Luckless Roscrea exit as Drom strike late

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 3

Drom & Inch 1-23

Roscrea 1-22

Report: Liam Hogan at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Tony Cahill’s goal in the 59th minute proved key to help Drom & Inch secure a precious victory over a luckless Roscrea in an exciting County Senior Hurling Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.

Cahill’s goal levelled the game, sparking a dramatic climax in which Paudie Kinnane moved Drom in front with a point. Quick as a flash, Dan Ryan levelled before Cormac Fitzpatrick’s winner ensured victory for the Mid side.

The conclusion was in contrast to a cagey game with much of the play between both 45-metre lines. For all that, there were some brilliant long range scores.

Goal chances were at a premium bar Eoin Collins doing well to deny Shane Fletcher in the 15th minute while at the other end, Seamus Callanan spurned a half chance in the 52nd minute.

Both Callanan and Fletcher dominated the scoring in a game that had twenty players contributing, eleven to Drom though Roscrea will rue sixteen wides as opposed to eight for Drom as the diagonal breeze was no aid to either team.

Luke Cashin’s opening score from a free in the first minute was quickly overturned as Drom went two in front by the sixth after John Campion, Seamus Callanan and Robbie Long each bisected the posts.

Shane Fletcher narrowed the gap with a well-taken score on the wing but Cormac Fitzpatrick had Drom two in front by the tenth minute. A three point run saw Roscrea take the lead as Fletcher’s free was quickly supported by long distant scores by Dan Ryan and Conor Sheedy.

Two Callanan points had Drom in front but a busy Darragh Tynan levelled at 0-6 each from long range after fifteen minutes.

Between the 16th & 24th minutes, helped by promptings of Podge Campion and Robbie Long in defence, Drom moved up a gear outscoring Roscrea 0-5 to 0-1 as long range points were the currency through Johnny Ryan, Callanan, David Collins, Fintan Purcell plus the hard working John Campion. Shane Fletcher’s spectacular from the right wing briefly interrupting the sequence.

But Roscrea responded well as Fletcher continued his good run from frees before Leigh Loughnane levelled leaving the final minutes of the half for Callanan and Fletcher to trade frees making it 0-12 each at half time.

Callanan’s free from halfway had Drom back in front inside a minute of the restart but Conor Dooley levelled in the 33rd minute. The resulting puckout went horribly wrong for Drom and Shane Fletcher intercepted and played in Jack Lee through for a goal. Seconds later, Luke Cashin’s 95-metre free had Roscrea four in front.

However, Drom wasted no time in erasing the deficit as Maidhc Fitzpatrick, Callanan (free) plus Robbie Long from a position foreign to his half back position had the margin back to one.

Fletcher doubled Roscrea’s lead with a free which was brought closer to goal because of dissent before points by Lorcan Campion and Callanan (free) had matters level 1-15 to 0-18 in the 42nd minute.

The sides went toe to toe over the next ten minutes with Roscrea taking the lead three times through Leigh Loughnane, Fletcher (free) and Conor Dooley only for Callanan (free), John Campion and Robbie Long to equalise each time.

Roscrea suddenly raised a gallop as they opened a three point advantage thanks to another Luke Cashin long range free before Kenny Lee plus another Shane Fletcher free put them in the driving seat four minutes from time.

Drom looked in trouble but they rallied and out of nothing a move up the left wing saw Cormac Fitzpatrick deliver a well placed ball across the goalmouth where Tony Cahill ran in from the blindside to expertly direct the ball to the net and set them on their way to victory.

Player of the Match: Robbie Long (Drom & Inch).

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (7); Eoghan Kennedy (6), Kevin Hassett (6), Conor Gleeson (6); Fintan Purcell (0-1, 7), Robbie Long (0-3, 8), Lorcan Campion (0-1, 7); Podge Campion (7), John Campion (0-3, 7); Maidhc Fitzpatrick (0-1, 7), Johnny Ryan (0-1, 7), Tony Cahill (1-0, 6); Seamus Callanan (0-9, 6f, 7), David Collins (0-1, 6), Cormac Fitzpatrick (0-2, 6).

Subs: Jamie Moloney (6) for Collins (HT); Paudie Kinnane (0-1, 7) for Ryan (49).

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7); Conor Booth (6), Michael Campion (6), Aidan Booth (6); Darragh Tynan (0-1, 7), Conor Phelan (7), Conor Sheedy (0-1, 7); Alan Tynan (7), Dan Ryan (0-2, 7); Leigh Loughnane (0-2, 7), Evan Fitzpatrick (6), Luke Cashin (0-3f, 6); Shane Fletcher (0-10, 6f, 8), Conor Dooley (0-2, 6), Jack Lee (1-0, 6).

Subs: Kenny Lee (0-1, 6) for Loughnane (3-5 blood) for Fitzpatrick (50); Glenn Loughnane (6) for C Booth (47).

Referee: Shane O’Neill (St Mary’s).