Roscrea push Templederry over the trapdoor

Roscrea hit five goals to consign Templederry Kenyons to one last chance of retaining their top tier status following a one-sided Tipperary senior hurling relegation semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Relegation Semi-Final

Roscrea 5-22

Templederry Kenyons 2-15

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

The Rossie’s have really struggled to put together any semblance of real form this year but on this occasion, they mustered the necessary wherewithal to stave off the possibility of dropping to the Premier Intermediate grade with a convincing sixteen-point victory over a depleted Templederry side.

Despite playing into the teeth of a strong wind an impressive Roscrea outfit really hit the ground running with four early points on the bounce from Dan Ryan, Kenny Lee, Alan Tynan, and Evan Fitzpatrick before Templederry hit back with a Colm Murray free followed by a seventh minute goal from the mercurial Sean Ryan after an incisive Timmy Crowe delivery.

Arguably Templederry’s goal did come against the run of play as they struggled noticeably to reach the pitch of the game in the opening quarter, but they refused to allow Roscrea to take a grip of the game with points from sub Padraig O’Leary and Eanna Murray bringing the Kenyons to within two points by the nineteenth minute.

Gearóid Ryan, who went into the encounter nursing a hamstring injury, brought Templederry to within one with a sublime 23rd minute effort but it was the closest the Kenyons were to get to Roscrea after Shane Fletcher responded with a sweetly struck point from range, 0-9 to 1-4.Roscrea raided again and Fletcher was involved once more with the centre forward setting up Alan Tynan for their first goal in the 26th minute. Conor Dooley and Alan Tynan added further points for Liam England’s charges to put seven between the sides before a brace from Seán Ryan, coupled with a Colm Murray free cut the deficit to four points as the interval approached.An injury time Colm Murray free narrowed the gap further before Luke Cashin and Gearóid Ryan exchanged points in time added on to see Roscrea take a deserved three-point lead to the dressing room, 1-12 to 1-9.

Roscrea quickly built upon their interval lead with two early efforts from man of the match Alan Tynan before Leigh Loughnane netted in the 33rd minute after following up on Tim McCutcheon’s parried save from a low Evan Fitzpatrick shot. McCutcheon, who was excellent between the sticks for the Kenyons, was called into action again minutes later with an excellent full length save denying Conor Dooley a third Roscrea goal.

Roscrea continued to turn the screw though with Alan Tynan knifing over two points on the bounce as Templederry struggled to contain their opponents dominant attack. Evan Fitzpatrick, who hit five from play, arrowed over a well-struck point on forty minutes before Tynan struck for Roscrea’s third goal with a cracking finish just seconds later to put them well and truly in the driving seat.

Templederry, who played second fiddle throughout, battled gamely to hang onto Roscrea’s coat-tails but their defence was cut open at will and further goals from substitute Sam Dooley put the game to bed in the closing stages.

Templederry substitute Michael Hayes did net a consolation three-pointer for the Kenyons late on, but it merely served to put a glossier look on the scoreboard as Roscrea ran out convincing winners over a Templederry side were without the services of Brian Stapleton, Adrian Ryan, and Odhran Murphy, plus they lost Liam McCutcheon early in the first half.

Roscrea had fine performances from Alan Tynan, Darragh Tynan, Dan Ryan, Luke Cashin, Evan Fitzpatrick, Kenny Lee, Darren O’Connor, and Shane Fletcher while Tim McCutcheon, Seán Ryan, Gearóid Ryan, Mikie Ryan, Padraic O’Leary and Colm Murray were to the fore for Templederry.

Player of the Match: Alan Tynan (Roscrea)

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7); Luke Seacy (7), Darren O’Connor (8), Shane Davis (7); Dan Ryan (J-Capt 8), Darragh Tynan (J-Capt 0-1, 7), Conor Sheedy (7); Kenny Lee (0-2, 7), Adrian Booth (7); Alan Tynan (1-6, 7), Shane Fletcher (0-2), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-5, 8); Luke Cashin (0-5, 4f, 7), Conor Dooley (0-1, 7), Leigh Loughnane (1-0, 7). Subs: Sam Dooley (2-0, 8) for Loughnane (47); Conor Booth (0-1, 7) for Dooley (54); Conor Phelan (6) for Sheedy (54); Owen Tynan (NR) for A Booth (57).

Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon (7); Liam McCutcheon (NR), Christy Coughlan (Capt 7), Dale Donnelly (7); Pio Kennedy (7), Mikie Ryan (7), Tom Stapleton (7); Cillian Kennedy (6), Colm Murray (0-4f, 7); Eanna Murray (0-1, 7), Gearóid Ryan (0-3, 7), Darragh Carey (7); Seán Ryan (1-4, 8), Timmy Crowe (6), Sean Collins (6).

Subs: Padraic O’Leary (0-2, 7) for McCutcheon (8 inj); Padraig Hogan (6) for Kennedy (47); Conor Looby (0-1, 6) for Crowe (47); Paidi Ryan (6) for G Ryan (50); Michael Hayes (1-0, 7) for O’Leary (57).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).