Tipperary SHC Final/ Loughmore-Castleiney 0-22 Drom-Inch 0-13: Loughmore-Castleiney defied all the odds to bridge a 19-year gap and win the Tipperary final at Semple Stadium yesterday when they beat a fancied Drom-Inch team in a one-sided affair.
A superb performance, which included some brilliant point-taking, saw them claim their second title to the delight their joyous supporters in front an attendance of 6,898.
Drom-Inch never got into the game and the first half was all Loughmore-Castleiney. They tore into their rivals and raced into a three-point lead, 0-5 to 0-2, by the end of the first quarter - Evan Sweeney grabbing three of those, along with Ciarán and Noel McGrath.
A fine Johnny Gleeson save from Declan Ryan in the 17th minute denied Drom-Inch a goal and Loughmore-Castleiney continued to build on their lead with a succession of scores from Micheál Webster, Ronan Stapleton (two), Noel McGrath (two), Ciarán McGrath and Evan Sweeney - two great points right before the break - to leave them in front by 0-13 to 0-5.
The winners were not flattered by their handsome eight-point interval lead and just needed to continue to hurl with the same kind of drive and zeal to ensure a memorable victory.
Seamus Callanan had three of the Drom-Inch points with Declan Ryan and Johnny Ryan adding the others. But Drom-Inch were well off the pace in the first half and needed a considerable improvement to get back into contention.
It wasn't to happen however.
Loughmore Castleiney were in no mood to allow Drom-Inch back into the game and scores after the restart from Noel McGrath, Ronan Stapleton and Evan Sweeney (three) moved them further in front again.
They continued to pile on the points and went a whopping 13 points in front before Drom-Inch managed a rally at the very end with scores from Seamus Butler (two), Johnny Ryan, Michael Cantwell and Eric Woodlock.
It was an outstanding victory for Loughmore-Castleiney and their man of the match Evan Sweeney epitomised their spirit. He contributed a personal tally of nine points over the hour and was closely followed by Noel McGrath, David Kennedy, Ronan Stapleton, Derek Bourke and Tom King who also produced impressive performances on the day.
Drom-Inch were very disappointed with their performance. Only Eamon Buckley, Damien Young and Thomas Cantwell performed up to their usual standards.
LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY: J Gleeson; A Stapleton, D Bourke, P Ormond; E Ryan, D Kennedy, T King; C McGrath (0-2), G Sweeney; E Sweeney (0-9), P Brennan, N McGrath (0-6); E Connolly (0-1), M Webster (0-1), R Stapleton (0-3). Subs: D McGrath for P Brennan, Long for R Stapleton, S Bohan for E Connolly, G Morris for T Long.
DROM INCH: D Young; E Costelloe, E Buckley, K Butler (0-1); P Butler, D Kennedy, T Cantwell; P Collins, J Woodlock; M Ryan, S Callanan (0-5), J Ryan (0-2); S Butler (0-2), E Woodlock (0-1), D Ryan (0-1). Subs: M Butler for P Butler, M Cantwell (0-1)for P Collins, E Walsh for M Ryan, L Kennedy for E Costelloe, F McGrath for D Ryan.
Referee: T Ryan(Kildangan).
