How Loughmore-Castleiney defied the odds

On September 29, Loughmore-Castleiney beat Borrisoleigh by 1-17 to 2-12 to book a place in the Tipperary senior hurling championship final.

Eddie Connolly, captain of Tipperary’s 2012 All-Ireland winning intermediates, played his part at centre-back. Solid, dependable, no frills. Typical Connolly.

He took a seat in the stands to watch the second semi-final between Kildangan and Éire Óg Nenagh and complained of a headache. The initial suspicion was that a tough hour against Borrisoleigh had taken its toll and that it was nothing more serious than fatigue and dehydration. But Connolly was in so much discomfort that when he returned home that evening, he went to lie down.