McCarthy’s star as Toome see off Moycarkey

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Toomevara 2-19

Moycarkey/Borris 0-20

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara)

SCORERS – Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 2-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); Kevin McCarthy 0-5; Mark McCarthy 0-2 (1 s-cut); Robbie Quirke, Conor O’Farrell, Jack Delaney, Darren Delaney, Adam Hall 0-1 each.

Moycarkey/Borris: Kieran Morris 0-5 (3 frees); Kyle Shelly 0-4 (3 frees, 1 ’65); Kieran Cummins 0-3; Joe Maher 0-2; Rhys Shelly (free), Eoghan Hayes, Max Hackett, Jack Hayes, Bill Flanagan, David Costigan 0-1 each.

Two brilliantly finished first half goals from Darragh McCarthy proved decisive as Toomevara booked their place in the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Final after seeing off Moycarkey/Borris in a well contested semi-final on Saturday evening.

The strikes in the 23rd & 31st minutes came against the run of play as Moycarkey/Borris had been the better side for the majority of the half yet went in at the break four points down.

That gap more or less stayed between the sides for much of the second half although Moycarkey got back within two points with seven minutes of normal time remaining, but were unable to breach an inspired Toomevara rearguard who somehow kept their goal intact.

Taking chances is what this game came down to, Darragh McCarthy took his two while Moycarkey failed with four, all in the second half, a combination of an excellent save from Rory Brislane plus three last ditch interventions from Seamus O’Farrell, Liam Ryan, and sub Jake Hackett. Two of those blocks resulted in Toomevara points at the other end of the field and you get the sense of how and why the final outcome went the way it did.

Moycarkey/Borris will rue a missed opportunity not to reach a first county final since 1984. Backed by a large support, they settled to the task early with wing back Eoghan Hayes setting the tone in the half back line with his high fielding a notable feature, and he scored their first point to respond to Toome’s bright start through points from Darragh McCarthy (65) and Conor O’Farrell.

Quarter final hero Max Hackett got in on the action early with a point but wasn’t a major factor in the game at either centre of full forward, but their use of the ball led to good points from Kieran Morris and Bill Flanagan as they took their first lead at 0-5 to 0-4 after nine very lively minutes.

Toomevara’s fourth point came from Kevin McCarthy who had his most impactful performance of the campaign with five points from play.

Jack Hayes doubled the Moycarkey advantage before a Mark McCarthy sideline-cut and a Darragh McCarthy free brought the sides level before the Mid side surged clear with scores from the excellent Kieran Cummins, Morris (free) and Joe Maher.

The game was a real contrast in styles with Toomevara direct from their puckouts while Rhys Shelly gave an exhibition of pin-point restarts for Moycarkey, while also landing a booming free for good measure in the 23rd minute.

They were growing in confidence and belief but were rocked back on their heels seconds later when Darragh McCarthy scored his first goal, a blistering shot from an angle, after shrugging off strong Moycarkey tackling.

Kieran Morris and Kevin McCarthy traded points from play before another McCarthy free edged Toomevara back in front going into added time when he scored his second goal, which epitomised all aspects of his talent, showing the tenacity to turnover Tom Hayes on the wing, and carrying the ball on, an easy point was on, but he sensed more and passed to Adam Hall who drew the defender and returned the ball to McCarthy who measured his shot inside the post, past the outstretched Shelly for a 2-9 to 0-11 half time lead.

Kieran Cummins got Moycarkey up and running after the restart before one of their first goal chances went abegging on 32 minutes when Bill Flanagan surged on goal, forcing Rory Brislane into a brilliant save with Seamus O’Farrell flicking the ball clear ahead of Jack Hayes, and on the counter-attack, Darragh McCarthy pointed at the other end in a four-point swing.

The sides went score for score thereafter with Kieran Cummins bringing his tally to three while Mark & Kevin McCarthy added to their tallies to open up a five point lead going into the final quarter.

Kyle Shelly had been introduced for Moycarkey and took over the free-taking duties, landing four from four, including a 65, and added to a point by sub David Costigan, the Mid side were back within two on 52 minutes.

Toomevara were struggling to win possession, but Robbie Quirke managed to stem the bleeding by winning a crucial free on 53 minutes which Darragh McCarthy converted before a minute later, Toome sub Jake Hackett made a notable impact in blocking a goal-bound shot from fellow sub Niall Heffernan. Toome cleared their lines from where Darragh McCarthy played in Jack Delaney for a point and when Kevin McCarthy brought his tally to five from play, the lead was back out to five once more.

Moycarkey really needed a goal at this stage but were denied once more with a Liam Ryan block from Costigan, but they did manage a point from the subsequent free from Kyle Shelly, but Toomevara were clinical in the closing stages with the once again impactful Darren Delaney getting on the scoresheet while Darragh McCarthy rounded off the scoring by turning over Joe Egan and pointing following a one-two with Barry O’Connell to send Toomevara into their first county final in sixteen years.

TEAMS - Toomevara: Rory Brislane (8); Barry O’Connell (7), Andrew Ryan (6), Josh McCarthy (6); Jack Ryan (7), Liam Ryan (7), Seamus O’Farrell (7); Robbie Quirke (6), Conor O’Farrell (7); Jack Delaney (6), Darren Delaney (7), Mark McCarthy (7); Kevin McCarthy (9), Darragh McCarthy (9), Adam Hall (7).

Subs: Conor O’Meara (7) for M McCarthy (45); Jake Hackett (7) for J Ryan (48); Colm Canning (NR) for J McCarthy (58); Joshua Powell (NR) for S O’Farrell (59); Shane Nolan (NR) for D Delaney (60+1).

Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly (7); Kevin Hayes (7), Tom Ryan (6), Peter Melbourne (6); Steven Walsh (7), Tom Hayes (7), Eoghan Hayes (8); Kieran Cummins (8), Jack Fallon (6); Joe Egan (7), Max Hackett (6), Jack Hayes (7); Kieran Morris (7), Joe Maher (7), Bill Flanagan (7).

Subs: David Costigan (7) for Flanagan (38); Kyle Shelly (7) for Morris (41); Niall Heffernan (7) for Fallon (49); Joe Doran (NR) for J Hayes (60+1).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).