Clonoulty secure morale-boosting victory over Holycross

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 3

Clonoulty/Rossmore 4-19

Holycross/Ballycahill 2-21

Report: Noel Dundon in Boherlahan

The clash of neighbours in the final group 1 game of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday saw Clonoulty/Rossmore record their first win of the campaign, and Holycross/Ballycahill their first loss in a game which ebbed and flowed throughout.

The West side dictated the play for the lion's share and though both teams were already through to the next phase – Clonoulty/Rossmore courtesy of their West victory, and Holycross/Ballycahill having already topped the group – the exchanges were still very brisk with more than just bragging rights at stake it appeared.

The Mid men started without at least five regulars due to injury and also having an eye on the mid-week county under 19 semi-final, but even allowing for that their play had a much flatter appearance to it than we had seen heretofore.

Credit must go to the West men for this as they didn’t give their opponents an inch and the influence of Cathal Bourke and Jack Ryan in attack, coupled with Stephen Ferncombe’s accuracy were big factors in their success.

Three first half goals from Cathal Bourke in the 18th minute, Stephen Ferncombe three minutes later, and Ciaran Quirke in the 26th minute set Clonoulty/Rossmore up for victory – the Holycross defence torn apart on more occasions but they somehow managed to be breached only three times and went in 3-8 to 0-9 in arrears at the break – Ferncombe adding four points for Clonoulty to go along with Stephen Quinn, Nathan Slattery, Jamie Davern and Cathal Bourke efforts.

They also had eleven wides and struck the woodwork on three occasions, so, when tallied for the half they struck for goal 25 times, giving a clear indication of their level of dominance even allowing for the breeze they had benefiting them.

For their part, Holycross were taking on water, but they had six points from Darragh Woods and one apiece from Liam Doyle, David Fogarty and James Doyle to keep them somewhat in touch.

And, when they fired over the first two scores of the second half from Woods frees to cut the deficit to six points, the feeling was that they could stage a comeback.

This feeling was enhanced when Jimmie Lahart goaled in the 35th minute, just after Jack Ryan and Eoin Craddock had traded points. Lahart’s goal left three in it, but each time Holycross got close, Clonoulty managed to pull clear again with Jack Ryan proving a real ball winner, and Cathal Bourke a score grabber.

By the end of the third quarter, Clonoulty had added further points from Stephen Ferncombe (2), Cathal Bourke (3) and Jack Ryan - the gap out to four points – Jimmie Lahart, Woods (2), Eoin Craddock and sub Robbie Ryan pointing for Holycross.

Robbie Ryan had another for Holycross but a long range Stephen Ferncombe free in the 51st minute went all the way to the net off keeper Ewan Bourke to give the West men a real boost. They were now six clear and they extended that with Ferncombe and Cathal Bourke trading with a Padraic Russell score.

A Joe Caesar goal for Holycross in the 58th minute suggested there could be a grandstand finish and when Woods and Lahart pointed to leave two in it, Clonoulty supporters began to get edgy. They need not have worried though as Stephen Ferncombe and Michael Ryan saw the victory out with injury time scores to secure a morale-boosting victory.

Conceding 4-19 will worry Holycross/Ballycahill but they will be happy with the way they battled the game out even though they were already qualified.

For Clonoulty/Rossmore, the victory means they enter the preliminary quarter finals with a good behind them – a big boost to their confidence as they advance to the concluding stages with fine showings from Cathal Bourke, Jack Ryan, Stephen Ferncombe, Enda Heffernan and Robert Doyle.

Player of the Match: Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (7); Donnachadh Quirke (6), Robert Doyle (7), Danny Slattery (6), Jamie Davern (0-1, 7), Enda Heffernan (7), Stephen Quinn (0-1, 7), Ronan Heffernan (8), Nathan Slattery (0-1, 7), Stephen Ferncombe (2-8, 1-7f, 7), Ciaran Quirke (1-0, 7), Jimmy Maher (6), Jack Ryan (0-2, 8), Cathal Bourke (1-5, 9), Michael Ryan (0-1, 7).

Subs: Padraig Carew (6) for R Heffernan (53); Alex Carroll (NR) for Quinn (57); Sean O’Connor (NR) for D Quirke (64 Mins).

Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (6); Cathal O’Reilly (6), Cathal Barrett (7), Jack Ryan (6), Tadgh Gould (7), Joe Caesar (1-0, 7), Liam Doyle (0-1, 7), Paraic Russell (0-1, 6), James Doyle (0-1, 6), Luke O’Mara (6), Eoin Craddock (0-2, 7), David Fogarty (0-1, 7), Darragh Woods (0-11, 10f, 8), Mikey Nally (7), Jimmie Lahart (1-2, 7).

Subs: Robbie Ryan (0-2, 8) for J Doyle (42); Evan Morris (6) for Fogarty (42); Tiernan Ryan (6) for O’Mara (47).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)