McGrath injury the only concern for Loughmore after win in quality contest with Moyle Rovers

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 3

Loughmore Castleiney 3-13

Moyle Rovers 2-13

Unbeaten in their three outings in defense of their FBD Insurance County Senior Football title, holders Loughmore Castleiney march confidently into the knock-out stages following this lively encounter with Moyle Rovers at Littleton on Saturday.

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Before a ball was kicked on Saturday, both these sides were assured of knock-out action. At issue was which of them would top group 3, the reward being a presumably easier draw in the quarter-finals, and while Loughmore deserved their win, Moyle Rovers were left to rue several goal chances that yielded nothing. The Clonmel lads have lost “a battle”, but “the war” is still there to be won.

This game was played on the second pitch at Littleton, an excellent surface but without shelter, a fact that annoyed many of the spectators on a breezy, showery afternoon. A county senior football tie deserves better.

In their first attack, Moyle Rovers almost had the ball in the Loughmore net, Willie Eviston sparing the Mid side’s blushes.  Shortly afterwards, Riain Quigley netted for Rovers but was adjudged to have fouled his effort. 

Costly aberrations, all the more so when, in the eighth minute, Ed Connolly breezed through for a Loughmore goal and a1-2 to 0-1 lead. Two minutes later, Paddy O’Keeffe netted for Rovers, his shot deflected out of the path of Shane Hennessy in the Loughmore goal. In between goals, Noel McGrath retired injured for Loughmore – a precautionary measure, mentors said.

A hectic opening didn’t stop there. In the 12th minute, Philip O’Connell netted for Loughmore after good work by Ed Connolly. With Philip O’Connell and Liam McGrath on song, Loughmore established a 2-7 to 1-2 lead after 20 minutes and were coasting. 

Rovers did not wilt, however, and they kicked four unanswered points through Liam Boland (3) and Luke Boland to narrow the gap to a manageable 2-7 to 1-6 by half-time.

Loughmore struck early in the second half when Ciaran McGrath set up John McGrath for their third goal, to which Liam McGrath added a point, and the champs again looked on course for an easy win with a 3-8 to 1-6 lead. Once more, Rovers rose to the challenge, a Liam Boland two-pointer from a free, starting the surge.

The Mid lads held their ground, but Rovers were piling on the pressure, and with four minutes left in the hour they had the score back to 1-13 to 3-12, as the exchanges intensified with a mentor on both sides being used cards in separate incidents. 

Moyle Rovers needed a goal. Shane Hennessy in the Loughmore goal denied Graham Vaughan with a smart save, but could do nothing to prevent Riain Quigley’s goal after 58 minutes, which had it down to a two-point game.

Loughmore’s experience of tight situations stood them in good stead, and Conor Ryan eased the pressure on them with an injury-time point to send them through to the last 8 with an unblemished record after a fine contest.

The biggest concern for the winners was the early injury to Noel McGrath, which forced his withdrawal with what looked like an ankle problem. With big games in hurling and football on the way recovery time is short. 

Liam Treacy also came off injured in the first half. He has been having difficulties with injuries this year and the hope is that he too will be fit for upcoming games.

Overall, Loughmore just about shaded the verdict, due largely to the efforts of Brian McGrath, Liam McGrath, Ed Connolly, Tommy Maher, goalie Shane Hennessy, and particularly Philip O’Connell, who scored 1-3 from play.

A setback for Moyle Rovers, but no more than that. They left several goal chances behind them, which would have given the game a completely different complexion, but they have the chance to make amends and the ability to do so. 

Liam Boland was their main source of scores in attack, with Riain Quigley also showing well. Graham Vaughan, Luke Boland, goalkeeper Shane Ryan, and Jack Harney also did their bit.

Scorers: Loughmore Castleiney: Liam McGrath (0-6, 0-3f, 1x2pt), Philip O’Connell 1-3, Ed Connolly 1-1; J McGrath 1-0, Brian McGrath 0-2, Conor Ryan 0-1.

Moyle Rovers: Liam Boland (0-8, 0-3f, 1x2ptf), Paddy O’Keeffe, Riain Quigley 1-1 each, Luke Boland 0-2, Sean Cotter 0-1.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, Eoin O’Connell; Tommy Maher, Ed Meagher, John Ryan; Noel McGrath, Liam Treacy; Ed Connolly, Eamon Connolly, Brian McGrath; Liam McGrath, John McGrath, Philip O’Connell.

Subs used: Tomas McGrath for N McGrath (10); Ciaran McGrath for Treacy (25); Conor Ryan for Eamonn Connolly (49).

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan; Jack Harney,  Graham Vaughan, Cathal McKeon; Killian Butler, Luke Boland, Brian McKeown; Rory Colins, Richard Power; Riain Quigley, Liam Boland, Cian O Sullivan; Sean Cotter, Paddy O Keeffe, Dean English.

Subs used: Luke Foley for Power (HT); Shane Foley for Butler (38); Sean Cronin for English (49).

Referee: Shane O Neill (St Mary’s)

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