Toomevara hold off Moycarkey Borris fightback to claim knockout place

FBD County Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 2

Toomevara 1-22 

Moycarkey Borris 0-24 

By Liam Hogan 

Moycarkey Borris will have to wait until round three at least if they can claim their first championship victory of the season with their latest bid ending in a heartbreaking one-point defeat at the hands of Toomevara following a very entertaining encounter played at the Ragg last Friday evening.

Having gained a point in their first-round clash with Roscrea, this was the game that Moycarkey wanted to win with Eddie Brennan’s charges hoping to capitalise on their recent success at underage. 

However, they received a strong kickback from a determined Toomevara side that had 1-2 on the board after ninety seconds before Moycarkey realised where they were in the game. 

Toomevara’s Darragh McCarthy was the goal scorer and he went on to play a man-of-the-match performance when securing 1-7 including 1-4 from play while five of the starting forward scored for Toome - plus Robbie Quirke and Jack Ryan at left wing-back.

Moycarkey fell five points in arrears on six occasions during that first half with Toomevara forwards picking of the scores including Kevin McCarthy, Shane Nolan, Shane Nolan, Jack Delaney and Darragh Mcarthy himself scored not to mention the return from midfielder Robbie Quirke while Jack Ryan scored two from wing-back. 

Those scores didn't just suddenly appear out of thin air as the supply from the Toome defence was up to the mark with Josh McCarthy making inroads at centre back while  Jake Ryan, Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan and Seamus Farrell were always on hand in front of an alert Rory Brislane in goal. 

Jake Ryan played well also and almost scored a goal in the 23rd minute but Rhys Shelly made a great save. Toomevara led 1-10 to 0-9 at the time with the Moycarkey total coming from Jack Fallon, twice, along with Kieran Cummins, Liam Corcoran, Kyle Shelly plus Niall Heffernan.

Indeed, Moycarkey might have been at least level but for the number of unbelievable wides accumulated (eight in the first half). 

Rhys Shelly’s 90-metre free in the 25th minute brought Moycarkey to within three of the leaders for the fifth time in the half at 1-10 to 0-10 However, Toome’s ability to pick off long-range points was a delight and Jack Ryan plus Robbie Quirke increased the Greyhound’s lead to five once again. 

Niall Heffernan reduced the margin to four but it was soon back to five when Darragh McCarthy scored a splendid point from the left wing before Kieran Morris pointed his fourth free in added time to make it Toomevara 1-13 Moycarkey Borris 0-12 at the break. 

Another splendid point by Darragh McCarthy came 27 seconds into the new half. Both Kieran Morris and Shane Nolan swapped frees before Moycarkey’s dependence on Kieran Morris kept them in the hunt with three unanswered frees to leave his side two in arrears 1-15 to 0-16 after 37 minutes.

However, Darragh McCarthy was Toome’s leading man. He carried a hand injury into the game but it didn’t impair him and after he won a free it was left to Shane Nolan to take over as he moved Toome three clear. 

Yet, Moycarkey fought back as points from Joe Maher and Max Hackett kept them close. Toome replied with four unanswered points in the guise of two Jack Delaney scores either side of a Shane Nolan 65 before Darragh McCarthy scored another to see his team five clear 1-20 to 0-18 and thirteen minutes remaining. 

Suddenly things changed as Moycarkey took up the baton with three unanswered frees by Morris and each from different distances. 

David Nolan’s free eased Toome’s worries but the margin was back to two when Kiran Morris pointed an angle free quickly followed by a 65 which was won after an alert Rory Brislane had to come off his line to deny Pat Ralph.

Thirty seconds from time, Toome rescued their two-point advantage after Darragh McCarthy scored once more but one last Moycarkey attack yielded a close-in free. 

Up stepped Rhys Shelly but his powerful shot was saved for a 65 which Morris scored. Sadly, for Moycarkey there would be no more scores, and with Toome’s Darragh McCarthy winning a high ball and earning a free in a scorable position which was the final piece f action as referee Michael Kenedy blew full time to end a great game on a scoreline of Toomevara 1-22 Moycarkey 0-24.

Toomevara are how through to the quarter-finals and will be joined by either Moycarkey or Roscrea. 

Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O’Farrell; Jake Ryan, Josh McCarthy, Jack Ryan (0-2); Robbie Quirke (0-2), Darren Delaney; Jack Delaney (0-3), Kevin McCarthy (0-1), David Nolan (0-5, 0-3f, 0-1’65); Darragh McCarthy (1-6, 0-2f), Colm Canning, Shane Nolan 0-2.

Subs used: Mark McCarthy (0-1) for D Nolan (38); Joey McLoughney for canning (45); Adam Hall for D Delaney (56); Sean Flaherty for S Nolan (59).  

Moycarkey Borris: Rhys Shelly (0-1f); Rory Darmody, Tom Ryan, Kevin Hayes; Rory Ryan, Eoghan Hayes, Tom Hayes; Rory O’Regan, Kieran Cummins (0-1); Niall Heffernan (0-2), Kyle Shelly (0-2), Joe Maher 0-1; Kieran Morris (0-13, 0-11f, 0-2’65), Liam Corcoran 0-1, Joe Egan.    

Subs used: Jack Fallon (0-2) for Egan (3, inj); Max Hackett (0-1) for O’Regan (23, inj); Pat Ralph for Corcoran (47); Pat Molloy for Hackett (55).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)