Toome and the 'Church cannot be separated
Toome and the 'Church cannot be separated
Toomevara 1-23
Upperchurch-Drombane 3-17
Report: James Hayden in Semple Stadium
Toomevara and Upperchurch/Drombane served up a rip-roaring contest in what proved a hugely absorbing county senior hurling championship clash on Saturday evening.
In the finish there was nothing to separate the sides after Eoin Brislane’s charges rallied from a 57th minute Upperchurch goal to claw back a late two-point deficit and deservedly secure a share of the spoils.
The result means the outcome of the group goes right down to wire with results, head to head and possibly score difference to be brought into the equasion before the final standings are revealed.
There was little to separate the teams throughout and interestingly the sides were level at the first water break, half-time and again at the second water break. Toomevara once again played a nice brand of hurling and appeared to find their men easier in the opening half, with five of their six forwards registering from play. The ‘Church on the other hand depended on the free taking abilities of Padraic Greene and Gavin Ryan to keep in touch while two first half goals from Greene and Jack Butler served to keep them well in the hunt.
Toome’ started brightly and were two points to the good early doors with Mark McCarthy and Jack Delaney both on target before Padraic Greene knifed over a well-struck free for the 'Church. Robbie Quirke, who was very busy around the middle of the field, added a third Toome’ point. Greene again responded from a placed ball before he slipped the Toome’ cover in the fifth minute to blast past the advancing Robert Delaney.
The ‘Church piled on the pressure with Diarmuid Grant and Padraic Greene quickly raising white flags to put four between the sides. Toome’s response was immediate though with Mark McCarthy converting from a close-range free before Robbie Quirke set up Russell Quirke for a cracking 11th minute Toome’ goal.
The sides remained locked at the first water break before Mark McCarthy neatly set up Jack Delaney to edge Toome’ back in front in the 19th minute. Padraic Greene (free) and the impressive Conor O’Meara traded points before a booming Gavin Ryan long-range free restored parity again.
Toome’ appeared to be winning the breaks around the middle of the field and once again seized the initiative with a 25th minute Jack Delaney point before the ‘Church netted again after Jack Butler seized on a breaking ball on the edge of the square following Padraic Greene’s sideline cut and rifled the sliotar first-time to the back of the net. Gavin Ryan added another long-range free to edge the ‘Church three clear before three points on the trot from Kevin McCarthy, Jack Delaney and Conor O’Meara brought Toome’ upsides once more.
Padraic Greene tagged on a late Upperchurch point deep in injury time but once again Toomevara responded with a well-taken Willie Coffey point ensuring the sides remained deadlocked at the break, 1-13 to 2-10.
The second half saw little to separate the sides either with Padraic Green and Joey McLoughney both excellent in their freetaking roles; McLoughney firing over five frees and a 65’ while Greene knifed over four from placed balls together with a sublimely struck 32nd minute sideline cut.
Toomevara were not without their sweetly contrived points from play either with David Young excellently setting up Conor O'Meara for a hugely impressive 37th minute point. Come the water break the sides still couldn’t be separated, 1-19 to 2-16, and as both sides rolled on fresh legs the outcome was still far from decided.
Mark McCarthy and Padraic Greene (free) quickly exchanged points upon the resumption before a fourth Jack Delaney point on 55 minutes edged Toome’ clear once more. Upperchurch hit back with their third goal of the game after Jack Butler broke through on goals to finish with aplomb past Robert Delaney, 3-17 to 1-21.
At this juncture it appeared Toomevara may have let the game slip from their grasp but credit to the men in green and gold they surged back upfield with late points from Joey McLoughney (free) and Jack Delaney once more levelling up proceedings.
Upperchurch did have a late opportunity to snatch a victory with a Gavin Ryan free but they chose to go short instead and indeed may have had justified calls for a late close-range free but referee, Michael Kennedy was having none of it before calling a halt to proceedings to set up a mouth-watering final round of clashes for next weekend.
Impressive for Toomevara were Jack Delaney, Joey McLoughney, Robbie Quirke, Andrew Ryan, Russell Quirke and Mark McCarthy while Padraic Greene, Jack Butlerm Diarmaid Grant, Gavin Ryan and Keith Ryan impressed for Upperchurch.
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Jack Delaney (Toomevara)
Toomevara: Robert Delaney (7), Liam Ryan (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Jason Ryan (7), Joey McLoughney (0-7, 6f, 1 65) 8), Josh McCarthy (7); Jack Delaney (0-6, 9), Robbie Quirke (0-1, 8); Willie Coffey (0-1, 7), Conor O’Meara (0-3, 8), David Young (7); Russell Quirke (1-0, 8), Mark McCarthy (0-4, 2f) 8), Kevin McCarthy (0-1, 7).
Subs: Paul Ryan (7) for Young (42); Kenny Ryan (7) for J McCarthy (45); Alan Ryan (6) for O’Meara (54).
Upperchurch-Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7), Gerard Grant (7), Matt Ryan (7), Dean Carew (7); Keith Ryan (0-1, 8), Gavin Ryan (0-3f, 8), Niall Grant (7); Colm Ryan (7), Diarmuid Grant (0-1, 7); Paul Ryan (7), Jack Butler (2-0, 8), Padraig Greene (1-11, 0-7f, 0-1 s-cut) 8); Michael Lee (0-1, 7), John Ryan (7), Paul Shanahan (7).
Subs: Pat Shortt (6) for C Ryan (50); Aaron Ryan (6) for P Ryan (50).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).