Toomevara find their feet with a comprehensive round 2 win over Clonoulty Rossmore

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Round 2 - Group 1

Toomevara 1-27  

Clonoulty Rossmore 1-16

By John O’Shea 

Toomevara, last year’s beaten finalists, got their season back on track with a comprehensive 11-point victory over West champions Clonoulty Rossmore in the FBD Insurance Group 1, Round 2 senior hurling championship at the Ragg on Sunday afternoon.

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Following both sides' opening round losses, a victory here was imperative, not only to stay in the championship but also to avoid the relegation zone. Clonoulty Rossmore got the better start, but were unable to find the net or transfer possession onto the scoreboard.  Toomevara were under pressure for the opening quarter, but for the remainder of the game were in total control. 

They trailed by two points after fourteen minutes but were back on level terms two minutes later while hitting seven unanswered points in a ten-minute spell. While Clonoulty came back into the game for the final five minutes of the half, sharing six points, they never looked like causing an upset as they trailed by five at the break.

After the restart, Jason O’Dwyer kept them in the game with a save from Kevin McCarthy as they shared six points in the opening ten minutes. Toomevara had stretched their lead out to eight by the end of the third quarter, and it could have been more, but for another Jason O’Dwyer save, this time from player of the match, Adam Hall. 

Over the final six minutes plus added time, they hit 1-6 to 1-0, the Clonoulty goal coming three minutes into added time from a Stephen Ferncombe free. 

The West side now faces an uphill battle to steer clear of the relegation zone, but are guaranteed a preliminary quarter-final spot, as West champions.

Clonoulty Rossmore attacked the far end in the opening half and drew a free with their first attack. Stephen elected to go low but was saved and cleared. 

Two converted frees from Ferncombe inside the opening five minutes got the scoreboard moving. Paul Ryan opened Toomevara’s account six minutes before a good Clonoulty move out of defence finished with Mikey Ryan (Winnie) finding his range.  

Darragh McCarthy had to wait until the thirteenth minute to register his opening score, having been off target from a long effort early on. 

Ronan Heffernan made it 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of the West men before Toomevara hit a purple patch, hitting seven points over ten minutes, with five from open play. 

One each from Jack Delaney and Conor O’Farrell had the sides level by 16 minutes, before Kevin McCarthy eased them in front for the first time in the game.

This was as near as Clonoulty would get for the remaining 45 minutes, as Toome upped the intensity and got into a rhythm that Clonoulty found hard to contain. Darragh McCarthy popped over two from placed balls before Jack Delaney doubled his tally. 

Adam Hall made it 0-9 to 0-4 with six minutes of normal time remaining. Clonoulty rallied with a point from Mikey Ryan (Winnie) and a brace from Ferncombe, but it was Toomevara who finished the half on a high with points from Darren Delaney and Darragh McCarthy. Half-time score, Toomevara 0-12, Clonoulty Rossmore 0-7.

From the restart, Toomevara took up where they left off, and Jason O’Dwyer was called into action early on when he saved well from Kevin McCarthy. Jack Delaney fired over his third of the day, before John O’Keeffe pulled one back on 33 minutes. Darragh McCarthy continued to punish any indiscretions from placed balls, and Adam Hall grew in stature as the game progressed, hitting two minors in 90 seconds, the second when he was first to a breaking ball, having come back off the post. 

Stephen Ferncombe continued to be Clonoulty’s main score getter, bringing his tally to seven by the end of the third quarter. Jason O’Dwyer denied Adam Hall after Kevin McCarthy had put over his second. 

Toomevara had extended their advantage out to seven by the 45th minute, with Clonoulty finding it difficult to breach their defence. Cathal Bourke, Danny Slattery, and Enda Heffernan all found the target and had the deficit down to six with ten minutes remaining.  

Toomevara stepped it up a gear during the final ten minutes, with Josh McCarthy and Austin Duff adding to Clonoulty’s woes. Kevin McCarthy hit his fourth on sixty minutes to put ten between the sides, 0-26 to 0-16. 

Darragh McCarthy goaled in added time to add to his personal tally, before Stephen Ferncombe crashed home a 20-meter free with the last play of the game.

Toomevara are back in the hunt, and their final group game against Kiladangan will be eagerly awaited.

Scorers: Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy (1-8, 0-8f), Adam Hall 0-5, Kevin McCarthy 0-4, Jack Delaney 0-3, Jake Hackett 0-2, Darren Delaney, Austin Duff, Josh McCarthy, Conor O’Farrell, Paul Ryan all 0-1 each.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Stephen Ferncombe (1-8f), Mikey Ryan Winnie 0-3, Cathal Bourke, Enda Heffernan, Ronan Heffernan, John O’Keeffe, Danny Slattery all 0-1.

Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Joshua Powell, Andrew Ryan, Jake Ryan; Josh McCarthy, Liam Ryan, Barry O’Connell; Conor O’Farrell, Paul Ryan; Mark McCarthy, Darren Delaney, Jack Delaney; Darragh McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Adam Hall. 

Subs used: Jake Hackett for Mark McCarthy (38); Robbie Quirke for Darren Delaney (44); Austin Duff for Paul Ryan (50); Colm Canning for Jack Delaney (57); Jack Ryan for Josh McCarthy (60).

Clonoulty Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer; Tommy Ryan, Robert Doyle, Jimmy Ryan (Con); John O’Keeffe, Enda Heffernan, Donnchadh Quirke; Ronan Heffernan, Danny Slattery; Stevie Quinn, Stephen Ferncombe, Jimmy Maher; Jack Ryan, Cathal Bourke, Mikey Ryan Winnie. 

Subs used: James Hammersley for Jimmy Maher (HT); Ciaran Quirke for Stevie Quinn (HT); Nathan Slattery for Donnchadh Quirke (53).

Referee: Johnny Dooley (Thurles Gaels)

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