Toomevara reach the last eight of Tipperary's County Senior Hurling Championship

Toomevara 1-22 Moycarkey/Borris 0-24

Moycarkey/Borris will have to wait until round three at least to claim their first championship victory of the season, with their latest bid ending in a heartbreaking one-point defeat by Toomevara following a very entertaining encounter played at The Ragg last Friday evening.

Having gained a point in their first round clash with Roscrea, this was the game that Moycarkey wanted to win, with Eddie Brennan’s charges hoping to capitalise of their recent success at underage.

However, they received a strong kickback from a determined Toomevara side that had 1-2 on the board after ninety seconds before Moycarkey realised where they were in a game.

Toomevara’s Darragh McCarthy was the goal scorer and he went on to play a man of the match performance when securing 1-7, including 1-4 from play, while five of the starting forwards scored for Toome, plus Robbie Quirke and Jack Ryan at wing back.

Moycarkey fell five points in arrears on six occasions during that first half, with Toomevara picking off the points.

Those scores don’t just suddenly appear out of thin air, and the supply from the Toomevara defence was up to the mark, with Josh McCarthy making inroads at centre back while Jake Ryan, Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan and Seamus Farrell were always on hand in front of an alert Rory Brislane in goal.

Jake Ryan played well also and almost scored a goal in the 23rd minute but Rhys Shelly made a great save. Toomevara led 1-10 to 0-9 at the time, with the Moycarkey total coming from Jack Fallon, twice, along with Kieran Cummins, Liam Corcoran, Kyle Shelly and Niall Heffernan.

Indeed, Moycarkey might have been at least level but for eight first half wides.

Rhys Shelly’s ninety metre free in the 25th minute brought Moycarkey to within three of the leaders for the fifth time in the half at 1-10 to 0-10.

However, Toome’s ability to pick off long range points was a delight and Jack Ryan plus Robbie Quirke increased the Greyhounds’ lead to five once again.

Niall Heffernan reduced the margin to four but it was soon back to five when Darragh McCarthy scored a splendid point from the left wing before Kieran Morris pointed his fourth free in added time to make it Toomevara 1-13 Moycarkey Borris 0-12 at the break.

Another splendid point by Darragh McCarthy came 27 seconds into the new half. Both Kieran Morris and Shane Nolan swapped frees before Moycarkey’s dependence on Kieran Morris kept them in the hunt with three unanswered frees to leave his side two in arrears 1-15 to 0-16 after 37 minutes.

However, Darragh McCarthy was Toome’s main man.

He carried a hand injury into the game but it didn’t impair him and after he won a free it was left to Shane Nolan to take over as he moved Toome three clear.

Yet, Moycarkey fought back as points from Joe Maher and Max Hackett kept them close.

Toome replied with four unanswered points in the guise of two Jack Delaney scores either side of a Shane Nolan 65 before Darragh McCarthy scored another to see his team five clear with 13 minutes remaining.

Suddenly things changed as Moycarkey/Borris took up the baton with three unanswered frees by Morris, each from different distances.

David Nolan’s free eased Toome’s worries but the margin was back to two when Kieran Morris pointed an angled free, quickly followed by a 65.

Thirty seconds from time, Toome rescued their two-point advantage after Darragh McCarthy scored once more but one last Moycarkey attack yielded a close-in free.

Up stepped Rhys Shelly but his powerful shot was saved for a 65, which Morris scored.

Toomevara are now through to the quarter-finals and they will be joined by either Moycarkey or Roscrea.

Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly 0-1 (free); Rory Darmody, Tom Ryan, Kevin Hayes; Rory Ryan, Eoghan Hayes, Tom Hayes (captain); Rory O’Regan, Kieran Cummins 0-1; Niall Heffernan 0-2, Kyle Shelly 0-2, Joe Maher 0-1; Kieran Morris 0-13 (0-11 frees, 0-2 ’65s), Liam Corcoran 0-1, Joe Egan.

Subs: Jack Fallon 0-2 for Egan (3); Max Hackett 0-1 for O’Regan (23); Pat Ralph for Corcoran (47); Pat Molloy for Hackett (55).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O’Farrell; Jake Ryan, Josh McCarthy, Jack Ryan 0-2; Robbie Quirke 0-2, Darren Delaney; Jack Delaney 0-3, Kevin McCarthy 0-1, David Nolan 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ’65); Darragh McCarthy 1-7 (0-3 frees), Colm Canning, Shane Nolan 0-2.

Subs: Mark McCarthy for D Nolan (38); Joey McLoughney for Canning (45); Adam Hall for D Delaney (56); Sean Flaherty for S Nolan (59).

Referee: Michael Kennedy, Newcastle.