Novel finals in store in four grades of the county hurling championships in Tipperary

There’s a unique set of final pairings across all the major hurling grades in Tipperary following the weekend games. Loughmore and Toomevara have never met in the showpiece final; neither have Cashel KC and Carrick Swan in the premier intermediate; ditto for Ballingarry and Moneygall in the intermediate and, likewise, Kiladangan and Moyle Rovers in the junior A.

Such novelty is welcome, bringing a freshness to the finals with no past baggage to be factored in.

The weather threatened to disrupt fixtures on Sunday but, thankfully, all games went ahead, albeit players had to adapt to wind and rain. Some adapted better than others.

The Sarsfields/Loughmore game was the highlight fixture of the weekend and proved intriguing, even if the conditions affected the quality of hurling. Sarsfields enjoyed a free-shooting exhibition against Nenagh Eire Og in the quarter-final but this game was always going to pose entirely different questions, whatever the weather – different questions but predictable results.

Sarsfields shot 29 points against Nenagh; on Sunday Paddy Creedon hit 2-1 early on and thereafter the entire Sarsfields effort produced a meagre eight points. They had 11 scorers against Nenagh; on Sunday the figure was six.

It was trademark Loughmore and Castleiney. They have this collective togetherness as a team unit where they don’t tolerate slackers. Their workrate is relentless. They’re unruffled by setbacks such as Creedon’s early goals and, crucially, they tend to finish games strongly.

And then they have John McGrath. Eight frees and four from play was his scoring contribution on Sunday and that’s entirely apart from his work input to the overall effort. If there’s a worry for the side it’s the fact that so much depends on him.
Noel McGrath too pitched in with a typically influential contribution on Sunday. Surprisingly he didn’t score from play but his ball-winning and play- making was a huge element in the success.

They had others too who won praise for their role in the win. Tomas McGrath did a solid job of limiting the effectiveness of Ronan Maher, and Brian McGrath was central to a very cohesive defensive unit. Overall, though, when mentioning individuals in a Loughmore win you’re forever conscious that it’s the collective above all that matters with this team.

For Sarsfields it’s a troubling defeat. All the scientific skill in the world comes to nought when you meet an opponent like Loughmore. They got the perfect boost in the first half against the elements with that two-goal blitz from Paddy Creedon. Liam McCormack set up the first and Creedon did all the work himself for the second. It meant that they trailed by a mere point at half-time, with the wind and rain at their backs for the second period.

Yet they could make little progress on the turnover. Significantly it was Loughmore who were pushing forward at the end and creating scoring chances. Two missed frees and a missed ‘65’ by John McGrath into a tricky wind kept the margin tight but there was never a sense that Sarsfields had the penetration in attack to work the saving scores.

It’s a disappointing bow-out for the championship favourites. Crucially, Ronan Maher was more subdued this time. I thought full back Denis Maher was their standout player over the championship series. Forward failure will once again be part of their analysis.

The second semi-final was no less fascinating in the more accommodating weather conditions of Saturday. Much interest focused on newcomers Moycarkey/Borris and while they put in an admirable shift it wasn’t quite enough against the greater knowhow of Toomevara and Darragh McCarthy particularly.

McCarthy was the hero of the show, whipping in two goals in the lead-up to half-time, scores which ultimately proved the difference. The first was a veritable rocket, hit on the turn and giving Rhys Shelly no chance.

There’s a view that the goalie might have done better on the second, though it was tucked away neatly into the corner. Those were critical scores in the context of this game and underlined the overall contribution of a player being widely viewed as one with county potential.

In fairness to Moycarkey they brought momentum into this game and weren’t far off. There was a moment about seven minutes from the end when they came so close to a goal, which would have taken the game down to the proverbial wire. Substitute Niall Heffernan had the final shot, which was well placed but Jake Hackett is credited with pulling off a marvellous save.

It was a great save rather than a forward miss and from a neutral’s perspective it was a pity because it would have set up a grandstand finish. Thereafter Toome’ did enough to see out the game, with clinching points closing off the issue on a final margin of five.

Darragh McCarthy was the highlight contributor but Kevin McCarthy’s five points from play was a huge input to the result. All their starting forwards and both midfielders got on the scoresheet and that spread of shooters outplayed what Moycarkey had to offer.

Once over the disappointment of this defeat Moycarkey will be well pleased with their year overall. They’ve arrived as a force, something to build on for future seasons. Eoghan Hayes gave a powerful aerial display, especially in the second half, but their limitations were most evident in attack. Kieran Cummins hit three points from midfield and Kieran Morris and Joe Maher pitched in with two apiece from play but they need more threat in that area.

The old cliché about goals winning matches comes to mind again as Cashel King Cormacs hit six to end Upperchurch’s season on a low point in the premier intermediate.

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Two rapid-fire goals from Oisin O’Donoghue in the first period of extra time were huge scores in the context of this game. Shortly afterwards Oisin was again at the heart of matters when fouled for a penalty, which Eoghan Connolly dispatched to the net. That’s nine points of a hit for Upperchurch, which was really crucial by the end of the game.

The Mid side fought back once again and pared the lead to a few points but Cashel had enough in the tank to push ahead on the home straight and win in the end by five.

It’s a big win for the King Cormacs, for whom Cathal Quinn was rated man of the match. Oisin O’Donoghue must have been close too because he was central to four of their goals, which was a huge input. They’ve hit form at an important stage in the campaign and will be favourites now in the final against Swans.

For Upperchurch is was a heavy hit to take after being relegated last season. You can’t concede six goals and hope to win. Over-elaborating with their passing game was no help either.

Over-elaboration is not a term you’d use too often with regard to Carrick Swans. They play a more direct game and eventually got a handle on Gortnahoe/Glengoole on Sunday last.

It was tight in the first half, though the Mid team needed more than their two-point interval lead after playing with the wind. Swans made great use of their chances in that half despite playing into the elements. Gortnahoe relied heavily on Keane Hayes for scores from play and frees.

Gradually, as the second half unfolded, the greater tenacity of the South side took effect. Calum Lanigan’s contribution of 0-9 was a major input to the outcome, as were Aaron Dunne’s three second half points. Danny O’Hanlon came off the bench to hit an important score too and on balance the South side was fully deserving of their win.

Like Toomevara, Swans will be significant outsiders in their final but they’re sure to throw everything at the King Cormacs.