Loughmore-Castleiney are never ever beaten.
John McGrath played a game of football for Loughmore-Castleiney last year despite the fact that he couldn’t kick the ball because of a groin injury. He still wielded his genius on the game. This is John McGrath we’re talking about.
He was only able to hand-pass the ball but when you’ve a brain, an instinct and a peripheral vision like John McGrath’s, you’re still five steps ahead of everybody else on the field. You’re still making an impact.
It was a case of deja-vu in Borrisoleigh on Tuesday evening. McGrath’s club, the admirable Loughmore-Castleiney, were taking on Killenuale in the preliminary quarter final of the Tipperary senior hurling championship.
Now Loughmore have had a busy schedule recently. Tipperary’s answer to Slaughtneil beat Arravale Rovers in the football last weekend and now they’re out to retain the title they won in 2013 and 2014.
And their injury list is long because of it. John’s brother Noel came on in goals for his club two weeks ago in the mid-Tipperary final because of an injury. He just got on with it though. Anything for the love of the green and red jersey.
Noel McGrath on goal keeping duty today. @tippstar @TippGAAbanter @TipperaryGAA @MidTipp @TippFMSport #Tipperary #GAA pic.twitter.com/WTQ6Q7mOAn
— Eamonn (@EamonnjMcGee) September 9, 2018
Tweet and Image credit: @EamonjMcGee
There were still four McGraths on the Loughmore forward line tonight.
Their younger brother Brian missed that game against Thurles but he was back in the half back line tonight.
They don’t complain. But they are up against it.
North Tipperary on a brisk Tuesday night and Loughmore-Castleiney are struggling in the early stages. Killenaule get off to a flying start, with John Bubbles O’Dwyer slotting frees for sport and Kieran Bergin on form too.
So at half-time they’re down by one. Worse still, John McGrath is on one leg again.
His groin is at him so he’s moved into the edge of the square and is presumably told to just do whatever he can.
As we’ve seen before, a half-fit McGrath is dangerous and within two minutes, he has two goals scored. One, a bullet strike after he somehow won a high ball in, the other a lucky deflection. Fortune favours men like John McGrath. Brave men.
With ten minutes left in the game, they’re down by five. Killenuale have rallied again. Loughmore look beaten.
John McGrath rolls up his sleeves. Noel McGrath comes into it. Loughmore-Castleiney are never a beaten docket.
The final ten minutes were like something out of Gladiator with John McGrath turning into Maximus Meridius as he scores three points from play down the home straight despite the fact that he’s hobbling around the place. Three beautiful, hard-earned points too.
This is a man made out of iron.
His legs weren’t much use to him, but his exquisite foot and stick-work as well as his hurling mind did the damage.
But he’s helped by his teammates too. Joseph Nyland’s late rasper of a goal was the real game-changer that broke Killenuale hearts.
It was some display of resilience from the club for and we wouldn’t have seen the magic only for the great man that is Buff Egan. The thrill-a-minute highlights really are worth checking out on his Snapchat.
And Loughmore, the small close-knit parish where the culture, blood-line and brotherhood extends from the McGraths to the Meaghers, Hennessys, Sweeneys and other GAA families donning the famous green and red march on.
And they’re out against Nenagh Éire Óg in the quarter final on Sunday. There really is no rest for the wicked.
They wouldn’t want it any other way.
