Little to choose between Tipperary's traditional football strongholds in final

The stranglehold that holders Clonmel Commercials and Loughmore Castleiney have exerted on the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship in the past decade is set to continue.

Between them, the clubs have won 13 of the last 14 championships and that sequence will be extended when they meet in Sunday’s county final at FBD Semple Stadium (4pm).

Commercials have been the most successful club in that period, winning eight out of 14 - 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Sunday will be their eighth final appearance in a row.

Loughmore have won five titles in the same timespan, in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2024. The only club to break that sequence of domination was Moyle Rovers in 2018.

Commercials have won the most county senior titles in the county. Last year’s final defeat of Kilsheelan Kilcash was their 22nd success and they go into Sunday as the strong 2/7 favourites, with Loughmore 11/4. The draw is considered a 10/1 chance.

However, the Clonmel club won’t need reminding of either Loughmore’s capabilities or the threat that they pose. Twice in recent seasons, when Commercials were searching for a three-in-a-row for the first time in the club’s history since 1967, their ambitions were scuppered in the 2021 and 2024 finals by Loughmore.

Commercials have an extra incentive to add another title to their illustrious roll of honour. This year’s champions will be presented with the Philly Ryan Cup for the first time. The club recently presented the cup to the County Board in honour of Commercials and Tipperary legend Philly Ryan, who passed away last year on October 18 - the date of this year’s final.

However, while that aspect of the occasion will provide extra motivation, it can’t completely overshadow the 60 minutes of football that the panel and management are preparing for, and they cannot allow it to develop into a distraction.

Approaching the final as the rank outsiders will suit Loughmore down to a tee. Over the years, they’ve almost turned their defiance of the odds into an art form. Writing them off at your peril is a salutary lesson for which ample evidence has been provided over the years.

They have also been free to concentrate on the football championship since their departure from the County Senior Hurling Championship at the preliminary quarter-final stage six weeks ago. By contrast, several of Commercials players, such as Seamus Kennedy, Peter McGarry, Darragh O’Connor, Tadhg Sheehan, James Morris, Joe Higgins, Ross Peters and Cathal Deely, have also been involved with St Mary’s in their run to last weekend’s County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final, when they beat Killenaule.

In the semi-finals, Commercials went through the gears in the second half to defeat Moyle Rovers by six points in the local derby, 0-14 to 0-8. After an encouraging first half performance, Rovers should have been further ahead than a point at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5.

A Commercials improvement was to be expected in the second period and they duly delivered. Sean O’Connor, who kicked a pair of two-pointers, and Peter McGarry, who provided another, supplied the crucial scores to steer them safely through to another final. Dominant displays from captain Seamus Kennedy, Mark Corcoran, Tadhg Condon, Jamie O’Keeffe and Tadhg Sheehan were also central to their success.

The real talking point of the semi-finals was Loughmore’s sensational comeback against Kilsheelan. They looked to be on their way out of the championship when they trailed by 12 points but they somehow found a way to win, as they gained revenge for their defeat by Kilseehlan at the corresponding stage twelve months ago.

As they gradually reeled in their opponents, a Philip O’Connell goal seven minutes from the end of normal time gave their comeback momentum, but they still needed a goal from Brian McGrath goal three minutes into additional time to secure a 2-16 to 1-18 win.

Stalwarts such as John and Noel McGrath, Liam McGrath, Eoin O’Connell, Ciaran Connolly, John Meagher and goalie Shane Hennessy also made significant contributions.

When Commercials and Loughmore last met in the final, two years ago, Loughmore suffocated the life out of their opponents to complete a 0-11 to 0-7 win. If the Clonmel team are to capture their 23rd title, they’ll need to improve their scoring rate and find greater freedom all over the pitch to beat Loughmore in a final for the first time in six years.