Roscrea annihilate Templederry Kenyons to secure senior hurling for 2025

FBD Insurance Tipperary SHC Relegation Semi-Final

Roscrea 5-22 

Templederry Kenyons 2-15 

By James Hayden 

Roscrea hit five goals to consign Templederry Kenyons to a relegation final shootout following a decidedly one-sided Tipperary SHC relegation semi-final encounter at a breezy MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Saturday afternoon last.

Roscrea have really struggled to put together any semblance of real form this year but on this occasion, they mustered the necessary wherewithal to stave off the possibility of dropping to the Premier Intermediate grade with a convincing 16-point victory over a depleted Templederry side.

Despite playing into the teeth of a strong wind an impressive Roscrea outfit really hit the ground running with four early points on the bounce from Dan Ryan, Kenny Lee, Alan Tynan and Evan Fitzpatrick before Templederry hit back with a Colm Murray free followed by a seventh minute goal from the mercurial Sean Ryan after an incisive Timmy Crowe delivery.

Arguably Templederry’s goal did come against the run of play as they struggled noticeably to reach the pitch of the game in the opening quarter but they refused to allow Roscrea take a grip of the game with points from Padraig O’Leary and Eanna Murray bringing the Kenyons to within two points by the 19th minute.

Gearóid Ryan, who went into the encounter nursing a hamstring injury, brought Templederry to within one with a sublime 23rd minute effort but it was the closest the Kenyons were to get to Roscrea after Shane Fletcher responded for Ros’ with a sweetly struck point from range, 0-9 to 1-4.

Roscrea raided again minutes later and Fletcher was involved once more with the Roscrea centre forward setting up Alan Tynan for Roscrea’s opening goal of the game in the 26th minute. 

Conor Dooley and Alan Tynan added two further points for Liam England’s charges to put seven bewteen the sides before a brace from Seán Ryan coupled with a Colm Murray pointed free cut the deficit to just four points as the interval approached.

An injury time Colm Murray free narrowed the gap to three before Luke Cashin and Gearóid Ryan exchanged points deep in time added on to see Roscrea take a deserved three-point lead to the dressing room at the break, 1-12 to 1-9.

Roscrea quickly built upon their interval lead with two early efforts from man of the match, Alan Tynan before Leigh Loughnane netted in the 33rd minute after following up on Tim McCutcheon’s parried save from a low Evan Fitzpatrick shot. McCutcheon, who was excellent between the sticks for the Kenyons was called into action again minutes later with an excellent full length save denying Conor Dooley a third Roscrea goal.

Roscrea continued to turn the screw though with Alan Tynan knifing over two points on the bounce as Templederry struggled to contain Roscrea’s dominant attack. Evan Fitzpatrick, who hit five from play on the day, arrowed over a well-struck point on 40 minutes before Tynan struck for Roscrea’s third goal with a cracking finish just seconds later to put Ros’ well and truly in the driving seat.

Templederry, who played second fiddle throughout, battled gamely to hang onto Roscrea’s coat tails but Ros' were by now cutting the tiring Templederry defence open at will and two further goals from substitute Sam Dooley well and truly put the game to bed in the closing stages. 

Templederry substitute Michael Hayes did net a consolation three-pointer for the Kenyons late on but it merely served to put a glossier look on the scoreboard as Roscrea ran out convincing winners over a Templederry side were without the services of Brian Stapleton, Adrian Ryan and Odhran Murphy.

Roscrea had fine performances from Alan Tynan, Darragh Tynan, Dan Ryan, Luke Cashin, Evan Fitzpatrick, Kenny Lee, Darren O’Connor and Shane Fletcher while Tim McCutcheon, Seán Ryan, Gearóid Ryan, Mikie Ryan, Padraic O’Leary and Colm Murray were to the fore for Templederry. 

Roscrea: Enda Moloney; Luke Seacy, Darren O’Connor, Shane Davis; Dan Ryan, Darragh Tynan (0-1), Conor Sheedy; Kenny Lee (0-2), Adrian Booth; Alan Tynan (1-6), Shane Fletcher (0-2), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-5); Luke Cashin (0-5, 0-4f), Conor Dooley (0-1), Leigh Loughnane (1-0).

Subs used: Sam Dooley (2-0) for Loughnane (47); Conor Booth (0-1) for Dooley (54); Conor Phelan for Sheedy (54); Owen Tynan for A Booth (57).

Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon; Liam McCutcheon, Christy Coughlan, Dale Donnelly; Pio Kennedy, Mikie Ryan, Tom Stapleton; Cillian Kennedy, Colm Murray (0-4f); Eanna Murray (0-1), Gearóid Ryan (0-3), Darragh Carey; Seán Ryan (1-4), Timmy Crowe, Sean Collins.

Subs used: Padraic O’Leary (0-2) for McCutcheon (8, inj); Padraig Hogan for Kennedy (47); Conor Looby (0-1) for Crowe (47); Paidi Ryan for G Ryan (50); Michael Hayes (1-0) for O’Leary (57).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)