Toome withstand Holycross rally

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Toomevara 2-20

Holycross/Ballycahill 2-15

Report: James Hayden in Semple Stadium

Toomevara staved off a late Holycross/Ballycahill rally to capture the spoils following an absorbing County Senior Hurling Championship Group 3 opener on Saturday.

Both sides were not without their injury woes coming into this encounter but the loss of Tipperary’s Bryan O’Mara with a suspected broken arm proved a huge blow to John Ferncombe’s preparations while the influential Kenny Ryan had to be content with a cameo from the Toomevara bench as he makes his way back to full fitness.

In the finish it was the impact of Toomevara's bench which ultimately proved pivotal in securing a hard-earned five-point victory for Eoin Brislane's side.

Holycross/Ballycahill started brightly with a well-struck Cathal Barrett point from range after just 20 seconds, but Toomevara appeared the slicker side in the opening exchanges and deservedly led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes following efforts from the impressive Colm Canning, Jack Delaney, and Mark McCarthy (free).

Toomevara maintained that dominance with Willie Coffey adding a fourth and Jack Delaney adding further to his tally to ensure the ‘Greyhounds’ led 0-5 to 0-3 at the water break. However, Jack Delaney’s missed penalty after ten minutes hampered their efforts somewhat after Jack Ryan pulled down Mark McCarthy as he surged towards goal.

Holycross rejigged their attack with Darragh Woods switching to centre-forward in a bid to jolt their attack into gear, but Toome’s impressive defence held fast, particularly the inside line of Josh McCarthy, Andrew Ryan, and Jake Ryan. Stephen Flanagan added a fourth Holycross point on 29 minutes, but Toomevara came on strong in the closing stages with Robbie Quirke and Josh McCarthy both on target before an injury time goal from the evergreen David Young gifted Toome’ a fully deserved 1-8 to 0-5 interval lead.

Indeed, Toomevara could and should have been further ahead with a number of missed goal opportunities going abegging, and that coupled with five wides meant they only led by six at the break.

Holycross/Ballycahill emerged determined to claw back the deficit, but it was Toomevara who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Colm Canning landed a fantastic long-range effort on 33 minutes after Willie Coffey saw his effort ricochet off the upright. Jack Delaney extended Toomevara’s lead further before Canning added his third of the day. Toome’ were cruising now and really cemented their advantage when Darren Delaney netted with a sublime left-handed strike on 36 minutes.

With a yawning nine-point advantage there seemed only one winner at this juncture, but Holycross are nothing if not resilient and back they came with two quick-fire goals, the first a first-timed effort from Mikey Nally and the second a sweet Aidan Stakelum strike from close-range. Additional points from Cathal Barrett (free) and Pauric Russell left just four between the sides, 2-11 to 2-7, with 43 minutes elapsed before a Mark McCarthy free steadied Toomevara’s nerves.

Captain Jason Ryan and Paul Ryan fired over two badly needed Toome’ points as the water break approached but a Stephen Flanagan effort just before the pause in play left just five points between the sides with the final quarter to come, 2-14 to 2-9.

Credit to Holycross they kept plugging away with points from Cathal Barrett and Shane Ryan edging them to within touching distance of Toome’ before a brace of points from the impressive substitute, Conor O’Meara opened the gap once again.

Holycross kept pushing hard though in the closing stages and reduced the gap to just two in the 61st minute with an absolutely magical Stephen Flanagan effort. Toome’s response was immediate and decisive with Mark McCarthy (free) converting from close-range before substitute, Paul Ryan effectively killed off Holycross with successive points. Holycross went in search of late goals, but it wasn’t to be with a booming Josh McCarthy point putting the final nail in the coffin of a battling Holycross side.

Player of the Match: Josh McCarthy (Toomevara)

Toomevara: Robert Delaney (7), Josh McCarthy (0-2, 8), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Colm Canning (0-3, 8), Liam Ryan (7), Jason Ryan (0-1, 7); Russell Quirke (7), Robbie Quirke (7); William Coffey (0-1, 7), Darren Delaney (1-0, 7), Mark McCarthy (0-4 (2f, 1 65) 7); Jack Delaney (0-3, 7), David Young (1-0, 7), Alan Ryan (7).

Subs: Paul Ryan (0-3, 7) for Delaney (37); Conor O’Meara (0-2, 7) for Russell Quirke (45); Kenny Ryan (7) for Young (49); Shane Nolan (6) for Coffey (55).

Holycross/Ballycahill: Dinny Ferncombe (7), Gavin Dunne (7), Philip Fogarty (7), Jack Ryan (7); Michael Doyle (0-1, 7), Joe Caesar (0-1, 7), Conor Ryan (7); Jimmy Ryan (7), Raymie Nally (7); Jamie Woods (7), Cathal Barrett (0-3, 1f) 8), Pauric Russell (0-2, 7); Darragh Woods (0-4, 3f) 7), Mikey Nally (1-0, 7), Stephen Flanagan (0-3, 8).

Subs: Aidan Stakelum (1-0, 7) for Fogarty (HT); Raymie Nally (6) for C Ryan; Shane Ryan (0-1, 6) for J Woods (39); Eoin Morris (6) for M Nally (49).

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers).