Toome’ survive Roscrea's second-half rally

A last gasp goal from substitute Sam Dooley wasn’t enough to rescue Roscrea from defeat as Toomevara progressed to the North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship semi-final with a narrow one-point victory on Sunday afternoon.

GAA: The Hibernian North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Toomevara 1-24

Roscrea 1-23

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Evan Fitzpatrick (Roscrea).

SCORERS – Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 0-12 (9 frees, 2 65s); Jack Delaney 1-2; Mark McCarthy 0-3; Kevin McCarthy, Jake Hackett 0-2 each; Conor O’Farrell, Colm Canning, Shane Nolan 0-1 each.

Roscrea: Kenny Lee 0-7 (6 frees); Evan Fitzpatrick 0-6; Sam Dooley 1-1; Conor Sheedy, Darragh Tynan, Alan Tynan, Luke Cashin (frees) 0-2 each; Daniel Ryan 0-1.

Toomevara proved far too good in the opening half, but it was their cuteness and nous when in possession coupled with the accuracy of their forwards and the ability of free-taker Darragh McCarthy to punish every Roscrea indiscretion which provided them with a fully deserved ten-point lead at the break.

Playing with the aid of a slight breeze, Ken Dunne’s charges were well-tuned and on song from the get-go but a five-minute spell which saw them hit 1-5 without reply between the 20th & 25th minutes hit Roscrea hard and from this juncture they struggled until the half-time whistle.

Roscrea’s movement in attack was impressive in the opening half but in defence they over-complicated matters and Toome’ turned them over on numerous occasions and the ‘Greyhounds’ deservedly led 1-17 to 0-10 at the break.

Points from Shane Nolan and Mark McCarthy got the ball rolling for Toomevara before Ros’ retaliated with Kenny Lee (free) and Daniel Ryan both on target before Toomevara opened a two-point gap once more with efforts from Darragh McCarthy (free) and Mark McCarthy.

Toomevara maintained their two-point advantage with a sublime 12th minute point from Colm Canning from the stand sideline before Conor O’Farrell slotted over their seventh point seconds later. Darragh McCarthy increased the gap to four with his second of ten points from placed balls in the opening half and even at this stage Ros’ appeared to be struggling to maintain a foothold in the game.

Evan Fitzpatrick was the one shining light though for Liam England’s side and two points on the bounce in the 16th & 18th minutes respectively served to boost Roscrea’s cause. Indeed, Fitzpatrick was outstanding throughout and with a haul of six points from midfield he was a thoroughly deserving player of the match recipient.

Successive Darragh McCarthy points from placed balls ensured Toome’ led by 0-12 to 0-7 by the 22nd minute before a poor Enda Moloney puckout was intercepted with Darragh McCarthy setting Jack Delaney up for the only goal of the half on 23 minutes, 1-12 to 0-7.

Further frees from Darragh McCarthy only served to heap added misery on a Roscrea rearguard who were guilty of giving away way too many frees. The Rossies were in dire need of the solace of the dressing room at this stage and although Darragh Tynan, Conor Sheedy and Evan Fitzpatrick all registered points, the men in red still trailed by double scores at the interval, 1-17 to 0-10.

Roscrea emerged determined to atone for their below-par first half performance and re-jigged their side at the break with the mercurial Shane Fletcher coming into the attack. Their second half performance was a far more impressive one and they outscored Toome’ by 1-13 to 0-7 over the thirty-odd minutes.

Three unanswered points from Luke Cashin (free), Kenny Lee and Evan Fitzpatrick whittled the gap down before a well-struck 36th minute Luke Cashin free from his own 65’ line left just six between the sides.

Toomevara sensed the impending danger and enforced a double substitution with the impressive Jack Hackett and Josh McCarthy both drafted into the fray, with a 39th minute Darragh McCarthy free served to steady the Toome’ ship somewhat.

Roscrea were then unlucky not to be awarded a 40-minute point which was claimed to be inside the upright but following consultation between referee, Alan Tierney and his linesman, Gerry Treacy and umpires the point was waved wide. Toome’ edged further ahead with Kevin McCarthy and Jack Hackett both on target before Roscrea’s Sam Dooley had the sliotar in the back of the Toomevara net following a high looping Evan Fitzpatrick delivery only for the goal to be ruled a ‘square ball.’

With fifteen minutes remaining Ros’ trailed 1-21 to 0-14 but credit to them they never gave up and kept plugging away. A brace of points from Alan Tynan coupled with efforts from Sam Dooley and Kenny Lee (free) brought Roscrea to within six before two further Kenny Lee frees reduced the deficit to four with the game ticking towards time added on.

Substitute Jake Hackett responded with his second for Toome’ before Lee was again on target from a long-range free to reduce the gap to four once more.

With three minutes of injury time signalled Roscrea pushed hard for a late goal and it eventually came with the last puck of the game in the 63rd minute after Sam Dooley flicked the sliotar to the back of the net.

It was too little too late though and Roscrea were left to rue a game they could have won while a relieved Toomevara escaped with the very slenderest of victories and now face Nenagh Eire Og in an early anticipated semi-final.

TEAMS - Toomevara: Rory Brislane (7), Jake Ryan (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Seamus O’Farrell (7); Barry O’Connell (7), Liam Ryan (7), Jack Ryan (7); Robbie Quirke (7), Conor O’Farrell (7); Jack Delaney (7), Kevin McCarthy (7), Darragh McCarthy (8); Mark McCarthy (7), Colm Canning (7), Shane Nolan (7).

Subs: Jake Hackett (7) for Nolan (37); Josh McCarthy (7) for J Ryan (37); Darren Delaney (7) for Quirke (45); Conor O’Meara (7) for O’Farrell (51); David Nolan (NR) for K McCarthy (58).

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7), James Synott (6), Luke Seacy (7), Shane Davis (7); Conor Sheedy (7), Glen Loughnane (7), Daniel Ryan (7); Darragh Tynan (7), Alan Tynan (7); Leigh Loughnane (7), Luke Cashin (7), Evan Fitzpatrick (8); Kenny Lee (7), Conor Dooley (7), Conor Booth (7).

Subs: Shane Fletcher (7) for Synott (HT); Sam Dooley (7) for Loughnane (40).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).