Hall proves the extra time hero for Toomevara

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Toomevara 3-20

Clonoulty-Rossmore 1-24

(after extra time)

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Toomevara are back on track after some years in the hurling wilderness. On Sunday, the Greyhounds survived extra time against Clonoulty/Rossmore to claim their place in the semi-finals for the first time in five years.

In a roller-coaster of a contest, Toomevara recovered form a disastrous start which saw them fall 0-8 to 0-2 behind after twenty minutes, to be just two points adrift at the break (0-8 to 0-10). Then when they got the upper hand in the second half, helped by two goals from super-sub Adam Hall to be four points clear going into injury time, however, they were sucker-punched by a 65th minute goal from Conor Hammersley to send the contest into extra time, 2-16 to 1-19.

It was frantic hurling, but it had the attendance enthralled. From Toome’s point of view, the introduction of under 19 Hall as a half-time sub was the match-winning move. Hall hit 2-3 in a Man of the Match performance while Kenny Ryan, also brought in off the bench, notched their third goal. These were the scores that tipped the finely balanced scales in Toomevara’s favour.

Things did not look well for Toomevara as a sluggish start saw them trailing by six after nineteen minutes. They were struggling to get a foothold in the game, but they did make amends in the closing minutes of the half, with Darragh McCarthy showing the way with four points, to close the gap to two at the interval. They could have been further behind, but goalie Rory Brislane made a smart save to deny Stephen Ferncombe a Clonoulty goal in the thirteenth minute.

It was all to play for then in the second half and Toome kept improving as they hit the front for the first time when Adam Hall netted after 35 minutes, profiting from a Darragh McCarthy delivery. Toome had the upper-hand and when Hall hit his second goal three minutes into added time for a 2-16 to 0-18 lead, it looked as though Toome were through to the semi-final.

But there was a twist in the tail – Michael Ryan pointed for Clonoulty, and two minutes later, Conor Hammersley netted after Cathal Bourke’s free was parried but not cleared, to send the game to extra time.

It was another Toomevara sub who took centre stage, Kenny Ryan netted after Mark McCarthy charged down an attempted Clonoulty clearance after seven minutes. Leading 3-18 to 1-20, it was advantage Toome, an opinion reinforced by Darragh McCarthy’s point for them on resuming.

But there was more to come. Players were cramping up all over the place, yet Clonoulty found an extra gear in the closing minutes to hit four unanswered points to leave Toome just one clear with time running out.

The possibility of a penalty shoot-out was being speculated upon when Adam Hall crowned an outstanding personal performance with a point to clinch their place in the last four.

It was tough on Clonoulty/Rossmore who now face into a relegation battle having finished bottom of their group in the round-robin series but qualified for the preliminary county quarter-final because of their success in the West championship.

This was a win richly deserved by Kenny Dunne’s charges and while they will be outsiders against Kiladangan in the semi-final, they have shown a spirit and character that will test any opposition. Back at the business end of the county champions for the first time in some years, their recent progress will give them great encouragement as they bid to restore the glory days of The Greyhounds.

Adam Hall’s enormous contribution was the talking point after the game but the performances of Darragh McCarthy, Andrew Ryan, goalie Rory Brislane, Mark McCarthy and Josh McCarthy were also key factors in Toome’s success.

Clonoulty/Rossmore have little time to re-focus for their relegation semi-final. It has been a difficult year for them, but they have the players to steer them clear of the drop. Michael Ryan was their top performer on Sunday with Enda Heffernan, Ciaran Quirke, John O’Keeffe, Cathal Bourke, and Conor Hammersley also to the fore.

Player of the Match: Adam Hall (Toomevara).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (7); Liam Ryan (6), Andrew Ryan (7), Seamus O’Farrell (6); Jake Ryan (6), Josh McCarthy (7), Jack Ryan (6); Robbie Quirke (6), Darren Delaney (6); Kevin McCarthy (0-1, 6), Shane Nolan (0-1f, 6), Mark McCarthy (0-2, 7); Jack Delaney (6), Colm Canning (6), Darragh McCarthy (0-13, 10f, 7).

Subs: Joey McLoughney (6) for Jake Ryan (25 inj), Adam Hall (2-3, 9) for Nolan (HT); Kenny Ryan (1-0, 6) for Canning (47); David Nolan (6) for Jack Ryan (57); Joshua Powell (6) for O’Farrell (60); Paddy Grace (6) for D McCarthy (15 ET); Conor O’Farrell (NR) for D Delaney (79).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (6); Tommy Ryan (6), Enda Heffernan (7), Danny Slattery (6); Ciaran Quirke (7), John O’Keeffe (0-1, 7), Sean O’Connor (6); Ronan Heffernan (0-1, 6), Michael Ryan (0-6, 9); Conor Hammersley (1-2, 7), Cathal Bourke (0-10, 6f, 7), Jack Ryan (0-2, 6); Stephen Quinn (6), Robert Doyle (0-1, 6), Stephen Ferncombe (6).

Subs: James Ryan (0-1, 6) for Ferncombe (38); Aaron Ryan (6) for Quinn (53); Jimmy Maher (6) for T Ryan (ET); Thomas Butler (6) for C Hammersley (HT ET); Stephen Quinn for Doyle (HT ET); James Hammersley (NR) for M Ryan (18 ET).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).