Loughmore Castleiney finish strong to dump Sarsfields out of Mid championship

Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Quarter-Final

Loughmore Castleiney 2-26

Thurles Sarsfields 2-20

By Michael Dundon

A late flourish of points gave Loughmore-Castleiney a flattering six points win over holders Thurles Sarsfields in the Centenary Agri Mid senior hurling quarter-final at Templemore on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash with Drom-Inch next week-end. 

A contest which promised much failed to deliver in terms of real championship intensity but, up to those late minutes, it was always close. 

Sarsfields made the running most of the way but after a defensive lapse presented Loughmore with a gift goal in the 40th minute, bringing Loughmore within a point of their rivals, the outlook changed and Loughmore out-pointed their rivals 14 to eight in the closing stages for a win that will give them great encouragement for the campaign ahead.

Up to that fortuitous goal on 40 minutes when a short puck-out routine went haywire, Sarsfields were containing their rivals but a couple of spurned goal chances, and six wides in the opening ten minutes, meant that Loughmore were always close enough to strike, and no better men to take advantage of such a situation.

Sarsfields opened confidently, Seanie Butler netting after 2 minutes and despite the 6 wides they were 1-3 to 0-2 ahead after 11 minutes. Two Eoin Purcell goal efforts came to nought and then Loughmore struck for a Liam McGrath goal in the 28th minute, his shot deflecting past Patrick McCormack for a 1-9 to 1-8 lead.

The advantage was short-lived as two minutes later Eoin Purcell pounced on a Ronan Maher delivery to fire home Sarsfields second goal and they added an Aidan McCormack point for an interval lead of 2-9 to 1-9.

Given that Sarsfields had the help of the light breeze in the first half, Loughmore would have been happy enough with the half-time situation but for ten minutes of the second half, they made no headway.  Ciaran Connolly had a good goal chance for Loughmore but Patrick McCormack denied him with a smart save. 

Sarsfields had extended their lead to four points by then, but a break-down in a short-puck out routine ended with John McGrath’s pressure leading to a Loughmore goal followed immediately by a Ciaran McGrath point to level the game at 2-13 each.

Up to the 55th minute the sides swapped points (2-18 each) but Ciaran McGrath and Ciaran McCormack point shot Loughmore ahead and with full-time beckoning they were 2-21 to 2-20 clear In those dying minutes however, they struck a rich vein with John McGrath hitting three points, Ciaran McGrath, who had come on as a sub,  his third in 10 minutes, and Ciaran McCormack another for a six points win that nobody would have predicted 10 minutes earlier.

If anybody had any doubt about it,  Loughmore-Castleiney underlined their championship potential and will figure in most people’s shortlist for divisional and county honours. Both their goals had a shade of good fortune about them but in typical Loughmore fashion they made their luck and were relentless in their pursuit of a result, never losing their self-belief even when things were not going their way.

 As ever, the McGraths led the way with John showing his class with 1-6 from play, ably abetted by Noel, who orchestrated things in a roving commission and Brian who was faultless in the number six short.Ed Meagher, Ciaran Connolly and Ciaran McCormack were others to shine while Ciaran McGrath’s impact when introduced was immense.

After a poor county league campaign this result will give manager Padraic Maher and his Sarsfields backroom team much food for thought. Granted several players were not available to them but some unforced errors and a lack of intensity in their game need to be addressed. Ronan Maher was a dominant figure at centre halfback with Denis Maher also prominent. 

Seanie Butler, Darragh Stakelum and Eoin Purcell were the liveliest in the attack. An early injury to Daid Corbett did not help matters but overall a big improvement is required if last year’s beaten finalists are to mount a serious challenge for the top prize later this year.

Loughmore Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Ed Meagher, Darragh Mccahey, Willie Eviston; John Ryan (0-1), Brian McGrath, Eoin O’Connell; Tomas McGrath (0-1), Ciaran Connolly (0-1); Tommy Maher (0-1), Noel McGrath (0-2), Ciaran McCormack (0-8, 0-4f); John McGrath (1-8, 0-2f), Liam Treacy (0-1), Liam McGrath (1-0).

Subs used: Ciaran McGrath (0-3) for C Connolly (50); Philip O’Connell for Treacy (55).

Thurles Sarsfields: Paddy McCormack; Paul Maher, Denis Maher, David Corbett; Cian Stakelum (0-1), Ronan Maher (0-1f), Michael Purcell; Stephen Cahill, Cathal Moloney (0-1); Seanie Butler (1-2), Conor Stakelum (0-2), Aidan McCormack (0-6f); Eoin Purcell (1-3), Mossie McCormack (0-1), Darragh Stakelum (0-3).

Subs used: Stephen Maher for Corbett (29); Jack Lanigan for Cahill (57); Liam McCormack for A McCormack (57).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy)