Moycarkey Borris flare puts under-par Loughmore to the sword in Mid championship clash

Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Moycarkey Borris 4-25

Loughmore Castleiney 2-20

By Michael Dundon

An upset certainly, but not a major one, as Moycarkey Borris lowered the colours of holders Loughmore Castleiney in a most entertaining Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final at The Ragg on Saturday evening.

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County champions also, Loughmore Castleiney were most people’s fancy to advance to a mid-week semi-final clash with Sarsfields, but Moycarkey-Borris, building on last year's impressive campaign which saw them reach the last four in the county, have picked up where they left off, and will face off against the Sars full of well-founded confidence.

This was no flash-in-the-pan win. From the start, Moycarkey-Borris went about their business with an urgency and efficiency that their rivals lacked. Their eleven-point interval lead (2-14 to 0-9) was fully deserved, their second quarter performance in particular ripping Loughmore apart as they registered 2-8 to Loughmore’s  0-3, effectively putting the game beyond the champion’s reach.

Twelve points were shared in a lively opening thirteen minutes with Moycarkey making the running, and Loughmore, largely through John McGrath’s free-taking, playing catch-up. Moycarkey’s second quarter was as good as they have produced in a long time. 

Jack Hayes, Bill Flanagan, Rory Darmody and Eoghan Hayes were hugely influential. Jack Hayes bagged their first goal after seventeen minutes when he rounded his man to fire home for a 1-9 to 0-6 lead.

There was no let-up from Moycarkey. Kieran Morris landed three frees, Joe Maher pointed, and then Bill Flanagan netted off a Jack Hayes pass for a 2-13 to 0-6 lead. Nobody saw this coming, and at the break it was 2-14 to 0-9 in Moycarkey’s favour, leaving Loughmore with a mountain to climb on resuming.

Despite trailing by eleven points, nobody was writing Loughmore off. How often have they retrieved seemingly lost causes and three points on resuming to Moycarkey’s one suggested their recovery was underway. However, they were again breached for a Moycarkey goal after five minutes, Jack Hayes finishing smartly a three-man move, 3-15 to 0-12.

Once more, Loughmore went at them and had four points without reply, but yet again Moycarkey opened up their defence, Joe Maher setting up Bill Flanagan for Moycarkey’s fourth goal, all inside ten minutes of resuming.

True to their tradition, Loughmore did not die. Liam McGrath’s goal after 47 minutes left them 1-17 to 4-18 adrift, and Mossie McGrath followed with a second Loughmore goal after 51 minutes to leave them eight points behind (2-18 to 4-20). 

But Moycarkey were not wilting either, and they saw out the remainder in relative comfort, county goalie Rhys Shelly denying Loughmore a third goal when saving John McGrath’s penalty shot near the finish.

The result was greeted with understandable delight by Moycarkey supporters. Under the management of Kilkenny star Eddie Brennan, they have been making significant progress and this win over an albeit below-par Loughmore Castleiney gives a fair indication of Moycarkey’s standing. 

More will be known after the tussle with Sarsfields, but right now, everything is positive facing into the club championships.

On a night when they had heroes all round, Jack Hayes was a huge threat in attack, with Rory Darmody at midfield working his socks off. 

Joe Maher, Eoghan Hayes, and Peter Melbourne also caught the eye while Rhys Shelley’s penalty save, following on from that in the All-Ireland, reflects the confidence of the county custodian. Pat Molloy suffered an early injury, which is likely to keep him out of the semi-final.

If Loughmore Castleiney needed a wake-up call in advance of their opening game in the county championship against Drom & Inch, this was it, but no better boys to go away and get things right. 

Many of their lads seemed surprisingly flat and low on energy, but with a county title to defend, they can be expected to raise the bar considerably next time they are out.

As ever, John McGrath was the big threat in attack, with most play directed towards him, and though well-policed, he looked the one most likely to rescue them. They lost Eoin O Connell to an early injury, which didn’t help their cause, but Willie Eviston, Noel McGrath, Ciaran Connolly, and John Ryan battled gamely throughout.

Moycarkey Borris: Rhys Shelly; Kevin Hayes, Peter Melbourne, Tom Ryan; Tom Hayes, Eoghan Hayes (0-1), Pat Molloy; Kieran Cummins (0-1), Rory Darmody (0-3); Joe Maher (0-3), Bill Flanagan (2-3), Joe Egan (0-1); Jack Hayes (2-5), Kieran Morris (0-5f), David Costigan (0-2).

Subs used: Kyle Shelly (0-1f) for Molloy (18); Max Hackett for Morris (42); Jack Fallon for Costigan (51); Costigan for Ryan (59).

Loughmore Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston (0-1), Eoin O’Connell; Ed Meagher, Brian McGrath, John Ryan (0-1); Noel McGrath (0-3), Ciaran Connolly (0-1); Tommy Maher (0-1), Tomas McGrath (1-0), Ciaran McCormack (0-1); Liam McGrath (1-0), John McGrath (0-10, 0-7f), Ciaran McGrath.

Subs used: Ed Connolly (0-1) for O’Connell (20); Liam Treacy (0-1) for McCormack (40); Joey Hennessy for Maher (45).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)

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