Loughmore may have slight edge

YOU’D have got long odds on either Tulla (Clare) or Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) winning their respective county senior hurling titles this year; you would now be a very rich punter indeed had you taken a gamble on them meeting in the Munster senior club hurling final.

Nevertheless, in spite of all odds to the contrary, here they are, and here they both deserve to be.

They have come a long, hard road, but it could be argued that Loughmore-Castleiney have had the more difficult journey. The Tipperary championship is as tough as any in the country to win, and when Loughmore lost to Borrisoleigh in the Mid-Tipp final, they were forced to take the scenic route to the county final.

They did, however, eventually beat Mid-Tipp rivals Drom & Inch in a lopsided decider, 0-22 to 0-13, a decisive win after an impressive display. It was that performance more than any other that made hurling people in Tipperary begin to sit up and take note.

Though shorn of five players who would have been pushing hard for starting places, they have compensated well. Team captain Johnny Gleeson is a commanding and inspiring presence in goal, the defence is top-class with veteran David Kennedy at centre-back and Derek Bourke is a colossus at full-back. Midfield is also strong, where Ciarán McGrath and Gary Sweeney pair up extremely well, while up front 16-year-old Noel McGrath is the man getting the attention.

But there is also Evan Sweeney, dangerous from play and placed balls, and full-forward Micheál Webster, a former inter-county star. With wins over Erin’s Own (Cork) and Adare (Limerick) under their belts they will start favourites.

Tulla, however, are more than used to the underdog tag at this stage. At practically every step in Clare they were expected to falter. Against Crusheen in the final it was like against like, two Cinderella sides, but it was Tulla again doing the necessary. In Munster, they have had comfortable wins over Lixnaw (Kerry) and Ballyduff (Waterford).

Like Loughmore, they’re a well-balanced side, an outstanding defence backed up by current Clare custodian Phillip Brennan. They’re backboned by eight of the all-conquering minor side of 2000 (two Torpeys, two Brennans, Conor O’Halloran, Eugene Cooney, Aidan Lynch and Andrew Quinn) and three veterans, Brian and Mark ‘Sparky’ Quinn and team captain Michael Murphy.

Winners? A shot in the dark, but a feeling it might be Loughmore-Castleiney.