Nally and Woods nail Toome’ to the ‘Cross

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 1

Holycross/Ballycahill 2-25

Toomevara 0-28

Report: Noel Dundon at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

2024 county finalists Toomevara fell at the first hurdle of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening when they came a cropper against a ferociously competitive and hungry Holycross/Ballycahill outfit in a rip-roaring contest.

A game which went right to the wire, Toomevara made a gallant effort to get back on terms, staging a fine second half fightback, but they were never able to get on par with the mid men who were the better team right through.

Holycross put 1-15 on the scoreboard from play and while Toomevara managed 0-13 from play, the Mid men were just able to keep the scoreboard ticking over throughout, and most importantly, when Toome’ were on the rise and putting a run together.

Holycross laid the foundations to this victory in the first half –dominating, leading to their 1-15 to 0-10 interval advantage. The goal, struck from a penalty by county man Joe Caesar in the fourth minute after Eoin Craddock was fouled, helped them to an early lead – Darragh Woods and Mikey Nally pointing initially.

And, though Darragh McCarthy (2) and Kevin McCarthy had scores for Toomevara, Eoin Craddock (2), Mikey Nally (2) and Woods (2) shoved Holycross further in front in a quick-fire flurry of scores which had supporters struggling to keep up.

Toomevara were hanging in there with Kevin McCarthy, Conor O’Farrell, Jack Delaney, and Darragh McCarthy (2) scores keeping them in touch.

However, the dominance of the Holycross defence – which did not contain county men Bryan O’Mara or Jim Ryan (U20) due to injury - and the quality ball fed to their attack resulted in Robbie Ryan hitting 0-3 before the break, Woods adding another three, and goalkeeper Euan Bourke landing a massive free to leave them eight clear and in fine shape – Bourke also saved well from Jack Delaney also just before the break to maintain the sizeable advantage.

Toomevara were bound to come strong in the second half, but it actually took until the third quarter before they began to make real inroads on the deficit. Indeed, they fell nine behind when David Fogarty bagged a 36th minute goal following a great catch and pass from Nally who was a big thorn in the Toomevara side.

But Darragh McCarthy (3), Jack Delaney and Adam Hall had scores for Toome’ with Woods responding. And four-in-a-row from Conor O’Meara, Jack Delaney, Darragh McCarthy and Mark McCarthy helped their cause greatly.

David Fogarty, Liam Doyle, and Woods again responded for Holycross, and it was just as well because Toomevara hit four more in a row through Darragh McCarthy (2) and Conor O’Meara (2) to leave a goal in it.

Woods and Nally traded points with Darragh McCarthy (3) – Holycross not happy with a number of those decisions, but they put their irritation behind them and sub James Doyle came off the bench to find the posts on two occasions.

Darragh McCarthy continued to take the game to the winners, but his sides cause was not helped by the dismissal of Conor O’Meara with a straight red card four minutes into injury time.

The Mid men were able to see out the game, goalkeeper Euan Bourke pointing another monster score from way out to further plunge the Toome’ men into arrears.

A goal was required but it wasn’t to come – Cathal Barrett making a brilliant tackle to prevent a shot at goal, while Joe Caesar made another brilliant interception to shore up a potential channel to goal.

Disappointment for Toomevara who face a steep climb to get out of the group. They will be hoping that the game will have stood to them going forward but they will know that better is required. Only three starting players -apart from Darragh McCarthy – scored for them, whereas their opponents had eight of their starters on the scoresheet.

Still, they battled this game right to the very death and their commitment cannot be questioned. They have the wherewithal to improve and will need to if they are to extend their season beyond the group stages.

The win for Holycross/Ballycahill was a stirring one and they certainly celebrated it afterwards. They showed a lot of resolve to hold off their opponents when they came back strong at them and in man of the match Mikey Nally they had an ace in the pack. Not only did he bag four points from play, he also set up David Fogarty for the second goal and was involved in at least five other scores as well.

Darragh Woods, Robbie Ryan, Joe Caesar and Tadgh Gould were also very prominent while Cathal Barrett and Liam Doyle were rock solid in defence.

Player of the Match: Mikey Nally (Holycross/Ballycahill)

Holycross/Ballycahill: Euan Bourke (0-2f, 8); Cathal O’Reilly (7), Cathal Barrett (7), Evan Morris (7); Jack Ryan (6), Tadgh Gould (7), Liam Doyle (0-1, 7); Joe Caesar (1-0 pen, 8), Tiernan Ryan (6); Mikey Nally (0-4, 9), Eoin Craddock (0-2, 7), David Fogarty (0-1, 7); Robbie Ryan (0-3, 8), Darragh Woods (1-10, 0-6f, 8), Padraic Russell (7).

Subs: Jimmie Lahart (6) for Russell (45); Luke O’Mara (6) for T Ryan (53); James Doyle (0-2, 8) for Fogarty (59).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (7); Cathal Frend (6), Andrew Ryan (6), Jake Ryan (7); Josh McCarthy (6), Liam Ryan (6), Joshua Powell (6); Robbie Quirke (6), Conor O’Farrell (0-1, 6); Darren Delaney (7), Kevin McCarthy (0-3, 8), Jake Hackett (6); Darragh McCarthy (0-16, 15f, 9), Barry O’Connell (6), Jack Delaney (0-3, 7).

Subs: Adam Hall (0-1, 7) for Hackett (29); Mark McCarthy (0-1, 6) for Quirke (HT), Paul Ryan (6) for Frend (36); Conor O’Meara (0-3, 7) for O’Connell (40), Austin Duff (6) for D Delaney (55).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams).