Spoils are shared between two of the heavyweights in Tipperary senior football championship

Clonmel Commercials 0-15 Loughmore Castleiney 2-9

Clonmel Commercials, the holders, and Loughmore Castleiney played out an exciting draw in this entertaining Round 2, Group 3 FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship tie at Dillon Quirke Park, Clonoulty on Friday evening.

A final quarter comeback from the champions, in which they scored six unanswered points, ensured that the spoils were shared in this free-flowing game which had everything - two black cards, one for each side, yellow cards, a converted penalty and good scores from either side throughout, including the levelling point in added time.

Prior to the throw-in, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late Eileen Boland, who at the time of her passing was President of the Moyle Rovers Club.

On an evening with little or no wind, Loughmore showed the greater hunger for the opening 45 minutes. They went into a three-point advantage in the early stages and were leading by four at the break, thanks to two first half goals.

The first goal came following a good move after fifteen minutes and the second from the penalty spot, as half-time approached. They then pushed on during the third quarter to lead by six with 14 minutes remaining.

For Commercials, the 15 minutes after the break was their worst period, when they registered just one point on the scoreboard. But to their credit, they never faltered and stuck to their game plan.

They went on to totally dominate the final quarter, when they accounted for the last six points of the game, including the equaliser from a fisted effort by Peter McGarry two and a half minutes into added time.

Following the division of the spoils, both Commercials and Loughmore should advance to the knockout stages, as four teams are due to qualify from this group of six.

Don’t be surprised if these two face each other in the latter stages of this championship, as they have shared eleven of the last twelve county titles, Moyle Rovers winning the other in 2018.

Loughmore attacked from the throw-in and were three points to the good after four minutes. John McGrath started a move from midfield before laying off to Liam McGrath, who found the in-running Philip O’Connell. O’Connell then set up Ciaran McGrath for the opening score after just 35 seconds. Liam McGrath converted a free before Philip O’Connell kicked a third following a mark.

Commercials eventually got their account up and running when Jack Kennedy split the posts from a 45 metre free and Padraic Looram set up Ross Peters when he intercepted a kickout.

They were back on level terms by the tenth minute when Cian Smith pointed from close range, following a foul on Sean O’Connor.

Liam McGrath got his second minor from a placed ball before Peter McGarry finished a move that also included Michael Murphy and Ryan Lambe, as the sides were back on level terms.

The Mid side got their first break on the quarter hour when Eoin O’Connell won a turnover on his own half back line before setting up a move that finished with a goal from Ciaran McGrath. Liam McGrath scored his third point from a placed ball before Sean O’Connor pulled one back from a mark, after fielding a long ball from Colman Kennedy.

With ten minutes of normal time remaining before the break, Eamon Connolly put four between the sides, 1-6 to 0-5, when he got on the end of a move started by Tommy Maher and which also included John McGrath. Commercials came back strongly over the next five minutes, kicking three points without reply.

First, Jack Kennedy kicked a super effort from out on the left side, before Sean O’Connor cut the deficit to two. Cian Smith then put the minimum between the sides from a placed ball.

Coming up towards the interval a Loughmore attack finished with a penalty being awarded when John McGrath was pulled down by goalkeeper Shane Ryan, who received a black card. Commercials brought on Ciarán Cannon between the posts, as Ross Peters was substituted. Liam McGrath slotted home the dead ball to put four between the sides as the teams retired to the dressing rooms.

The third quarter was the least productive, from a scoring perspective, with Loughmore stretching their advantage to six following points from Tomás McGrath, following an upfield run, and Liam McGrath when he converted his fourth placed ball. Commercials pulled one back in the 39th minute when Michael Murphy fisted over, having been put through by the inform Peter McGarry.

Loughmore were then reduced to 14 players when Eamon Connolly was black-carded. However, Commercials failed to make the most of their numerical advantage, as Loughmore defended in numbers, and John Ryan came upfield to finish a move started by Noel McGrath. This score put the Mid men six points to the good with 14 minutes of normal time remaining and they looked like kicking on.

The final quarter was Commercials’ best period, as they hauled in the Loughmore advantage, with their substitutions paying dividends. Kevin Fahey came on for his first game in a while following injury, while Cathal Deely replaced his brother Conor.

Cian Smith converted two placed balls before points from Jack Kennedy and Cathal Deely reduced the Loughmore advantage to two, with four minutes of normal time remaining.

On 60 minutes Jack Kennedy put over a free to put the minimum between the sides, and with the game well into added time Padraic Looram’s run at the defence resulted in Peter McGarry fisting over the equaliser for a deserved share of the points.

Scorers: Clonmel Commercials: Jack Kennedy (0-4, 2 frees), Cian Smith (0-4 frees), Peter McGarry (0-2), Sean O’Connor (0-2, 1 mark), Michael Murphy (0-1), Ross Peters (0-1), Cathal Deely (0-1).

Loughmore Castleiney: Liam McGrath (1-4 frees), Ciaran McGrath (1-1), Tomás McGrath (0-1), John Ryan (0-1), Eamon Connolly (0-1), Philip O’Connell (0-1 mark).

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Thomas Charles, Tadhg Condon, Enda Dunphy, Padraic Looram, Colman Kennedy, Conor Deely, Michael Murphy, Jack Kennedy (captain), Peter McGarry, Cian Smith, Conal Kennedy, Sean O’Connor, Ryan Lambe, Ross Peters.

Subs: Ciarán Cannon for Ross Peters (29), Michael Quinlivan for Shane Ryan (39), Kevin Fahey for Enda Dunphy (41), Cathal Deely for Conor Deely (41), Jason Lonergan for Cian Smith (59).

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy, Willie Eviston, John Ryan, Ed Meagher, Tommy Maher, Tomás McGrath, Eoin O’Connell, Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath, Eamon Connolly, Aidan McGrath, John McGrath, Liam McGrath, Ciaran McGrath, Philip O’Connell.

Subs: Lorcan Egan for Aidan McGrath (43), Ciaran Connolly for Eamon Connolly (50), Daragh McCahy for Willie Eviston (53), Conor Ryan for Ciaran McGrath (55).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).