North champs’ Toome’ find Holycross a bridge too far
Goals win games and in this County Under 19 ‘A’ Hurling semi-final on Sunday, Holycross/Ballycahill bagged three of them to send them into the decider and into a strong position to defend their crown, won at the expense of Toomevara twelve months ago.
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Under 19 ‘A’ Hurling Semi-Final
Holycross/Ballycahill 3-18
Toomevara 0-19
Report: Noel Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore
A keenly contested game, the goal scored by the swashbuckling full forward Pierce Briody in the fifth minute was the difference between the sides for most of the game and catapulted the Mid men into a lead they would not surrender for the entirety of the game thereafter.
The victors suffered a number of hammer blows in the game but still had the wherewithal to eke out the win. Centre back Jim Ryan departed the scene at the end of the first quarter having shipped a heavy tackle from Darragh McCarthy who was perhaps fortunate that the yellow card was not of a deeper hue.
Ryan was later air-lifted from the adjoining Templemore Athletic Club as concerns for his health escalated after he had deteriorated upon being substituted. Thankfully, the centre back is recovering and will be okay.
At the time of his departure, Holycross were 1-3 to 0-4 in front – Toomevara responded to the goal setback by hitting six of the next seven scores in their best spell– Darragh McCarthy (3), Patrick Hackett, Jack Hogan and Jake Hackett all adding to Austin Duff’s opener.
The game was opening up nicely at this stage with Holycross keeping their noses in front despite erratic shooting. Robbie Ryan and substitute Sean Ryan pointed to cancel an Austin Duff effort, and when they hit four in succession through Ryan, the excellent Tony Maher (2) and Tiernan Ryan, for a four point advantage as half time approached.
That lead was to be halved by the time referee Joe Leahy sounded the halfway whistle, with Cathal Frend striking a fine long-range score to go along with another from Darragh McCarthy who was being well marshalled by the Holycross defence.
Two in arrears having played the breeze, the signs were ominous for the North champions, especially when Seanie McGrath pointed for Holycross within fifteen seconds of the re-start, and then followed up with another two minutes later – McCarthy notching one for Toome’ in between.
But Holycross suffered another injury blow when midfielder and senior star James Doyle was forced off with a hand injury in the 35th minute – a big concern especially with two seniors now out of the team. However, subs Sean Ryan and Eoin Hickey made significant contributions upon introduction with Hickey striking a peach of a point to break Cody Quirke and Austin Duff’s scoring momentum for Toomevara.
The breeze was beginning to tell now and Holycross were delivering clever ball into their attacking unit where Robbie Ryan, who was struggling to find form thanks to the close attentions of the Toomevara defence, had two, added to by Sean Ryan – Darragh McCarthy (2) responding for Toomevara.
But Sean Ryan’s kicked goal in the 53rd minute was a superb effort having taken on the defence and run some forty yards before beating Darragh Hayes with a great finish – it was the score which broke Toome’s resistance and suggested that there was no way back for them.
By this stage, the air ambulance helicopter was descending next door to Páirc Shilean and there were a number of delays as concerns mounted in the stands and the deafening sounds of the rotary blades dominated. It took some minutes for play to resume and when it did Holycross found the scores to seal the game.
Darragh McCarthy and Patrick Hackett (2) had points for Toomevara, but Robbie Ryan and a fine Pierce Briody, created by Sean Ryan, put the match beyond the North men and gave the Holycross the victory they deserved, albeit at a very high cost considering the injuries picked up – Liam Doyle and Jake Hackett trading points before the end as the match petered out.
The game never really reached the expected levels of excitement, and the stoppages didn’t help matters either. Holycross/Ballycahill were the better side, but Toomevara will be disappointed not to have gotten into their rhythm apart from that spell in the first half.
Player of the Match: Tony Maher (Holycross/Ballycahill)
Holycross/Ballycahill: James Dwyer (7); Cathal O’Reilly (7), Evan Morris (8), Cian Ryan (6); Jack Lahart (6), Jim Ryan (6), Liam Doyle (0-1, 7); Seanie McGrath (0-3, 8), James Doyle (6); Tony Maher (0-3, 8), Tiernan Ryan (0-1, 7), Robbie Ryan (0-7, 5f, 6); Audie Lohan (7), Pierce Briody (2-0, 7), Jimmie Lahart (6).
Subs: Sean Ryan (1-2, 8) for J Ryan (16 inj); Eoin Hickey (0-1, 7) for J Doyle (35 inj); Conor O’Sullivan (NR) for Lohan (60+5); Jake Galvin (NR) for R Ryan (60+7).
Toomevara: Darragh Hayes (6); Jack Ryan (6), Joshua Powell (6), Michael Gleeson (6); Jack Harford (6), Jake Hackett (0-2, 7), Cathal Frend (0-1, 7), Brian Farrell (6), Jack Doran (7), Cody Quirke (0-1, 8), Jack Hogan (0-1, 6), Austin Duff (0-3, 7), David O’Brien (6), Patrick Hackett (0-3, 7), Darragh McCarthy (0-8, 6f, 8).
Subs: Liam Hackett (6) for Farrell (38); David Conway (6) for O’Brien (46); Colm Maher (NR) for Gleeson (60+1).
Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).