PREVIEW: An unstoppable force versus an immovable object - who will come up trumps?

A meeting of two clubs who have a storied history in Tipperary club hurling, while also acknowledging that this is a novel and first-time pairing for a county senior final.

That is strange in and of itself considering the success both Toomevara and Loughmore Castleiney have had in the last 25 years particularly.

Especially in the 2000s when Toomevara were at their peak and Loughmore Castleiney were coming into the reckoning once again as county contenders, but somehow, on the big day, they always seemed to avoid one another; albeit with some semi-final and quarter-final matches being played in that timeframe.

Alas, it has finally happened and the two clubs will finally meet on the biggest day of Tipperary club hurling and it certainly lends itself to be a gritty and hard-fought final, if the manner of the paths taken by both clubs are any indicator.

Loughmore Castleiney have been the form team of the championship and their unbeaten run has been highly impressive, with a Mid title already in the bag before coasting through their group campaign with Holycross Ballycahill, Lorrha, and Nenagh Éire Óg all accounted for.

Added to that, they have taken their form across codes, and with the county final in the big ball also confirmed in the coming weeks, they are a team full of confidence and they will know what is required to achieve double success yet again after doing so as recently as 2021.

The form of their key players has, of course, been a massive part of the journey to this stage for Loughmore, with the brotherly trio of Noel, John, and Brian in terrific form all year for them but it is the collective effort that is the ‘secret’ to the Loughmore success.

Along with Toomevara, they have one of the meanest defenses in the championship this year with the return this year of Joey Hennessy at the back a massive boost from the team that fell at the semi-final stage to Thurles Sarsfields last year.

Ciaran Connolly’s return to an injury-free run has also added greatly to the abrasiveness and physicality of the team, and that is something that has been a hallmark of the year for Loughmore; their ability to outlast and bully teams, especially in the last quarter of games where they invariably get the job done.

That was clear to see in the semi-final win over Thurles Sarsfields, where the Loughmore players swallowed Sarsfields players in the tackle, and carried the ball powerfully when playing against the gale. They can take teams on in so many different ways and that is their strength.

They know how to get the job done and the experience of Liam Treacy and Ciaran McGrath coming off the bench was huge the last day, and it will be interesting to see if one or both could get the nod from the off here, against a physical Toomevara team.

Toomevara will pose a different challenge for Loughmore though, and that physical edge will be hard to enforce against a Toomevara team who have built their performance around direct hurling and a ravenous work rate, with Shane Hassett’s influence clearly paying dividends this year.

Direct hurling and hunger for the breaks has seen Toome come through the group of death, and despite a disappointing round one loss to Borris-Ileigh, they bounced back strongly to defeat Drom & Inch and Kilruane MacDonaghs to top the group and battle past JK Brackens and Moycarkey Borris with five points to spare on both occasions.

Darragh McCarthy has added leadership and scoring ability that Toomevara had been lacking before his arrival. Defensively, Toome have had a solid foundation in the last five years, but they always seemed to come up short on the big days when the likes of Jack Delaney and Mark McCarthy had quiet games, but Darragh McCarthy’s influence has certainly eased the load.

That defensive solidity and physical edge will be something Toome will relish and they will know they can front up to that challenge.

Match-ups will be intriguing in this one with the likes of John McGrath and Darragh McCarthy pinpointed on both sides, but the damage could be done elsewhere if there isn’t enough attention given.

Liam McGrath had a quiet game by his own standards the last day, while on the other side, Jack Delaney has yet to hit the form of recent years.

The midfield battle between Noel McGrath and Ciaran Connolly, and Conor O’Farrell and Robbie Quirke will be a key area for both team and winning this sector could go a long way to deciding the game.

This will be attritional and there will be no shortage of belief in both camps considering the clubs involved. Is a replay on the cards?