Loughmore-Castleiney 0-11 Clonmel Commercials 0-07
Loughmore-Castleiney have completed the Tipperary double for an incredible third time in 11 years by dethroning Clonmel Commercials in the football final.
Just seven days after claiming the hurling title, and 24 hours after their second team annexed the Premier Junior football crown, they held out against the wind for a four-point success.
They did it against a Commercials team chasing a first three-in-a-row since the 1960s but they never got within one score of Loughmore in the second half.
Loughmore's 16th football title sets them up for a Munster semi-final away to the Clare or Limerick champions. But first, their hurlers will be in provincial action in four weeks' time.
Commercials started without Séamus Kennedy, James Morris, Michael O'Reilly, Jason Lonergan, Jamie Peters and Colman Kennedy from their previous county successes, although the last was recovered enough to come off the bench. They redeployed 2016 All-Star full-forward Michael Quinlivan to anchor the team from centre-back.
Loughmore player-manager Shane Hennessy welcomed a newborn baby to the family earlier in the week but wasn’t fit enough to pick himself due to injury, replaced in goal by his brother Joey.
They began with the yellow-warning wind at their backs and were quick to capitalise via an Eoin O'Connell handpassed point.
John McGrath was off to a flier around the middle. He won two frees for his cousin Liam to convert and forced two turnovers.
Liam McGrath was excelling from play, too, spinning onto his right and left and converting with either foot.
Brian McGrath was the next family member on the scoreboard but he came away with his head in his hands as his punched effort flew over rather than under the crossbar.
Peter McGarry's superb solo run almost came up with a goal in response. He handpassed the ball over a stranded defender's head and collected at the other side but Hennessy parried the shot over. They also had scores from Seán O'Connor and Cian Smith.
Captain Liam Treacy landed his second long-range point, which would have counted for double under the proposed new rules, before a Liam McGrath free moved them six clear.
Commercials full-back Tadhg Condon came forward to trim the deficit to five, 0-09 to 0-04, as they turned to play with the wind.
But Loughmore have proved they are as adept playing into the gale as with it. Noel and Brian McGrath bookended O'Connor and Pádraic Looram scores to retain their five-point cushion through the third quarter.
Quinlivan was shoved forward and he carved out a goal opening for O'Connor but his shot was blocked by the leg of Willie Eviston.
They never got a better chance. Cathal Deely slotted a 51st-minute mark but there was no more scoring as Commercials sprayed a series of late wides.
Loughmore-Castleiney: J Hennessy; L Egan, W Eviston, J Ryan; T Maher, M McGrath, E O’Connell (0-01); J McGrath, L Treacy (0-02); D McCahey, B McGrath (0-02), Eamon Connolly; N McGrath (0-01), Ciarán McGrath, L McGrath (0-5, 3f).
Subs: P O'Connell for Connolly (42), A McGrath for Ciarán McGrath (51), E Meagher for M McGrath (55), C Connolly for McCahey (57), C McCormack for L McGrath (60+1).
Clonmel Commericals: S Ryan; K Fahy, T Condon (0-01), R Slattery; Cathal Deely (0-01m), M Quinlivan, P Looram (0-01); Conall Kennedy, J Kennedy; R O’Dowd, P McGarry (0-01), J Higgins; C Smith (0-01), S O’Connor (0-02, 1f), R Peters.
Subs: Colman Kennedy for Higgins (41), M Murphy for O'Dowd (46), A Matassa for Peters (53), R Lambe for Smith (57).
Referee: S Everard
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