Roscrea cause major upset as champions Kilruane MacDonaghs go crashing out of championship

FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 2 

Roscrea 4-21

Kilruane MacDonaghs 3-19 

By Liam Hogan

Goals, either side of half time proved decisive as Roscrea caused the shock of the year when they knocked out the champions Kilruane MacDonaghs with style in one of the best Dan Breen games of the decade played at Nenagh last Sunday afternoon.

Played as a curtain raiser to the Kiladangan v Borris-Ileigh game, this one held the attention of the big attendance and they were not disappointed. 

This was do or die for either side especially the champions Kilruane MacDonaghs who lost their first-round game to Toomevara while Roscrea, the Premier Intermediate champions of 2022 had drawn their first Dan Breen encounter with Moycarkey Borris.

The goals came after a first half that looked as if the 2022 Dan Breen winners were going to justify favouritism when they went six points clear by the 22nd minute. 

They led 2-6 to 0-6 at the time with Cian Darcy scoring the goals in the 15th and 22nd minutes, each one better than the other. Direct ball and good teamwork was the source for the first one when Jerome Cahill and Niall O’Meara linked for Darcy who gave Roscrea keeper Daryl Ryan no chance from ten metres out. Niall O’Meara was involved in the second as was Willie Cleary before Darcy had a more difficult job when striking from twenty metres.

It wasn’t all one way in terms of possession because Roscrea had plenty but their efforts from far out were well off target with their wide tally reaching ten by half time. Kilruane had just two. 

But approaching half time it all came right for the Reds when they replaced the short passing game in the middle third to a more direct style and when Kenny Lee’s lengthy clearance reached Shane Fletcher outside the twenty metre line, the right corner forward rounded the defence and his angled shot flew low past Paudie Williams to cut the margin to one at 2-7 to 1-9. 

Suddenly the tempo of the game increased and a minute later a lengthy clearance by the excellent Darren O’Connor found Fletcher once more with the latter screeching past a beleaguered Kilruane defence before finding the back of the net. Roscrea were 2-9 to 2-7 in front. 

After Darren O’Connor landed a long range point to go three in front both sides swapped scores in the run up to half time and deep into added time Roscrea were in the mood for another green flag when Alan Tynan dispossessed a Kilruane defender before he stepped forward to score Roscrea’s third goal and the half time the score read Roscrea 3-11 Kilruane 2-9 as the teams’ changed ends. 

Kilruane introduced Shane Hennessey and Conor Cleary at half time and the Kilruane response was good as frees by Wilie Cleary and Cian Darcy had the deficit back to three before Evan Fitzpatrick secured his first of two scores. 

Willie Cleary’s free kept Kilruane in touch but Roscrea were greedy for goals and in the 35th minute they secured a fourth when excellent teamwork involving Shane Fletcher and Alan Tynan found and unmarked Conor Dooley in front of goal and the Roscrea full forward needed no invitation to find the net. 

Jerome Cahill replied with a point but Roscrea were moving well. Conor Dooley forced Paudie Williams to save but Roscrea came in search of more scores as two points by Alan Tynan had them eight to the good 4-15 to 2-13 and seventeen minutes remaining. 

A Seamus Henessey point and a Willie Cleary free had the margin at six but Evan Fitzpatrick replied for Roscrea as they decided to go defensive which allowed Kilruane come in search of scores and after another Hennessey point, the lead was down to three after Conor Cleary found the net to make it 4-17 to 3-17 it was all to play for with six minutes on the clock.

However, Roscrea had used the bench well and the fresh legs of Jason Gilmartin helped with the substitute grabbing two vital points inside a minute. 

Two Willie Cleary frees reduced the margin to three as play had passed the hour mark but time was almost up when points by Shane Fletcher and Evan Fitzpatrick had eased Roscrea’s mind before the final whistle sounded with Roscrea.

As well as having eleven scorers this was an all-round team performance with some fine individual performances. This win will put them very much in contention for a place in the knockout stages. 

They will have to deal with Toomevara first and hope to win while there will be new champions this year as holders Kilruane are out of the championship and their final game against Moycarkey is important that they win or they face a relegation battle.  

Roscrea: Daryl Ryan; Glen Loughnane (0-1), Shane Davis, Luke Seacy; Jason Synott, Darren O’Connor (0-1), Conor Sheedy; Darragh Tynan (0-1), Kenny Lee; Alan Tynan (1-3), Dan Ryan (0-1), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-2); Shane Fletcher (2-3), Conor Dooley (1-0), Luke Cashin (0-6, 0-4f).

Subs used: Jason Gilmartin (0-2) for Dooley (52); Jason Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Dan Ryan (53). 

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paudie Williams; Jack Peters, Kieran Cahill, Eoin Hogan; Craig Morgan, Niall O’Meara, Conor Austin; Mark O’Neill 0-1, James Cleary 0-1; Willie Cleary (0-9, 0-8f, 0-1’65), Jerome Cahill (0-2), Aaron Morgan; Cian O’Kelly (0-1), Eoin Carroll, Cian Darcy (2-2, 0-1f). 

Subs used: Seamus Hennessey 0-3 for E Hogan (HT); Conor Cleary (1-0) for Austin (HT); Jack Mulcahy for Carroll (43).   

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)