Moycarkey have too much for improved Roscrea

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

Moycarkey/Borris 1-24

Roscrea 1-18

Report: James Hayden at Páirc Shíleáin, Templemore

Moycarkey/Borris displayed that bit too much firepower for Roscrea to handle following a hard-fought County Senior Hurling Championship group 4 opener on Saturday evening.

Both sides have become accustomed to facing each other in recent years but on this occasion, it was a burgeoning Moycarkey team who were fancied to return to winning ways following their Mid final defeat to JK Brackens.

Manager Eddie Brennan had his side well primed and within six minutes raced into a lead they were never to relinquish. Kieran Morris (2 frees) and Joe Maher got the ball rolling, and while Conor Phelan arrowed over an opening point for Ros’, it was evident that the North side were going to have their work cut out to contain a potent and pacy Moycarkey attack.

Roscrea hurled well in the opening quarter though with Alan Tynan buzzing around the middle of the park, picking up a lot of ball, before arrowing over a sublimely struck sideline cut after seven minutes.

With both sides employing a sweeper, Moycarkey edged two clear thanks to a booming Rory Darmody effort from range before Evan Fitzpatrick hit back for Paudie Bourke’s side.

Ros’ were back on terms in the twelfth minute thanks to a sweet Darragh Tynan strike, but Moycarkey edged clear once more thanks to efforts from Kieran Morris (free) and the first of five points from play from the outstanding Jack Hayes.

Shane Fletcher (free) narrowed the gap to just a point for Ros’ midway through the half, but Moycarkey were starting to make inroads, and a Kieran Cummins surging run and subsequent point exposed some early frailties.

Those frailties were again exposed in the 19th minute with Max Hackett surging through before finding Bill Flanagan to his left; he gathered well and arrowed a fine shot past Enda Moloney in the Roscrea goal to fire the Mid side into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead.

Roscrea responded with Alan Tynan and Michael Campions both raising white flags before Jack Fallon and Jason Gilmartin arrowed over two fantastic efforts for their respective sides.

Kieran Morris fired over a stunning over the shoulder effort to edge Moycarkey four clear in the 25th minute but Shane Fletcher kept Roscrea in touch with a well-taken point after Jason Gilmartin brought the best out of Rhys Shelly in the Moycarkey goal.

The closing minutes of the half were all Moycarkey though. Five points on the bounce comprising two Kieran Morris frees, two from the stick of the mercurial Jack Hayes and another from the impressive Joe Maher ensured they took a comfortable 1-14 to 0-9 lead to the dressing room.

Roscrea attempted to claw their way back into proceedings with a strong third quarter effort. Points from Darragh Tynan and Shane Fletcher narrowed the gap somewhat and a 45th minute raid on the Moycarkey goal could have yielded a much-needed goal but Sean Hayes intervened to avert the danger for Moycarkey.

Moycarkey were then dealt a needless blow after corner-forward Bill Flanagan was red-carded following an off the ball altercation with Roscrea full-back Shane Davis.

Despite the numerical advantage that Roscrea revival failed to materialize. Four unanswered points from Jack Hayes, Kieran Morris (free), Max Hackett and Kieran Cummins between the 50th & 54th minute served to extend Moycarkey’s advantage to an insurmountable nine points.

Ros’ responded with a well-taken Leigh Loughnane point but it was goals that were needed at this stage for the North side. Moycarkey’s defence was well marshalled by Eoghan Hayes and Tom Hayes and there was very little in the way of opportunities for Roscrea in the closing stages.

They did manage a consolation goal on the stroke of full-time though after Kenny Lee rattled the net from close-range and although Evan Fitzpatrick and Jack Lee added late injury-time points Moycarkey had their job well and truly done for the day with Joe Egan arrowing over a late point to copper-fasten a wholly deserved six-point victory for the Mid side.

Impressive for Roscrea were Darragh Tynan, Alan Tynan, Evan Fitzpatrick, Shane Fletcher and Shane Davis while Jack Hayes, Kieran Morris, Max Hackett, Eoghan Hayes, Joe Maher, Jack Fallon and Rory Darmody caught the eye for Moycarkey-Borris.

Player of the Match: Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris)

Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly (7); Kevin Hayes (7), Sean Hayes (7), Tom Ryan (7); Tom Hayes (7), Eoghan Hayes (8), Jack Fallon (0-1, 7); Rory Darmody (0-1, 7), Kieran Cummins (0-2,7); Joe Maher (0-2, 8); Max Hackett (0-1, 8); David Costigan (0-1, 7); Jack Hayes (0-5, 8), Kieran Morris (0-9, 7f, 8), Bill Flanagan (1-0, 6).

Subs: Killian Cantwell (7) for Maher (45); Kyle Shelly (0-1f, 6) for Morris (54); Joe Egan (0-1, 7) for S Hayes (58).

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7); Conor Booth (7), Shane Davis (7), Luke Seacy (7); Michael Campion (0-1, 7), Darragh Tynan (0-3, 8), Conor Sheedy (7); Dan Ryan (7), Alan Tynan (0-2, 8); Conor Dooley (7), Sam Dooley (6), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-2, 7); Shane Fletcher (0-6, 5f, 8), Conor Phelan (0-1, 6), Jason Gilmartin (0-1, 6).

Subs: Leigh Loughnane (0-1, 6) for Gilmartin (38); Kenny Lee (1-0, 7) for Dooley (39); Owen Tynan (6) for Phelan (45); James Synott (6) for Seacy (45); Jack Lee (0-1, 7) for Campion (56).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).