Ruthless Holycross exact revenge on Cashel

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Holycross/Ballycahill 4-23

Cashel King Cormacs 2-17

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill)

SCORERS – Holycross/Ballycahill: Darragh Woods 0-13 (9 frees); Robbie Ryan 2-2; Eoin Craddock 1-3; Joe Caesar 1-1; Tiarnan Ryan 0-2; Mikey Nally, Luke O’Mara 0-1 each.

Cashel King Cormacs: Devon Ryan 0-8 (6 frees); Ross Bonnar 0-4; Cathal Quinn, Ronan Connolly 1-0 each; Eoin Connolly (1 s-cut), Ger Browne 0-2 each; Conor O’Dwyer 0-1.

Holycross/Ballycahill’s odds on winning the County Senior Hurling Championship will have greatly shortened following this twelve point demolition of Cashel King Cormacs in a one-sided quarter-final on Saturday.

Expectations were high in both camps in the lead up to this game. Cashel had over-turned a fancied Holycross side at under 19 level recently and the West lads were confident their seniors could do the same. Holycross were smarting after that defeat which scuppered their bid for a fourth county title in a row in the grade, so the stage was set for what promised to be a classic encounter.

Sadly, it did not materialise and in a disappointing confrontation, Holycross/Ballycahill were in control all the way, three first half goals putting paid to the west drive for a place in the last four.

Even before the goals, Holycross looked the sharper, more focussed side. Darragh Woods was in form with his free-taking as they moved 0-7 to 0-4 clear after ten minutes. A timely interception by Cathal O’Reilly set up Holycross’ first goal after twelve minutes, the defender feeding Tiarnan Ryan who in turn set up Robbie Ryan who finished smartly.

Four minutes later, Cashel goalie Aaron Browne was again picking the ball out of the net after Eoin Craddock kicked it home following good work by Tadhg Gould for a 2-7 to 0-5 lead.

Ross Bonnar was doing well in attack for Cashel with Devon Ryan accurate off frees and their ambitions were further fuelled by a sideline cut from Eoghan Connolly and also a free, but they suffered yet another setback in the 31st minute when Robbie Ryan punished sloppy defending with a third Holycross goal and an interval lead of 3-11 to 0-11.

Holycross/Ballycahill were cruising, Darragh Woods adding another point immediately on resuming. However, Cashel came to life, three Devon Ryan points and another from Ross Bonnar bringing them within six points of their rivals, 0-15 to 3-12.

Tiarnan Ryan and Joe Caesar points steadied things for Holycross and Cashel suffered a huge blow when Eoghan Connolly was red carded for a clumsy tackle in the 40th minute.

Three minutes later, their situation worsened, Robbie Ryan setting Joe Caesar up for Holycross’ fourth goal and a 4-15 to 0-16 lead. Five unanswered points for Holycross had them fifteen points ahead on 53 minutes when they lost Cathal Barrett to a second yellow card.

With both sides down to fourteen men, and Holycross/Ballycahill emptying their bench, Cashel had a Ronan Connolly goal after 54 minutes and another from Cathal Quinn four minutes later but there was never any real prospect of them catching their rivals who finished with a three-point flourish to set the seal on a good day’s work.

There was much to admire about Holycross/Ballycahill performance, and it will boost their young side’s confidence going into the semi-final, but it must be measured in the context of the below par showing by Cashel.

They are unlikely to be again afforded as much space and time on the ball as they got here. Clearly, from their tally here, they have the potential to run up big scores and the hard graft in defence closing down opponents is also impressive.

Darragh Woods had a man of the match performance with Robbie Ryan running him a close second, but all round the field they were excellent. County men Bryan O’Mara and Joe Caesar, with former county man Cathal Barrett, Eoin Craddock, Tadhg Gould, and Jim Ryan were others to produce eye-catching performances.

Cashel King Cormacs disappointment is understandable. With expectations high, they did not do themselves justice, but they will learn from this experience as they seek to recapture former glory in the topflight.

The loss of Eoghan Connolly just when they were building up a head of steam hurt them badly, and even though he was not as dominant as was expected, his absence was felt as Cashel sought to make up lost ground.

Ross Bonnar was their most effective attacker with Devon Ryan reliable on frees. Oisin O’Donoghue was kept on a tight rein all through. Ger Browne, Ronan Connolly, Cathal Quinn, Conor O’Dwyer, and sub Shane Neville were others to work hard to further the Cashel cause.

TEAMS – Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (6); Cathal O’Reilly (6), Cathal Barrett (7), Evan Morris (6); Tadhg Gould (7), Jim Ryan (7), Liam Doyle (6); Bryan O’Mara (7), Joe Caesar (7); Robbie Ryan (8), Eoin Craddock (7), Mikey Nally (6); Tiarnan Ryan (6), Darragh Woods (9), David Fogarty (6).

Subs: Jack Ryan (6) for Doyle (45); Luke O’Mara (6) for Fogarty (49); Jimmy Lahart (6) for Nally (51); Paraic Russell (6) for Caesar (54).

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne (6); Conn Bonnar (6), Nathan Ryan (6), Kieran O’Dwyer (6); James Cummins (6), Ronan Connolly (7), Conor O’Dwyer (7); Eoghan Connolly (6), Cathal Quinn (6); Devon Ryan (7), Ger Browne (7), Paddy Fahy (6); Ross Bonnar (7), Oisin O’Donoghue (6), David McGrath (6).

Subs: Shane Neville (7) for McGrath (36); Briain O’Donoghue (6) for Fahy (54); Adrian Cummins (6) for N Ryan (54).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).