Toome’ survive stern JK Brackens test

No goals in this County Senior Hurling Championship quarter final tie on Saturday evening and it was certainly less exciting than the curtain-raiser which ended in a dramatic climax.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Toomevara 0-26

JK Brackens 0-21

Report: Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara)

SCORERS - Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 0-11 (8 frees); Mark McCarthy 0-3; Adam Hall, Darren Delaney, Jack Delaney, Conor O’Meara 0-2 each; Barry O’Connell, Josh McCarthy, Jack Ryan, Kevin McCarthy 0-1 each.

JK Brackens: Lyndon Fairbrother 0-8 (frees); Jamie Ormond 0-5; Andrew Ormond, Eanna McBride 0-3 each; Michael Cahill, Shane Doyle 0-1 each.

However, Toomevara gave notice of their intentions with a showing which suggests that, though there is still plenty of room for improvement, they have designs on reaching a first county decider since they last won the Dan Breen Cup in 2008.

Ten players on the scoresheet, bagging eighteen points from play, Toomevara will be well pleased with their victory and though they may have some concerns about not putting the game beyond JK Brackens earlier in the tie, they will see this as an important stepping stone on progression.

JK Brackens did not quite get into their flow in this game – perhaps they were not let do so. Playing wind-assisted in the first half, they trailed at the halfway mark with Toomevara finishing the rather low-key first instalment in a very strong fashion.

Points from Lyndon Fairbrother (2) and Jamie Ormond had Brackens up and running in the scoring stakes, but at the other end Adam Hall, Josh McCarthy and Darragh McCarthy (2) were also on target.

Indeed, by the end of the first quarter, they were tied on 0-6 apiece – Darragh McCarthy and Darren Delaney (2) scoring for Toome’ while the impressive Ormond brothers, Andrew and Jamie were tormenting the Greyhounds defence and flashing over points with great regularity – Andrew pilfered two in the first half, while Jamie struck three to add to Shane Doyle’s point.

Toomevara though were faring very well against the breeze and Darragh McCarthy, Mark McCarthy (2), and Jack Delaney were on target again before the break to send them into a 0-12 to 0-8 lead.

They could have goaled in the 24th minute when Adam Hall and Darragh McCarthy efforts in the same attack, somehow stayed out of the Brackens net. But, the Templemore/Clonmore lads had the final two scores of the half through Jamie & Andrew Ormond to reduce the deficit to two points – a very manageable differential if they could find their rhythm.

For a game in which every point was of enormous value, Toomevara just seemed to be able to find scores a little easier to come by than their opponents who were forced to work much harder for them. Couple that with the fact that the Ormond express, so evident in the first half, dried up in the second, as Toome’ got to grips with the sharpshooters and stifled their influence, and the winning and losing of the game becomes clear.

Darragh & Mark McCarthy had points either side of an Eanna McBride second half opener for Brackens, who followed up with two from placed balls from Fairbrother.

Darragh McCarthy and Michael Cahill traded points as did McCarthy (2) and Fairbrother and Jamie Ormond. So, the nature of the second half was very much nip and tuck in the scoring stakes with Brackens eventually drawing level with nine minutes to go thanks to an Eanna McBride score – he had a storming second half showing.

Parity didn’t last long with Barry O’Connell sending Toome’ back in front only to see McBride levelling again. Then, Toomevara enjoyed a fine spell, and they were to hit seven of the final ten scores of the game to win the match.

Three in succession from Darragh McCarthy, sub Conor O’Meara and McCarthy again saw Fairbrother respond for Brackens who were beginning to wilt under the pressure. McCarthy and Fairbrother traded frees but this was to be Brackens’ last score and Toomevara powered their way to the semi-final with Conor O’Meara, Darragh McCarthy and Adam Hall putting the finishing touches to their victory.

Toomevara found JK Brackens a tricky opponent to shake-off but shake them off they did, and they found a way to win the game. They will be well pleased with their victory and will feel that there is more in the tank too. This game will have been of enormous benefit to them as they ready themselves for the next round and they will be formidable opponents in the penultimate clash of the championship.

TEAMS - Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Barry O’Connell (6), Andrew Ryan (6), Seamus O’Farrell (6); Josh McCarthy (7), Liam Ryan (6), Jack Ryan (6); Robbie Quirke (7), Conor O’Farrell (6); Jack Delaney (7), Kevin McCarthy (6), Mark McCarthy (7); Darragh McCarthy (8), Adam Hall (7), Darren Delaney (7).

Subs: Jack Powell (6) for A Ryan (35 inj); Jake Hackett (6) for D Delaney (44); Conor O’Meara (8) for Quirke (52); Colm Canning (6) for K McCarthy (56); David Nolan (NR) for C O’Farrell (60+3).

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (6); Tom Murphy (6), Cathal Scully (7), Luke Ormond (6); Ned Delaney (6), Paddy Cadell (7), Jordon Moloney (7); Eanna McBride (8), Dean McEnroe (7); Conor Cadell (6), Shane Doyle (6), Andrew Ormond (8); Jamie Ormond (8), Lyndon Fairbrother (7), Michael Cahill (6).

Subs: Jack Bergin (6) for Delaney (35); Ned Walsh (6) for Doyle (35).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).