Missed chances send Roscrea down

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Relegation Final

Holycross/Ballycahill 1-15

Roscrea 0-12

Report: Shane Brophy in Templetuohy

Roscrea will play Seamus O Riain Cup level hurling in 2022 after being overwhelmed by Holycross/Ballycahill in the second half of this County Senior Hurling Relegation final on Saturday.

It brings to an end a four-year run at the top grade since they were promoted in 2017 and once again this year it was a case of what might have been as they had the game there for the winning but were unable to close it out.

In miserable autumnal conditions, Roscrea managed to open a four-point lead at half time, having played with the elements, but it didn’t seem sufficient and in the second half they were overwhelmed, outscored 1-9 to 0-2 as the Mid men saved their top-grade status.

Roscrea lost all six championship games played this year, five of which by close margins indeed but when you aren’t used to winning close games, it’s a bad habit to shake off. Certainly, they didn’t help themselves here shooting fifteen wides, nine in the first half when they really needed to put pressure on Holycross on the scoreboard.

With talisman Alan Tynan compromised with a hamstring injury, it really impacted on the Roscrea attack where only Tynan and Evan Fitzpatrick carried a real threat, with Shane Fletcher working hard but only had one point to show for it.

This was largely down to a strong Holycross/Ballycahill defence where Conor Rya, Gavin Dunne and Bryan O’Meara were strong throughout. Holycross were far from perfect themselves, but they did have Darragh Woods whose 1-10, 1-5 from play, was essentially the difference between the sides.

From the moment he shot the Mid men into the lead on 41 seconds, he was the thorn in the Roscrea defence and no matter what John Carroll and his selectors tried to curtail him, they were unsuccessful, with his superb goal in the final minute of normal time finally sealing the win.

Overall, it was easy to see why both sides were in the relegation predicament, it wasn’t due to their lack of hurling skill, but their physicality with many players on both sides not to the same level of physical conditioning of the senior contenders at the moment and until that is addressed, the likes of Holycross and Roscrea won’t be able to start challenging in a realistic fashion.

It was unfortunate that the weather turned for both teams at the wrong time considering it would have been the first time in the championship they would have played, or indeed trained in difficult conditions so it certainly played its part in the sloppy nature of the contest. However, it was no less compelling, particularly in how Roscrea would make best use of the elements in the first half.

After Woods and David Fogarty had gotten Holycross up and running, Roscrea hit back with points from Shane Fletcher and Evan Fitzpatrick, the latter after Daryl Ryan had saved from David Fogarty at the other end.

Pointed frees from Bryan O’Mara and Darragh Woods restored the two-point advantage before Darragh Tynan and two Luke Cashin placed balls had Roscrea 0-5 to 0-4 up at the water-break, the second a 65 after Dinny Ferncombe turned a rasping Shane Fletcher shot around the post.

Roscrea’s puckouts were sloppy in the first half and Luke O’Mara punished one such effort to restore parity before Roscrea went on a scoring run of five points from Dan Ryan, Cashin, Darren O’Connor, Evan Fitzpatrick, and Alan Tynan to take a 0-10 to 0-5 lead with Holycross managing one in response right on half time from a Darragh Woods free.

Woods would really come to the fore after the break, beginning the Holycross fightback in earnest from play. However, two more Luke Cashin placed balls had Roscrea five points in front again after 34 minutes, however, they would not score again. It wasn’t that they didn’t have the chances, they shot six more wides after half time but their tendency to carry the ball into the tackle, rather than working it into space counted against them.

Slowly, Holycross/Ballycahill ate into the lead with Darragh Woods pointing four with wing back Mickey Joe Doyle bringing them level right on the second water-break.

The next score was going to be crucial, and it almost was a Roscrea goal as the Holycross defence opened up for Dan Ryan, but Dinny Ferncombe was up to the challenge again and turned the shot away.

A Darragh Woods free nudged Holycross in front on 51 minutes as Roscrea squandered opportunities to equalise before Woods doubled the lead.

A Pairic Russell point ensured Roscrea needed a goal to save themselves but instead it came at the other end where Darragh Woods sent a blistering shot to the top corner to ensure Holycross/Ballycahill spend a third consecutive year at the top-tier, while for Roscrea, they have to regather themselves for a new O Riain Cup challenge. They have the talent and the age profile to bounce straight back, particularly if they develop the winning habit again.

Player of the Match: Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill)

Holycross/Ballycahill: Dinny Ferncombe (7); Gavin Dunne (7), Conor Ryan (7), Jimmy Ryan (7); Mickey Joe Doyle (0-1, 7), Bryan O’Mara (0-1f, 8), Shane Ryan (6); Jack Ryan (6), Eoin Morris (6); Stephen Flanagan (6), Cathal Barrett (6), Pairic Russell (0-1, 6); Darragh Woods (1-10, 0-5f) 9), David Fogarty (0-1, 7), Luke O’Mara (0-1, 6).

Subs: Joe Caesar (6) for S Ryan (HT); Seanie Nally (6) for L O’Mara (42); Jamie Woods (7) for Morris (47); Raymie Nally (6) for Jack Ryan (51).

Roscrea: Daryl Ryan (7); Glen Loughnane (7), Keith McMahon (7), James Synnott (6); Dan Ryan (0-1, 7), Shane Davis (7), Conor Phelan (7); Darragh Tynan (7), Darren O’Connor (0-1, 7); Evan Fitzpatrick (0-2, 8), Shane Fletcher (0-1, 7), Conor Sheedy (7); Luke Cashin (0-5, 3f, 2 65s) 6), Alan Tynan (0-2, 7), Jason Gilmartin (6).

Subs: Sam Conlon (6) for Gilmartin (44); Jason Fitzpatrick (6) for Sheedy (44); Joe Carroll (NR) for Cashin (56).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)