Toome are no match for strong Holycross

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling League Division 4 Final

Holycross/Ballycahill 5-16

Toomevara 1-8

Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Jack Dwan (Holycross/Ballycahill)

SCORERS – Holycross/Ballycahill: Jack Dwan 2-6 (0-4 frees); Tony Maher 2-1; Audie Lohan 1-3; Shane Ryan 0-2; James Doyle, Stevie Flanagan, Stephen Quinlan, Jamie Woods 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Bob Delaney 0-5 (4 frees); Liam Hackett 1-1; Tim Flaherty, Eoin Grace 0-1 each.

The concession of three goals in the opening thirteen minutes scuppered Toomevara’s chances of success against a very strong Holycross/Ballycahill side in the County Hurling League Division 4 final on Friday evening.

Holycross’ line-out included a generous sprinkling of players with senior experience and that quality showed as they ripped through The Greyhounds in the opening quarter.

They hit five points in six minutes to go 0-5 to 0-1 clear, Bob Delaney registering the Toome response, but disaster struck in the ninth minute as Jack Dwan careered trough the defence to belt home Holycross’ first goal.

Bob Delaney again pointed for Toome but in the twelfth minute Dwan was again their tormentor notching his second goal and a minute later Tony Maher netted Holycross’ third.

Trailing 0-2 to 3-5, and struggling to match the pace and movement of their opponents, Toome’s race looked over and things got even worse before the break when Audie Lohan was set up by Luke O’Mara for Holycross’ fourth goal on route to a half-time lead of 4-8 to 0-6.

Unless Toome produced something special in the second half, there was going to be only one result so superior were the Mid lads in most departments.

Things didn’t change, however. Toome did not have another gear and inside a minute of resuming they shipped their fifth goal, Tony Maher raising his second green flag, a score that reduced the remainder of the game to a scrappy affair just playing time out.

To their credit, Toome never dropped their heads and kept plugging away. A Liam Hackett goal after 38 minutes raised hopes but they were unable to build on it and in the remaining period Holycross stayed dominant, outscoring their rivals 0-6 to 0-1 for a most comprehensive victory.

A third trophy for Holycross/Ballycahill so early in the year reflects the strength in depth of the club’s talent, with the Cahill Cup Mid senior hurling and the Mid junior league titles also in the bag. This group of players would not have been out of place in a higher division and will backbone their intermediate team in the upcoming championship. Their challenge will be to keep the group together and not to lose some to senior ranks which is a distinct possibility.

In Jack Dwan they had the man of the match. He scored 2-3 from play, and his pace, strength, and confidence in front of goal was a constant headache for Toome. Not far behind was another senior, Tony Maher who bagged 2-1 from play with Audie Lohan, also of senior experience, hitting 1-3. They were the shining lights but Jack Ryan, Kieran O’Dwyer, Jamie Woods, James Doyle and Shane Ryan also contributed handsomely to this success.

Toomevara will be understandably disappointed at such a heavy defeat but they will have gained much from their league campaign as they face into the coming north and county junior championships. They had a number of absentees whose return will bolster their challenge. They need to put this setback behind them and look forward to better days ahead.

Bob Delaney was their main threat in attack. Niall O’Farrell, Jack Ryan, Liam Hackett and Dan Farrell worked hard for them while Rory Brislane in goal could do nothing about the shots that beat him.

TEAMS – Holycross/Ballycahill: James O’Dwyer (6); Seanie McGrath (6), Jack Ryan (7), Jack Lahart (6); Kieran O’Dwyer (7), Eoin Morris (6), Shane Ryan (7); Jamie Woods (7), James Doyle (7); Luke O’Mara (6), Jack Dwan (9), Stevie Flanagan (6); Audie Lohan (7), Tony Maher (7), Sean Ryan (6).

Subs: Stephen Quinlan (6) for O’Mara (28 inj); Jake Galvin (6) for Morris (43); Paul Briody (6) for Sean Ryan (43); Eddie O’Gorman for Dwyer (52).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Cathal Frend (6), Cian Ryan (6), Ciaran Grace (6); Niall O’Farrell (7), Darragh Spillane (6), Jack Ryan (CN 7); Eoin Grace (6), Cormac Frend (6); James Meagher (6), Liam Hackett (7), David O’Brien (6); Dan Farrell (7), Bob Delaney (7), Tim Flaherty (6).

Subs: Jack Ryan (ST 6) for C Grace (36), Jack Doran (6) for O’Brien (37); David Young (6) for O’Farrell (37); Jack Hogan (5) for Cormac Frend (48); Alex Ryan (6) for Meagher (51).

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