Loughmore Castleiney edge dour encounter to claim second spot in Group 3

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 3

Loughmore Castleiney 1-8

Arravale Rovers 1-6

By Michael Dundon

Loughmore Castleiney clinched the runners-up spot in Group 3 of the FBD Insurance county senior football championship with a hard-won victory over Arravale Rovers in a closely contested but somewhat lacklustre third-round clash at Dundrum on Sunday.

Loughmore’s involvement in the knock-out stages of the championship was virtually assured before the throw-in but this win confirms their quarter-final slot, and leaves them unbeaten after three outings, having drawn with Commercials and beaten Killenaule.

Arravale’s win over Ballyporeen in an earlier round could be enough to get them through to the knock-out stages. Killenaule, who also now have one win (over Ballyporeen), conceded a walk-over to Moyle Rovers earlier.

For a time in this encounter, Arravale looked as though they were going to pull off a major shock. They were energetic and sharp in a fine opening quarter that saw them go four points clear in fifteen minutes, courtesy of two Darren Heuston pointed frees and further points from Cian Ryan and Niall Sharpe.

In contrast, Loughmore had enough of the ball but were uncharacteristically flat in their approach while also not taking scoring chances from play and frees. Liam McGrath got their first point after 16 minutes but three minutes later Rovers’ Orrin Jones netted for a 1-4 to 0-1 lead. 

Daragh McCahey had a Loughmore point after 24 minutes but the Mid lads got a crucial break when Tommy Maher raced through for a goal in injury time to leave them just two adrift, 1-2 to 1-4 at the interval. The two-point lead did not do justice to Rovers’ first-half exploits.

It was a very different Loughmore side that emerged after the break and a brace of Liam McGrath points had them level after just three minutes. 

A great Cian Ryan run for Rovers required a smart save from Shane Hennessy in the Loughmore goal to deny the Tipp town boys a green flag after 35 minutes and a minute later Noel McGrath landed a long-range point for the lead for Loughmore.

The mid lads were calling the shots now, Noel McGrath doubling their advantage, but on the three-quarter mark, Cian Ryan thought he had a goal for Rovers only to be penalised for an earlier infringement, another big moment in the game. Paddy Dalton’s point on fifty minutes left the minimum between the sides.

Having got a grip on proceedings, Loughmore were in no mood to relinquish it and a brace of Liam McGrath points from frees had them three clear with time running out. Rovers were not giving up but their only reward was a point from Eoin Doocey deep in injury time, and time ran out before they had a chance to build on that score, leaving them to regret the two goals chances that yielded nothing.

By no means was this Loughmore’s best performance of the campaign, but it got the job done and they are back in familiar territory with the serious business of the championship now about to get underway. 

Keeping players fresh and not overburdened with games is a challenge and Eoin O’Connell and Joey Hennessy were rested while Liam Treacy is recovering from injury but hoping to be available for action next time out.

Shane Hennessy had a fine game in goal with John Ryan, Lorcan Egan, Liam McGrath, and Tommy Maher also figuring prominently while Noel McGrath pulled the strings in a roving commission.

Arravale Rovers gave a very good account of themselves and with a bit of luck on their side might have caused an upset. 

Their first-half showing was most impressive but they were under the cosh later on though always in with a real chance of a win. They were without Johnny Ryan, a big loss to them, but Cian Ryan, Orrin Jones, Paddy Dalton, Owen Doocey,  and the Lowrys all put in a big shift while coming up just short after a commendable effort.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, John Ryan; Ed Meagher, Noel McGrath (0-2), Tommy Maher (1-0); Brian McGrath, John McGrath; Eamonn Connolly, Aidan McGrath, Daragh McCahey (0-1); Mossie McGrath, Liam McGrath (0-5, 0-4f), Philip O’Connell.

Subs used: Ciaran McGrath for Connolly (38); Eoin O’Connell for Meagher (38); Ciaran Connolly or Eviston (50); Conor Ryan for McCahey (50).

Arravale Rovers: Darren Heuston (0-2f); Tommy Lowry, Darren Lowry, Jack Lowry; Brendan Delaney, Shane Leahy, Michael Lowry; Mathew Moroney, Eoin Doocey (0-1); Niall Sharpe (0-1), Paddy Dalton (0-1), Raymond Kelly; Cian Ryan (0-1), Orrin Jones (1-0), Alex Webster.

Subs used: Tony Byrnes for Moroney (43); Caleb Hickey for Webster (54); Michael Bowes for Delaney (58).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens)