Breaking: Extraordinary Mid Tipperary senior hurling final ends in stalemate after two periods of extra time

Loughmore Castleiney 2-28

Sarsfields 2-28

Not even 2-15 from Tipperary attacker John McGrath could wrestle the Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary senior hurling championship from the grasp of Thurles Sarsfields after an extraordinary final at Templetuohy ended in stalemate  this afternoon, even after two periods of extra time.

A pulsating contest, Sarsfields came from eight down with four minutes of normal time to be played, to level the game and force extra time - Michael Cahill and sub John Maher getting the goals  to go along with Rory Purcell and Lar Corbett points to force a 2-20 account for each side.

Sarsfields had the better of the first half exchanges bu their interval lead was only 0-15 to 0-11 - this against a Loughmore Castleiney side which was robbed of the services of the McGrath brothers Noel and Brian - remarkably Noel was later to come on and play the extra times in goals. On the other hand Sarsfields' Aidan McCormack was cleared to line-out despite having been red carded a week earlier against Drom-Inch.

The challengers completely dominated the second half though with Sarsfields only managing 0-2 in 20 minutes, whereas goals from a John McGrath penalty in the 18th minute, and a second blast in the 24th seemed to point to a changing of the location of the silverware for a year. But, Sars rallied and even had an argument for the chance of a winner when the game was blown up just shy of 32 minutes, when three additional minutes had been announced.

Loughmore Castleiney had a one point advantage by the half way mark in extra time, but were forced to come from behind to tie up the game again by the end of the second period with a John McGrath free doing the trick. 

So, the players trudged off with very weary limbs knowing that they would have to go again for another two periods of five minutes - a segment which yielded just a point apiece from the two sides - John McGrath and Padraic Maher swapping the scores to leave the sides locked once more at the end. 

A replay will now have to be played, but this could go back some time considering the very heavy fixture schedule awaiting both clubs.

It was an extraordinary contest by two great clubs, played in a magnificently sporting manner. But, considering their schedules, the game might well do neither club any good - it will take a lot of work to get those limbs moving freely again after this contest.