Loughmore-Castleiney dump holders Thurles Sarsfields out of the Mid Tipperary SHC

Elsewhere the Ormond brothers Jamie and Andrew were key to J K Brackens’ win over Holycross-Ballycahill in the other Mid Tipp senior hurling quarter-final at The Ragg.

DETHRONED: Holders Thurles Sarsfields bowed out of the Mid Tipperary senior hurling championship at Templemore on Sunday, a late Loughmore-Castleiney flourish which yielded five unanswered points giving them a 2-26 to 2-20 victory and a place in the semi-final against Drom-Inch.

Holders Thurles Sarsfields bowed out of the Mid Tipperary senior hurling championship at Templemore on Sunday, a late Loughmore-Castleiney flourish which yielded five unanswered points giving them a 2-26 to 2-20 victory and a place in the semi-final against Drom-Inch.

A Seanie Butler goal after two minutes had Sarsfields in the driving seat but Loughmore kept on their tails and hit the front after 28 minutes when Liam McGrath’s shot took a deflection to end in the Thurles net for a lead of 1-9 to 1-8. But their joy was short-lived as Eoin Purcell netted for Sarsfields, followed by an Aidan Mc Cormack point for an interval lead of 2-9 to 1-9.

Sarsfields were 2-13 to 1-12 ahead 10 minutes into the second half and looking comfortable when a short puck-out routine went astray, John McGrath benefitting for a Loughmore goal, followed by a levelling point from Ciaran McGrath (2-13 each).

With five minutes to play the sides were still level, 2-18 each, but Loughmore finished the stronger, outpointing their rivals eight to two, for a somewhat flattering six point win.

Loughmore manager Eamon Kelly will be happy with a result that measures their progress in the build-up to the county championship which starts at the end of the month.

All the old reliables are as good as ever with John McGrath notching 1-8, 1-6 from play, Ciaran McCormack getting 0-8, 0-4 from play, and Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath, Ciaran Connolly and John Ryan also on top of their game.

Sarsfields were missing a number of regulars but manager Padraic Maher has some work to do before the county championship begins. Ronan Maher stood out head and shoulders above all others with Cathal Moloney, Eoin Purcell, Darragh Stakelum and Seanie Butler also having good games.

The Ormond brothers Jamie and Andrew were key to J K Brackens’ win over Holycross-Ballycahill in the other Mid Tipp senior hurling quarter-final at The Ragg, hitting ten points between them in their 0-26 to 0-22 win.

Holycross made the early running to be 0-6 to 0-3 ahead after 13 minutes but then Brackens hit nine points without reply to forge an interval lead of 0-16 to 0-9. Lyndon Fairbrother pointed seven frees for them with Darragh Woods Holycross’ main marksman with five points.

Holycross improved on resuming but were still seven points behind after 10 minutes. Then they struck a rich vein and had six points on the trot to be just two points behind (0-19 to 0-21) with 10 minutes to go. Ben Hennessy and Darragh Woods each pointed twice with Joe Caesar and Cathal Barrett also on target.

With momentum behind them Holycross looked set to win but J K Brackens recovered and points from Fairbrother (2), Jamie Ormond and Shane Doyle (2) saw them over the line to set up a semi-final clash with Moycarkey-Borris.

Jamie Ormond (0-6), Andrew Ormond (0-4) and Lyndon Fairbrother (0-10,9frees) were leading marksmen for the winners for whom Paddy Cadell, Conor Cadell and Shane Doyle also impressed. 

Holycross had 11 points from Darragh Woods,(10 frees), with Ben Hennessy, Bryan O Mara, Joe Caesar and subs Robbie Ryan and Tadhg Gould also to the fore.

The coming week-end sees senior hurling semi-finals in the North division, Nenagh Eire Og v Toomevara and Kiladangan v Templederry down for decision. The Mid semi-finals are also scheduled – J K Brackens v Moycarkey-Borris and Drom-Inch v Loughmore-Castleiney.