Toome’s bench key in getting past Lorrha

GAA: The Hibernian Inn North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Toomevara 2-21

Lorrha 1-21

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara).

SCORERS - Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 1-10 (1-0 pen, 0-7 frees); Kevin McCarthy 0-6; Jack Delaney 1-1; Josh McCarthy, Barry O’Connell, Jake Hackett, Robbie Quirke 0-1 each.

Lorrha: Colm Fogarty 0-12 (9 frees, 1’65); Eoin McIntyre 1-2; Conor Kennedy 0-3; Patrick Maher 0-2; Donnacha O’Meara, David Fogarty 0-1 each.

Toomevara needed everyone on board to steer them to a three-point win over Lorrha in a very good North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship quarter final on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 1-15 to 1-14 at the three quarter-way mark, firm favourites Toome needed goalkeeper John Hayes to be brave when he came off his line to deny Cian Hogan from the edge of the square. The resulting 65, which the brilliantly accurate Colm Fogarty converted, put the underdogs two in front and playing well with the assistance of the breeze.

The Toome management looked to their bench where one of five substitutes, Jack Delaney, scored Toome’s second goal in the 48th minute putting them back in front and outscored the blues 1-7 to 0-5 in the final quarter and were very glad to hear the sound of the final whistle at the end.

Even in the halcyon days of the 1990’s, Toomevara always faced a strong challenge from Lorrha, and this was no different. In the end, Toome had the extra depth in Darragh McCarthy, who seemed fresh after his week’s celebrations after the All-Ireland victory, top scoring with 1-10 (1-0 pen, 0-7 frees) while his brother Kevin produced a man of the match performance with six points from play.

The McCarthy’s needed to be strong because, apart from Liam Ryan at centre back, little else seemed to sparkle until the arrival of the bench in the guise of Jack Delaney, Robbie Quirke, Conor O’Meara, and Austin Duff.

Lorrha for their part came into the game very much the underdog based on their performances in 2024 which marked their return to senior level. Good displays Ciaran Haugh, Tom Duggan, captain Michael Dolan, Eoin McIntyre, Colm Fogarty, Donnacha O’Meara, and Conor Kennedy were very much in evidence in a side that missed the experienced Niall McIntyre through injury.

The opening minutes were lively as sides were level for the second time at 0-3 each by the fifth minute. One minute later, Darragh McCarthy punished a Lorrha indiscretion as he buried a penalty after Adam Hall was fouled in the square.

After a wind-assisted Jake Hackett scored a point in the eighth minute, Toome were four in front, but Lorrha kept in touch after Colm Fogarty pointed twice from play.

A 15th minute point by Kevin McCarthy made it 1-7 to 0-7 but Lorrha fought back with three unanswered points, Patrick Maher (2) and a third by Colm Fogarty, ten minutes from the break.

Toome’s response was three unanswered points with Daragh McCarthy scoring all three, one from play, in a period that saw their wides tally increase to nine after some very wasteful attempts at goal. It was 1-10 to 0-10 at half time.

By the 35th minute, both McCarthy and Fogarty had bisected the posts with three frees and the Lorrha man claiming two.

After Lorrha recorded their first wide in the game on 37 minutes, their possession percentage was beginning to increase and a goal by Eoin McIntyre brought the game to life, following a move by Patrick Maher and Donnacha O’Meara.

A quick response by Darragh McCarthy made it 1-12 each but Lorrha were moving with confidence and went three clear after Eoin McIntyre scored a brace closely followed by another Colm Fogarty free in the 38th minute.

By then, both Robbie Quirke and Jack Delaney had departed the bench and the Greyhounds began to regain ground as Darragh McCarthy scored before Robbie Quirke surged forward to add another, thanks to a Liam Ryan assist.

However, Lorrha stretched their lead to two after Colm Fogarty’ pointed a 65 following Hayes’ key save from Hogan.

A Darragh McCarthy free was quickly answered by Conor Kennedy, his third, before Toome struck a goal in the 48th minute after Jack Delaney took an assist from Darragh McCarthy who had slipped Lee Hogan for the only time in the game; the greyhounds 2-15 to 1-17 in front.

A short puckout error allowed Darragh McCarthy profit for a point before another foul on Donnacha O’Meara saw Colm Fogarty on target once more.

The game was up for grabs as the game went score for score with Colm Fogarty levelling matters with a free, nine minutes from time before senior debutant Austin Duff won a free and McCarthy did the needful, closely followed by Kevin McCarthy’s sixth white flag.

Sub David Fogarty pulled one back for Lorrha before Jack Delaney was fouled and another McCarthy free had Toome two in front approaching the 58th minute. A free from almost half way by Colm Fogarty left the minimum between the teams but Toome had the extra gears and Robbie Quirke plus Kevin McCarthy combined to see Delaney on target.

With the game deep in injury time both sides battled for scores, but Darragh McCarthy had the last say with a free in the 63rd minute as Toomevara were into the semi-final against Kiladangan.

TEAMS - Toomevara: Darragh Hayes (8); Cathal Frend (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Colm Canning (6), Liam Ryan (Capt 7), Paul Ryan (6); Josh McCarthy (7), Conor O’Farrell (6); Darren Delaney (7), Kevin McCarthy (8), Jake Hackett (6); Adam Hall (6), Barry O’Connell (6), Daragh McCarthy (8).

Subs: Robbie Quirke (7) for O’Farrell (39); Jack Delaney (7) for Hall (39); Joshua Powell (7) for P Ryan (42); Austin Duff (7) for J McCarthy (50); Conor O’Meara (6) for Canning (53).

Lorrha: Michael Kennedy (7); Lee Hogan (7), Ciaran Hough (7), Tom Duggan (7); Conor Hogan (7), Michael Dolan (Capt 7), Brendan Fogarty (7); Alan O’Meara (6), Conor Kennedy (7); Eoin McIntyre (8); Cian Hogan (6), Colm Fogarty (8); Christopher Fogarty (7), Patrick Maher (7) Donnacha O’Meara (7).

Sub: David Fogarty (6) for A O’Meara (51 inj).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)