Tipperary SFC: Loughmore-Castleiney defeat Ballina, Upperchurch-Drombane into knockout stage

Killenaule powered their way through to the knock-out stages when they saw off Cahir 1-15 to 2-5 in their group 3 clash.

TIPPERARY SFC: Loughmore-Castleiney into quarter-final as are Upperchurch-Drombane. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Tipp SFC Round 3 

Loughmore-Castleiney shipped three goals but still saw off the challenge of last year’s intermediate champions Ballina 1-13 to 3-5 to top group two and qualify for the Tipperary senior football quarter-finals. Ballina hit the front with Bernard King’s goal after 6 minutes but a Brian McGrath goal for Loughmore after a botched kick-out, set them on course for an interval lead of 1-5 to 1-1. Loughmore kept their noses in front despite an Eoghan Power goal for Ballina after 45 minutes bringing them right into contention. The winners reeled off four points before Cathal O Donnell had Ballina’s third goal to lead briefly but Loughmore finished strongly to get the win they needed to qualify. The consolation for Ballina is that they qualify for the knock-out stages as runners-up in the group.