Kilruane's departure the headline-grabber from eventful weekend in Tipperary hurling championship

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It was an eventful weekend on the hurling front with a feast of action countywide. The headline result, undeniably, was the early exit of reigning champions, Kilruane MacDonaghs, at the hands of Roscrea. Borris-Ileigh’s – and Brendan Maher’s – late swoop against Kiladangan was another notable outcome on a weekend when controversy surrounded Loughmore’s one-point verdict over luckless Holycross.

The last shall be first. The Saturday evening clash of mid sides, Holycross and Loughmore, served up a tasty offering, full of incident and a contested outcome as a scoreboard error had a very significant impact on the final phase of play.

Holycross came off the wrong side of it. Believing they were chasing down a two-point lead they went for goal on a number of late efforts, including a Bryan O’Mara ‘65, which was batted away in the final piece of action. A point would have given them a deserved share of the loot.

It has the potential to be costly if events take a certain turn in the final round of games.

Holycross had by far the better of the opening half, albeit with wind advantage. They were profiting especially from long deliveries into attack, a ploy that has gone out of fashion in the modern obsession with “working through the lines,” if I may use the popular jargon.

It was a long delivery into attack that broke kindly into the path of Cathal Barrett, who delivered a powerful finish early on. Again, later in the half the Loughmore defence was in trouble back-pedalling under another Ewan Bourke long-hit delivery. This time Joe Caesar got the overhead touch that turned it away from Michael McGrath.

Approaching half-time they hit a third goal, this time Shane Ryan setting up Darragh Woods for a most emphatic finish. They went seven-up and were in full control of the game but, crucially, wily Loughmore pared it back to three in the dying moments of the half. Philip O’Connell set up Ed Connolly for a Loughmore goal and they had the final say with a John McGrath free.

Those were critical scores coming on the very cusp of the interval. The second half had a different personality, Loughmore coming strongly to the play, forcing a lot of errors and chipping away with points in that methodical way that is so characteristic of the club.

They were helped by Holycross reverting to a short passing game and being regularly turned over. There’s still merit in the old-time advice to play the game in your opponent’s territory.

Anyway, it was advantage Loughmore for most of the second half, though Holycross gamely kept in touch, Darragh Woods’ free-taking a critical element. Surprisingly they replaced their free-taker and paid an immediate price with the next free going wide. A reliable free-taker is essential in the modern game, even if he’s contributing less than you desire in open play.

The end controversy was unfortunate. The Holycross management was lax in not noticing the discrepancy, though the ultimate responsibility for score-keeping rests with the referee who surely should have been aware of the problem and ordered a change to the scoreboard.

Apart from the controversy, Cathal Barrett was the talk of the game with his 1-5 attacking contribution from open play. His final point in injury time was sheer class. He won possession near the sideline and with a few defenders anxious to “nail” him after an earlier incident he somehow dodged the would-be hits with some of the deftest footwork I’ve seen.

A Dickensian artful dodger if ever there was. No shortage of incident then in a game where we might, indeed should, have seen two red cards.

Arguably the best quality game I saw at the weekend was the clash of Toomevara and Moycarkey at The Ragg on Friday evening. It was a smashing contest, played in exemplary fashion and coming down to the tightest of finishes.

Moycarkey got caught cold in the opening minutes, slipping behind 1-2 to nil before they responded. For the goal the defence got dragged outfield, leaving space for Darragh McCarthy’s clear run-in to eyeball Rhys Shelly before finding the net. It was the crucial score of the game.

Moycarkey did settle and a right good contest developed. Rory Ryan was outstanding at the back in that opening half for the mid side but they squandered too many chances up front. Toome’ were sharp, showing energy and running with good scores coming from the likes of Shane Nolan and Robbie Quirke.

There was still four between them at half-time but Moycarkey did make a major battle of it in the second half.

Ultimately, a lack of punch in attack proved their undoing. Tellingly, when Max Hackett pointed after about ten minutes of the second period it was Moycarkey’s last score from play. Thereafter they relied on the impeccable free-taking of Kieran Morris.

There was drama at the end when the mid team was awarded a close-in free while two-down. Rhys Shelly came up to hit the shot but the defensive wall was equal to the drive, turning it out for a 65. Shelly was impressive in goal, making a fine first half save from Jake Ryan and again denying another goal chance in the second half.

I see similarities between Moycarkey and Holycross, two clubs with impressive recent underage credentials but struggling to develop the talent through to senior quality. It will take patience.

The double header in Thurles on Sunday was of modest enough quality. There were times in the opening game when Killenaule looked the business. Some really smart point-taking by the likes of Dean O’Connor, who was their standout player, Eoin Barry and Eoin Shaw gave them an initial edge.

But it was an uneven display by the south side, who let Lorrha back into it with goals from Cian Hogan and Oisin Guinan. Free-taking difficulties didn’t help before Ciaran O’Dwyer took over and they were five-down at the break.

A Michael Doyle goal early in the second half gave renewed hope and when Tom Stakelum followed up with a great solo effort they were back in the lead.

However, the second half mirrored the first, as Lorrha’s steadier effort began to take effect. A ‘Bonner’ Maher goal was a tipping point as the north side proceeded to see out the final quarter, with the McIntyres hitting some sweet points. They even had the luxury of tapping over a penalty late on to seal the deal.

Elsewhere at the weekend I got to see the Boherlahan/Moneygall intermediate game at Templederry on Sunday evening. It was a hugely entertaining affair that produced a dramatic finale.

Boosted by a Seamie Leahy goal, Boherlahan hit the front early but were reined in by a Joe Fogarty response at the other end before once more the mid side turned on the style in the second quarter.

They produced some classy hurling, full of running and snappy play. The attack looked menacing. Mark Downey flashed in a second goal and only the vigilance of Moneygall’s goalie, Ciaran Quinlan, prevented more goals. Boherlahan were a sweet seven-up at the interval.

However, the game turned on its head in the second half as Moneygall took total control and Boherlahan faded. Driven on by Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally, the north side had by far the better of it now and looked on their way to victory before Tossy Ryan struck for a late goal for Boherlahan. A very late equaliser by Mark Fanning saved the day for the north.

Each, in different ways, will be happy with the draw.

Still a lot to play for in this, as in all grades.