Late, late McCarthy free rescues Toomevara in championship opener
Greyhounds battle back from three points down in the closing stages as Mullinahone are denied victory in a dramatic 0-20 to 0-20 draw at Dundrum.
FBD Insurance County Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship - Group 4 - Round 1
Toomevara 0-20
Mullinahone 0-20
Trailing by three points with five minutes remaining, Toomevara used all their experience to earn a share of the spoils in an exciting opening round of the FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship at picturesque Dundrum last Sunday late afternoon.
Playing second fiddle at times, Toome depended on the expertise of their backline where Liam Ryan, Seamus Farrell and Andrew Ryan kept a close eye on the opposition attack.
The Toome half backline of Josh McCarthy, Conor O’Farrell and Jack Ryan caught the eye too while Barry O’Connell and Austin Duff worked hard in midfield behind an attack that depended much on Adam Hall and Patrick Hackett. Kevin McCarthy did well from frees but Toomevara missed the services of Darragh McCarthy, Jake Hackett and Jack Delaney, all injured.
Mullinahone were certainly the fresher of the two sides with Sam Rowan covering much ground at midfield while Jack Shelly caused a moment of worry or two. Playing into the breeze didn’t seem to affect Mullinahone. Toomevara needed to make better use of the elements. Josh McCarthy began the fightback with a point from half-way plus a good score by Adam Hall bringing the deficit down to one.
At the other end, Rory Brislane’s puckouts were not finding his men and Jack Shelly punished Toome with a point. From the restart, Austin Duff was on target and seconds later Mark McCarthy supplied his trademark sideline beauty to level 0-6 each after twelve minutes. It was a good response, and the trend continued as Eoin Grace gave the Greyhounds the lead in the 12th minute.
Meanwhile, Toome lost Paul Ryan to injury, but the game entered a bout with both teams exchanging the lead, with Mullinahone regaining the lead through Michael Dunne from a free, closely followed by a Sam Rowan point from play. The lead didn’t last very long with Kevin McCarthy’s equalising free made better by a Patrick Hackett lead score in the 18th minute.
True to form, Mullinahone responded with Michael Dunne pointing a free to level as the next period of three minutes saw a battle of free-takers. Kevin McCarthy responded with back-to-back frees before Michael Dunne left the minimum between the teams with a free in the 22nd minute.
Remarkably, there was no more scoring until then and half-time, but that statistic was corrected when Eoin O’Dwyer levelled matters in time for the interval at 0-11 each.
Second half
The high return continued in the opening minutes of the second half with Michael Dunne’s free from distance in the 33rd minute matched by Conor O’Farrell on halfway. Every chance was precious, and Mullinahone went two clear after Sam Rowan and Sean Curran scored a point each. It didn’t take long for Toome to come level, with Kevin McCarthy scoring followed by a well-taken score by Jack Ryan from the left touchline.
Toome continued to push with promise. Mullinahone keeper Brendan Kearney denied Adam Hall from close in, but Toome were moving on to take a two-point lead thanks to two Kevin McCarthy frees, with Austin Duff much involved.
Not to be outdone, Mullinahone’s Sean Curran led the way, and Mullinahone were back level through the accuracy of Michael Dunne from frees, the latest pair playing part of five unanswered frees, Dunne who displayed calm and precision and seven minutes remaining.
Toome appeared to be in trouble, but experience can bring them a long way, and Adam Hall led the way with a well-taken score. A well-directed sixty-five had Mullinahone three clear once more before Adam Hall brought his points tally to three, quickly followed by a Patrick Hackett score to leave the minimum between the teams.
Mullinahone fought back to take hold, but every attack was denied by the Toome defence. Back home, the Mullinahone rearguard seemed to have things under control, but Matthew Direen was penalised for overcarrying, and Kevin McCarthy did the needful to earn Toome a share of the spoils.
Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O'Farrell; Josh McCarthy (0-1), Conor O'Farrell (0-1), Jack Ryan (0-1); Barry O'Connell, Austin Duff (0-1); Paul Ryan (0-1), Kevin McCarthy (0-8, 0-6f), Patrick Hackett (0-2); Eoin Grace (0-1), Adam Hall (0-3), Mark McCarthy (0-1 sl-cut).
Subs used: Colm Canning for Paul Ryan (13, inj); Robbie Quirke for Mark McCarthy (44); Jack Delaney for Colm Canning (54); Cathal Frend for Josh McCarthy (54).
Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney; Daire O'Brien, Paul Curran, Eoin Treacy; Eoin Fennelly, Darragh Linnane, Martin Kehoe; Colin Shelly, Sam Rowan (0-3); Éanna Ryan, Sean Curran (0-1), Enda Keane; Eoin O'Dwyer (0-2), Jack Shelly (0-2), Michael Dunne (0-12, 0-10f, 0-1 65).
Subs used: Graham Moran for Éanna Ryan (49); Matthew Direen for Enda Keane (55).
Referee: Cian Ryan (Éire Óg Annacarty)