Spirited Loughmore-Castleiney are 'everyone’s second team' in Tipperary
Noel McGrath of Loughmore-Castleiney in action against Aaron Fitzgerald and Luke Pynne of Eire Og in the Munster club semi-final. Pic: ©INPHO/Natasha Barton
In Loughmore-Castleiney, they make the most of what they have. What the rural, dual club have achieved in 2024 is extraordinary. It has earned them ample silverware and endless admiration.
Familiar winners are rarely popular. There were no wild celebrations beyond the borders of Killarney as Pat O’Shea brought the Bishop Moynihan Cup back last October. Loughmore-Castleiney are consistent champions and the current Tipperary senior football and hurling title holders. Since 2013 they have won eight county titles combined across both codes. And they are lauded for it.
“They are everything that is good about the GAA in a lot of respects,” says local journalist Stephen Gleeson, author of ‘Tipperary Game of My Life.’ “They are dual going back decades, they actually won an awful lot of Mid-Tipperary titles way back. They have that DNA, just fierce competitors. If you go to any club, they will say Loughmore are some side. They are everyone’s second team. It is the spirit and the way about them. They are always ultra-competitive, but they are fair too. If Loughmore go 10 or 12 points down in a match, chances are you fancy them to still come back. They don’t ever feel they are gone.”
Max out. A simple philosophy. 2001 All-Ireland winner David Kennedy made his senior hurling debut for the club at the age of 15. He played for the Tipperary senior footballers before ever joining Nicky English’s setup. He returned to the club and hurled into his 40s, eventually as a goalkeeper. Kennedy is still playing now at junior, hurling and football.
Player-manager Shane Hennessy had been the starting goalkeeper until an injury, with his brother Joey taking his place. He has returned to training ahead of the Munster final clash with Dr Crokes but said this week that his brother will keep the jersey.
Jim Norris is a native of beaten Tipperary SFC finalists Clonmel Commercials and an analyst who has worked with several inter-county teams. He sees a team with substance as well as spirit.
“Their game intelligence is superb,” says Norris.
“Noel McGrath would easily start as a centre back or plus-one for an intercounty football team. His ability to read the game is unbelievable.
“They are under-rated because they don’t have star-studded names that have played intercounty football like Nemo, Crokes or Commercials have. Their gameplan and their teamplay is the reason they are in the position this weekend. The balance between football and hurling is clear. They persist with long puckouts in hurling, the same with football. Their tackle technique is outstanding.
“They changed their goalkeeper in the county semi-final, he had 36 kickouts in the last three games. They won 24 and scored 3-9. There aren’t many club teams in Ireland that could change their goalkeeper before a county final and nothing drops off, they keep their own pattern of play.”
The Premier County have two teams competing for provincial honours this weekend with Aherlow taking on Austin Stacks in the AIB Munster Club Intermediate final. There has always been an enthusiastic football tradition in the county but balancing both codes has proved tricky. In 2015, the county reached All-Ireland minor finals in both codes with several players shared across the teams.
“The Tipp team that you saw in 2020, that was work that had gone in over the previous 10 years,” explains Gleeson.
“The dynamic changed and it fell away for a few years. There are green shoots now though, you are starting to see clubs field teams that wouldn’t have done so before. A lot of Tipperary clubs are embracing the dual ambition.
“Moyle Rovers are more a football club but had good success in hurling this year in the junior championship. The likes of Brackens, Upperchurch, Kilsheelan are all competing too in hurling and football.”
The raw materials are there. Norris knows they can build something special again, inspired by the attitude of their county champions.
“There is a good nucleus coming through. The last three minor teams were very good. The U20 team last year was competitive. There is a U20 team that got to a Munster final in 2021. The big thing for Philly (Ryan) and his management team is keeping that group together for as long as possible. Making the most of it,” he says.
“Since 2015, Commercials have been in two finals. Loughmore have been in one. Loughmore have been competitive in the Munster club championship as well. They lost in extra-time in 2021. Commercials lost two Munster semi-finals to Newcastle West and Dingle in the last two years, they gave Crokes a good game in 2017. Loughmore have a right chance this weekend. It is not all doom and gloom in Tipp.”
