Hall proves Clonoulty’s nemesis again

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 2

Toomevara 1-27

Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-16

Report: John O’Shea at The Ragg

Toomevara got their season back on track with a comprehensive eleven point victory over West champions Clonoulty/Rossmore in Group 1 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The West side now face an uphill battle to steer clear of the relegation zone, but are guaranteed a preliminary quarter final spot, as West champions while Toomevara must avoid defeat to Kiladangan to progress as group runners-up.

Clonoulty/Rossmore drew a free with their first attack, but Stephen Ferncombe elected to go low but was saved and cleared.

Two frees from Ferncombe inside the opening five minutes got the scoreboard moving.

Paul Ryan opened Toomevara’s account on six minutes before a good Clonoulty move out of defence finished with Mikey Ryan finding his range.

Darragh McCarthy had to wait until the thirteenth minute to register his opening score, having been off target from a long range early on.

Ronan Heffernan made it 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of the West men before Toomevara hit a purple patch, hitting seven points in a ten minute spell, five from play; one each from Jack Delaney and Conor O’Farrell had the sides level by sixteen minutes, before Kevin McCarthy eased them in front for the first time.

This was as near as Clonoulty would get for the remaining 45 minutes as Toome upped the intensity and got into a rhythm that Clonoulty found hard to contain.

Darragh McCarthy popped over two from placed balls before Jack Delaney doubled his tally. Adam Hall made it 0-9 to 0-4 with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Clonoulty rallied with a point from Mikey Ryan and a brace from Ferncombe, but it was Toomevara who finished the half on a high with points from Darren Delaney and Darragh McCarthy to lead 0-12 to 0-7.

From the restart, Toomevara took up where they left off and Jason O’Dwyer was called into action when he saved well from Kevin McCarthy.

Jack Delaney fired over his third before John O’Keeffe pulled one back on 33 minutes.

Darragh McCarthy continued to punish any indiscretions from placed balls and Adam Hall grew in stature as the game progressed, hitting two minors in a ninety-second spell, the second when he was first to a breaking ball having come back off the post.

Stephen Ferncombe continued to be Clonoulty’s main score-getter, bringing his tally to seven by the end of the third quarter as Jason O’Dwyer denied Adam Hall after Kevin McCarthy had put over his second point.

Toomevara had extended their advantage out to seven by the 54th minute with Clonoulty finding it difficult to breach their defence.

Cathal Bourke, Danny Slattery, and Enda Heffernan all found the target and had the deficit down to six with ten minutes remaining.

Toomevara stepped it up a gear during the final ten minutes with Josh McCarthy and Austin Duff adding to Clonoulty’s woes.

Kevin McCarthy hit his fourth on sixty minutes to put ten between the sides, 0-26 to 0-16.

Darragh McCarthy goaled in added time to add to his tally, before Stephen Ferncombe crashed home a twenty metre free with the last play of the game.

Toomevara are back in the hunt and their final group game against Kiladangan will be eagerly awaited.

Player of the Match: Adam Hall (Toomevara).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Joshua Powell (6), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Josh McCarthy (0-1, 7), Liam Ryan (8), Barry O’Connell (7), Conor O’Farrell (0-1, 7), Paul Ryan (0-1, 7), Mark McCarthy (6), Darren Delaney (0-1, 7), Jack Delaney (0-3, 8), Darragh McCarthy (1-8, 0-8f, 7), Kevin McCarthy (0-4, 9), Adam Hall (0-5, 9).

Subs: Jake Hackett (0-2, 8) for M McCarthy (38), Robbie Quirke (6) for D Delaney (44), Austin Duff (0-1, 7) for P Ryan (50), Colm Canning (NR) for J Delaney (57), Jack Ryan (NR) for J McCarthy (60).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (8); Tommy Ryan (6), Robert Doyle (6), Jimmy Ryan (6), John O’Keeffe (0-1, 7), Enda Heffernan (0-1, 7), Donnchadh Quirke (6), Ronan Heffernan (0-1, 7), Danny Slattery (0-1, 7), Stevie Quinn (6), Stephen Ferncombe (1-8f, 7), Jimmy Maher (6), Jack Ryan (6), Cathal Bourke (0-1, 6), Mikey Ryan (0-3, 8).

Subs: James Hammersley (6) for Maher (HT), Ciaran Quirke (6) for Quinn (HT), Nathan Slattery (6) for D Quirke (53).

Referee: Johnny Dooley (Thurles Gaels).