Relegation means Moycarkey/Borris will play intermediate football in Tipperary next year

Rockwell Rovers 3-11 Moycarkey/Borris 1-3

Moycarkey/Borris dropped through the relegation trap door and will ply their trade in intermediate football for the 2024 season following their defeat by Rockwell Rovers in the senior relegation semi-final at Fethard on Saturday afternoon.

With both sides at near full strength this promised to be a tight contest, but in the end the west side held all the aces.

After earlier rain had cleared, conditions were reasonably okay by throw-in time. Rockwell, aided by the wind, set the pace from the off with Alan Moloney, TJ Ryan and Joe Lawrence in fine form.

The loss of Kevin Cleary (who was replaced by Pat Halley) to injury after 18 minutes didn’t have any adverse reaction to their game plan. They had the ability to attack at pace while Moycarkey’s slow build-up allowed them to get back and defend in numbers.

A goal from TJ Ryan after eleven minutes gave them a seven-point advantage and it was 23 minutes before the mid side raised their first flag, a goal from the ever-threatening Rhys Shelly. Rockwell went in at the break leading by six points, 1-7 to 1-1, having more or less dictated the opening half.

The third quarter was a dismal affair, a Kieran Cummins converted free for Moycarkey six minutes after the restart being the only score, while Paul Dempsey pulled off a great save from Pat Halley after 13 minutes.

Rockwell upped their game considerably for the final quarter and pushed on. TJ Ryan and Alan Moloney kicked some good points while Tom Tobin hit the net after 18 minutes following a move involving Joe Lawrence and Alan Moloney. Their third goal came from the boot of Liam Fahey in injury time, as they ran out easy winners.

Rockwell started this game in sprightly fashion and were three to the good after six minutes. Alan Moloney converted a placed ball after two, before Eoin Byrne kicked over from all of fifty metres for what was definitely the score of the game. TJ Ryan got in for his first score after stretching the defence with a jinking run.

Moycarkey were slow to get to the pitch of the game and with Paul Halley, Liam Lonergan and Liam Fahey on top of their game for the west side, their forwards failed to make any inroads.

Joe Lawrence put Rockwell four up after nine minutes before TJ Ryan goaled after the move of the match. Eoin Byrne started the move in defence before laying off to Kevin Cleary, who moved it quickly through Alan Moloney before Ryan steered it past Paul Dempsey. Two further points from Moloney, one from a free, gave Rockwell a commanding nine-point lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half.

Moycarkey eventually opened their account two minutes later when Rhys Shelly fired to the net after good work by Kieran Morris and James Dillon.

Jack Fallon followed up with a point but the expected comeback never materialised. Eoin Byrne finished the first half scoring in injury time when he kicked his second point of the afternoon to put Rockwell six up at the break, 1-7 to 1-1.

Moycarkey, who had the aid of the wind for the second period, needed a good start after the break, but found the Rockwell defence hard to penetrate. Rhys Shelly was causing problems, but they failed to make inroads into the six-point margin.

Kieran Cummins put over a free six minutes after the restart but overall they found scores hard to come by, as Rockwell sat back. Pat Halley got through on goal for Rockwell in what was their only real attack of the third quarter, but Paul Dempsey was alert and saved at the expense of a 45.

The final quarter was all Rockwell. Tom Tobin finished a good build-up from Alan Moloney through Joe Lawrence for their second major. Lawrence and TJ Ryan kicked two good points, Tom Ryan was on the mark for Moycarkey before Liam Fahey had the final say when he goaled in injury time, giving the west side a comfortable victory.

Rockwell will now meet west rivals Arravale Rovers in the relegation final, with the loser dropping down to intermediate for 2024 and leaving only one senior club in the west division.

Rockwell Rovers: Eoghan Doyle, Paul Halley, Robert O’Donnell, Liam Lonergan, Kevin Cleary, Liam Fahey (1-0), Jack O’Kelly, Eoin Shine, Tom Tobin (1-0), Aidan Barron, Joe Lawrence (0-2), Luca Fitzgerald, Eoin Byrne (0-2), Alan Moloney (captain 0-4, 3 frees), TJ Ryan (1-3, 0-1 free).

Subs: Pat Halley for Kevin Cleary (18 mins), Kieran McGovern for Eoin Shine (50 mins), Peter Heaney for Aidan Barron (52 mins), Willie Flynn for Eoin Byrne (55 mins), Diarmuid O’Brien for Jack O’Kelly (55 mins).

Moycarkey/Borris: Paul Dempsey, Bill Maher, Tom Hayes, Liam Hayes, Kevin Moran, Peter Melbourne, Kieran Cummins (0-1), Eoghan Hayes, Rory Ryan (captain), Jack Fallon (0-1), Conor Hayes, James Dillon, Kieran Morris, Rhys Shelly (1-0), Liam Corcoran.

Subs: Stephen Walsh for James Dillon (HT), Tom Ryan (0-1) for Conor Hayes (HT), Darren Flood for Jack Fallon (51 mins), Liam McDonagh for Peter Melbourne (55 mins), Sean Hayes for Bill Maher (58 mins).

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule).