of the club year looms. A Cahill Cup win will not define any club’s year but it boosts morale and will help motivation for the task at hand. 

They will be in the shake-up for silverware – no surprise there. Ciaran McCormack’s 19 points, were a huge contribution as were the displays of Eoin O’Connell, Ciaran Connolly, Tommy Maher, John Ryan and goalie Aidan McGrath. 

Drom & Inch will be disappointed but unlikely to be too despondent. The indications are that they are in shape to bid for the big prizes when the absentees return. Cormac Cahill and Eoghan Kennedy put their hands up for a regular starting spot with Podge Campion, Fintan Purcell, David Collins, Kevin Hassett, and the accurate David Butler also to the fore.

Loughmore Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Darragh McCahey, Henry Maher, Willie Eviston; John Ryan, Tommy Maher, Eoin O’Connell; Tomas McGrath (0-3), Ed Meagher (0-3); Ciaran McCormack (0-19, 0-12f, 0-1 sl-cut), Ciaran Connolly (0-1), Ciaran McGrath (0-2); Joey Quinn (1-0), Liam Treacy (0-1), Philip O’Connell.

Subs used: Joey Hennessy for Maher; Paul McCahey for P O’Connell; Eamon Connolly for D McCahey; Niall Moloney for E Meagher.

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins; Jamie Moloney, Lorcan Campion, Eoghan Kennedy; Podge Campion (0-2), Fintan Purcell, Michael Campion; Kevin Hassett, Darragh Kennedy; David Collins (1-3); Cormac Cahill (0-3), Jack Lillis; Tommy Nolan (0-3), David Butler (0-15, 0-11f), John Ryan (0-1).

Subs used: Brian Moore (0-1) for Lillis; JB Kennedy (0-1) for L Campion; Jamie Ryan for C Cahill; Cormac Fitzpatrick for John Ryan.

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)