Old dogs for the hard road in Tipperary divisional finals

A friend texted on Sunday, mentioning that he attended six club games over the weekend, and then added a cryptic comment: “but apparently there is no hurling now until next January!” That dig at the split season critics is well timed.

Last weekend alone the county was awash with club activity. Venues countywide throbbed with excitement as the crowds flocked to see divisional finals in multiple grades. In glorious sunshine the county was abuzz with hurling. The anti-gang need to get out more.

The pity is that you can only attend so many games and must forego others. I’d love to have seen St Mary’s win the South to bridge a gap that stretches back to 1981 and Mossy Carroll; or witness Borris-Ileigh score an extra-time victory over Nenagh Eire Og in the North decider. Instead, I stayed closer to home, watching Clonoulty once again frustrate Cashel KC in the West; Loughmore did likewise to Holycross in the Mid.

I might have hinted last week at the possibility of the old guard being replaced by new pretenders in the West and Mid. Was the old order about to give way to the new? Instead, it was a case of the old dogs for the hard road and the pups for the path, as the saying goes.

Cashel KC might, understandably, have fancied their chances against Clonoulty/Rossmore. Coming off their league win over Kiladangan, they had momentum. Against that the reigning West champions were injury-hit. Enda Heffernan was the major loss but they were also without Tommy Ryan and Ciaran Quirke, so resources were being stretched.

Yet, it was the more assured Clonoulty lads who showed the greater endurance to see this one out to the end. When Ger Browne flashed in a goal off a David McGrath feed with just seven minutes left to play, the King Cormacs led by one and looked well set to push for home.

However, it would prove their last flag of the day as Clonoulty turned in a storming finish, hitting five unanswered points, three of them in added time. Stephen Ferncombe supplied four of the points, three from frees, and Michael Ryan (W) added the fifth. It was a stunning finale that left the house of Cashel rocked.

It was tit-for-tat for much of the game. Defences dominated for most of the time with scores at a premium. Clonoulty led by one at the interval (0-8 to 0-7) thanks mainly to a brilliantly- saved penalty by Jason O’Dwyer, who denied Eoghan Connolly; David McGrath was the one fouled.

It was similar in the second half, the sides level at the water break, 0-14 apiece. The final quarter was when all of the decisive drama unfolded. Clonoulty struck first for their goal, Jack Ryan fetching one out of the clouds and feeding Mickie Ryan for the finish. Minutes later Cashel raided, with David McGrath floating the final pass to Ger Browne, who shot low inside the left post.

Cashel indiscipline was a bit problematic in that second half. Clonoulty held their nerve and finished strongly, something the King Cormacs have yet to master.

It was Clonoulty’s eleventh West title on-the-spin, which would probably be twelve but for 2024 when they had no opposition. It’s an incredible record for a club that consistently gets the very best out of its resources.

Their defence was effective with Jimmy Ryan (C) a stan-out, Robert Doyle coming strongly in the second half and Ronan Heffernan ably filling in for his brother Enda at centre back. Donnchadh Quirke and Nathan Slattery put in useful shifts at midfield while Cathal Bourke led the attack with 0-4 from play. Otherwise, Stephen Ferncombe top-scored on 0-13 (0-11 from frees), Jimmy Maher contributed handsomely to the success, as did Mikie Ryan. Jack Ryan became an aerial threat on the edge of the square.

In the second half Cashel moved Oisín O’Donoghue to full back in response to that threat after Nathan Ryan was replaced. It was a bit like robbing Peter to pay Paul. I thought Eoghan Connolly put in a strong performance overall. Ger Browne too played his part, looking threatening throughout, with his speed a major asset. Aaron Browne couldn’t be faulted in goal, denying Mikie Ryan with one excellent second half save. Cathal Quinn finished on 0-4 in attack. David McGrath was heavily involved in their best moves.

It’s deeply disappointing for Cashel, whose divisional famine now stretches to 32 years. I vividly remember their 1995 win where their captain was quite bullish about the future. Neither he nor I thought at the time that over three decades later - and counting – the King Cormacs would still be chasing a follow-up.

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The Holycross famine in the Mid isn’t quite as long, though still very significant. They last won back in 1999 and were on the cusp of bridging that gap on Sunday when leading Loughmore by three points down the home straight. But, similar to Clonoulty, the old Loughmore dogs have been down this road before and they know how to react. Don’t panic, keep chasing and chipping away, above all don’t try to force goals.

John McGrath pared the lead back to the minimum with two points, one a free. In response Joe Caesar landed a rousing one for Holycross, their day surely now we felt. The clock was two minutes in the red when Loughmore got a very scoreable free while still two down. Lob it in or take the point? The latter, of course, there would always be another chance with three minutes of additional time announced. And who would pop up with the leveller but the irrepressible Noel McGrath.

Even in extra time one wondered would the more youthful Holycross legs be stronger in the heatwave conditions. The first moiety stayed tight, Loughmore just shading it by a single point. The second period, however, belonged to substitute Liam Treacy, who nailed 1-3 to end all doubt. The Holycross famine goes on.

This was vintage Loughmore once again. They have that togetherness, which repeatedly sees them through sticky situations. It’s all about the collective effort, combining workrate and composure.

Noel McGrath got man of the match. He hit three points from play, including the leveller in normal time, but more than that it was his match-long influence, popping up all over the pitch, guiding and steadying matters as he went. His brother, Brian, was a strong contender too with those spirit-lifting surges from defence. Ciaran Connolly, but for wides, would have been in the frame too. John McGrath ended on 0-15, 0-4 from play. On a day when wides were a drag, they still found a way to win.

It’s disappointing for Holycross but on the positive side they were much closer here than in the county semi-final last year. Ewan Bourke denied John McGrath with a brilliant penalty save in the first half. Their defence was heroic throughout, led by the two Cathals, Barrett and O’Reilly. Further outfield, Tiarnan Ryan regularly caught the eye with his intervention,s as did Tadhg Gould. Joe Caesar hit three valuable points, as did Robbie Ryan. Darragh Woods top-scored on 0-11 from a mix of frees, a sideline cut and play.

Holycross are still a work in progress with plenty of talent but trying to get the mix and balance is the challenge. Their attack is probably the area where they need a bit more punch to make the big breakthrough. Their progress in the county series will be watched with interest.

Elsewhere there’s that little matter of Sunday’s game at Croker to spike the appetite. There’s a certain symmetry to the pairing, as it’s a repeat of 2018 when Kiely’s Limerick first burst onto the scene. Galway surrendered the title that day – narrowly - so now there’s a chance to close the circle and get one back. The bookies don’t think so, but sport has a way of baffling expectations.

It’s remarkable how relatively unchanged Limerick are since 2018. A few have departed, such as Richie English, Declan Hannon, Seamus Flanagan and Graeme Mulcahy, but the hard core has remained. Peter Casey and Will O’Donoghue came on that day eight years ago.

By contrast Galway have only a handful of survivors, such as Daithi Burke, the Mannions, Conor Whelan and Conor Cooney. The teams are at different stages of development, Limerick with the tried, trusted and, maybe, fading; Galway with the new and upcoming.

Limerick’s experience and know-how have got them here. Will it see them through? Until proven otherwise, they’re the safest bet.

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