"Over the next few days, we'll probably realise the journey that we had, and the fun and enjoyment we had over the last three and a half months," Noel McGrath said on Sky Sports' Inside the Game. Hopefully everyone connected with Loughmore-Castleiney has done as such.
Loughmore-Castleiney are a rare breed. In rural Tipperary, they are historically a football club but since the 1980s have established themselves as challengers at senior level in both codes. Loughmore became a senior hurling club in 1980, beating Kiladangan by 15 points in the intermediate final. By 1980, the Mid Tipperary side had notched up seven senior football titles.
The double in Tipperary has only been done once, which was Loughmore in 2013. Before that, Kilruane MacDonaghs were the first side to fail in 1975 and Loughmore thereafter in 1983 and 1987. All side had go on to win the football but the hurling title remained illusive to become the first side to do the double.
26 years had passed by the time Loughmore found themselves challenging on two fronts again. In 2013, Loughmore edged Nenagh Eire Og by one point in a 1-17 - 1-16 victory, inspired by seven points from Noel McGrath, to claim their third hurling title following successes in 1988 and 2007, the year they reached the All-Ireland semi-final. The football was a much easier final, running out 10 point winners over Aherlow Gaels, in their twelfth championship.
It was an historic achievement made even greater by the fact Loughmore are a rural club, constantly overachieving with their pool of players.
Loughmore were at it again in 2014 as they reached the final of both competitions again. Unfortunately, defeat in extra time to Thurles Sarsfields meant there wasn't another hurling title but, on St. Stephen's Day, Cahir were beaten in a replay by a single point.
Since 2014, it's fair to say Loughmore have underachieved but it hasn't necessarily been their own doing. A congested fixture schedule means there will be injuries all over the shop, especially when competing at the highest level on two fronts. The furthest they'd reached in the hurling after 2014 was the quarter-finals in 2017 and 2018. Their fourteenth football title was won in 2016, however.
When comparing the 2013/14 sides to 2020, not a lot has changed. The spine of the team remains the same seven years on. In defence, Lorcan Egan, Joey Hennessy, Willie Eviston, John Ryan, John Meagher and Aidan McGrath were all involved back then. As were Joey Nyland, Noel McGrath, Tomas McGrath, Ciaran McGrath and Evan Sweeney in midfield and attack. 2001 All-Ireland winner David Kennedy, an outfield player in 2013 and 2014, now does a job in goal at 44 years of age. The subs also include Cian Hennessy, Liam Treacy and Tommy Maher. Liam McGrath, a key attacker, is out in Australia travelling.
The football is much of the same. It's the same core with Shane Hennessy, another outfield player in those two years, also between the sticks. Throw in U21/20 All-Ireland winners Brian McGrath and Ciaran Connolly into the mix and Conor Ryan for the footballers, now part of the intercounty panel, and Loughmore have a great mix of experience and young talent. Conor McGrath is another able dual player.
Lockdown posed a number of problems for life outside of the GAA but within the organisation, the fixture schedule had to change. This meant a split club and county season with clubs having full access to their intercounty stars until the completion of the club season. Having Noel, John and Brian McGrath plus John Meagher in prime condition was a big boost for Loughmore.
Due to how the seeding works for the Tipperary hurling championship, Loughmore had been drawn in the so-called 'Group of Death' with fellow Mid clubs Moycarkey-Borris and Thurles Sarsfields with Kilruane MacDonaghs the other. Moycarkey were beaten by eight points in the opener but a heavy nine-point loss to Thurles Sarsfields seemed to re-establish Sarsfields as the favourites for the championship and show Loughmore were not capable of that level of performance.
Live on TG4, Loughmore saw off a late Kilruane fightback to secure their passage into the quarter-finals, winning 2-14 - 2-12. Following this, a bizarre set of results occurred. Thurles lost to Nenagh Eire Og in the quarter-final while Loughmore overcame Clonoulty, who had beaten Nenagh in their group stage. Then, Loughmore blew Nenagh away in the semi-final despite Nenagh beating Sarsfields, who had beaten Loughmore. It was a magnificent championship.
So to the final, where Loughmore hadn't been for six years. They faced Kiladangan who had lost finals in 2016 and 2019 and were going in search of their maiden title. It was simply breathtaking from start to finish. The quality of hurling on display was brilliant to watch. Loughmore led at half time by two points, courtesy of three first-half goals from Evan Sweeney, Tomas and John McGrath.
With less than five to go, Loughmore still led by two but Kiladangan, who played magnificently throughout the championship, nudged in front by a point with little time remaining. It would be Noel McGrath, out by the sideline near the halfway line, to pull out a magical point to send the game to extra time.
The added periods were tight and Loughmore seemed to have won the match when John McGrath pointed a 65 with about 30 seconds to go. Bryan McLoughney, however, subbed back on, had other ideas. From the resulting puck-out, McLoughney found space and fired the sliotar into the top corner and passed David Kennedy. Heartbreak for Loughmore but elation for Kiladangan, who thoroughly deserved their first senior title.
The hurling may have ended in defeat, but the football was still on. Loughmore topped a group containing South sides Ballyporeen and Ardfinnan and Mid team Moyne-Templetuohy, winning all three matches with a points difference of +33.
Alongside Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers, Loughmore are part of the 'big three' football teams in Tipperary and faced the latter in the semi-final. It was a pulsating match with Loughmore progressing, showing their grit and determination to win 0-18 - 1-11.
Commercials were waiting in the final in what would be the first time these two faced off in the showpiece since 1994. Loughmore raced into a three point lead but Clonmel slowly showed their superiority and by half-time, their was a six-point margin between the sides. Never to be beaten, Loughmore fought back - a goal from Conor McGrath sparking the revival - and went ahead 1-13 - 0-15.
Clonmel are the best team in the county and Michael Quinlivan showed why with his goal to put Commercials back in front, running from inside his own half to place the ball past Shane Hennessy. Loughmore levelled the game again but a superb point from Jack Kennedy meant it was another last minute loss for Loughmore. Gutting.
The domination of clubs like Ballygunner and Ballyhale Shamrocks rightfully gets plaudits but it also raises questions about the standard of competition in Waterford and Kilkenny. For Loughmore, with their small number of players, to continually fight for honours at senior level in both codes, is a victory in itself, irrespective of how the season ended. They will come again next year.
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