Toomevara dig deep to earn valuable point against Mullinahone

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 0-20

Toomevara 0-20

Report: Liam Hogan at Kickham Park, Dundrum

Trailing by three points with five minutes remaining, Toomevara used all their experience to earn a share of the spoils with CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in an exciting opening round game in group 4 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday evening.

In a game that was level ten times, Toomevara were always chasing with Mullinahone taking a three point lead on two occasions.

After Michael Dunne scored his twelfth point, the South men looked set to create an upset but their failure to close out the game in the closing minutes let Toome off the hook.

Mullinahone’s Sam Rowan was the pick of the players on view. Blessed with pace and style, the All-Ireland Under 20 winner is a future player with Tipp seniors.

Elsewhere, Daire O’Brien, the ageless Paul Curran, and Darragh Linnane did well in defence. Up front, Jack Shelly was a threat along with Sean Curran while much of the scoring depended on Michael Dunne who finished top scorer.

Playing second fiddle, Toome depended on the expertise of their backline where Liam Ryan, Seamus Farrell and Andrew Ryan kept a close eye on the opposition attack.

The half backline of Josh McCarthy, Conor O’Farrell and Jack Ryan caught the eye too while Barry O’Connell and Austin Duff worked hard in midfield behind an attack that depended much on Adam Hall and Patrick Hackett. Kevin McCarthy did well from frees but they certainly missed the services of Darragh McCarthy and Jack Delaney, both injured.

Mullinahone began sprightly as they took 0-5 to 0-2 lead after seven minutes with Rowan, Eoin O’Dwyer, and Shelly scoring one each while Michael Dunne provided the other two, with Kevin McCarthy and Paul Ryan on the scoresheet for Toome.

Playing into the breeze didn’t seem to affect Mullinahone. Toomevara needed to make better use of the elements. Josh McCarthy began the fightback with a point from half-way plus a good score by Adam Hall.

At the other end, Rory Brislane’s puckouts were not finding his men as Jack Shelly punished with a point. From the restart, Austin Duff was on target and seconds later Mark McCarthy supplied his trademark sideline-cut to level at 0-6 each after twelve minutes before Eoin Grace gave the Greyhounds the lead for the first time.

Toome lost Paul Ryan to injury before both teams exchanged the lead with Mullinahone regaining it through a Michael Dunne free closely followed by a Sam Rowan point from play. The lead didn’t last long with Kevin McCarthy’s equalising free made better by a Patrick Hackett lead score.

Mullinahone responded with a Dunne free as the next three minutes saw a battle of the free-takers as Kevin McCarthy responded with back to back placed balls before Dunne left the minimum between the teams in the 22nd minute.

Remarkably there was no more scoring until right on half time when Eoin O’Dwyer levelled matters at 0-11 each.

The competitive nature of the fare continued in the opening minutes of the second half with Michael Dunne’s free from distance matched by Conor O’Farrell from halfway.

Mullinahone went two clear after Sam Rowan and Sean Curran scored a point each. It didn’t take long for Toome to level with Kevin McCarthy scoring followed by a well-taken point by Jack Ryan from the left touchline.

Mullinahone keeper Brendan Kearney denied Adam Hall from close range but Toome were moving well to take a two point lead thanks to two Kevin McCarthy frees with Austin Duff involved.

Not to be outdone, Mullinahone’s Sean Curran led the way and they were back level through the accuracy of Michael Dunne frees, the latest pair playing part of five unanswered with seven minutes remaining.

Toome appeared to be trouble but experience is vital and Adam Hall led the way with a well-taken score. A Dunne 65 had Mullinahone three clear once more before Hall brought his tally to three, quickly followed by a Patrick Hackett score to leave the minimum between the teams.

Mullinahone fought hard to hold Toomevara out until Matthew Direen was penalised for overcarrying and Kevin McCarthy did the needful to earn Toome a share of the spoils.

Player of the Match: Sam Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney (6); Daire O’Brien (7), Paul Curran (7), Eoin Treacy (7); Eoin Fennelly (7), Darragh Linnane (7), Martin Kehoe (7); Colin Shelly (7), Sam Rowan (0-3, 8); Eanna Ryan (6), Sean Curran (0-1, 6), Enda Keane (6); Eoin O’Dwyer (0-2, 6), Jack Shelly (0-2, 7), Michael Dunne (Capt, 0-12, 10f, 1 ’65) 7).

Subs: Graham Horan (6) for Ryan (49); Matthew Direen (6) for Keane (55).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Liam Ryan (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Seamus O’Farrell (7); Josh McCarthy (0-1, 7), Conor O’Farrell (0-1, 7), Jack Ryan (0-1, 7); Barry O’Connell (7), Austin Duff (0-1, 7); Paul Ryan (0-1, 6), Kevin McCarthy (Capt, 0-8, 6f, 7), Patrick Hackett (0-2, 7); Eoin Grace (0-1, 6), Adam Hall (0-3, 7), Mark McCarthy (0-1, s-cut, 6).

Subs: Colm Canning (6) for P Ryan (13 inj); Robbie Quirke (6) for M McCarthy (44); Jack Delaney (6) for Canning (54), Cathal Frend (6) for J McCarthy (54).

Referee: Cian Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill).