Tipperary SHC: Cashel produce seismic win against Nenagh, Toomevara bounce back

The last game of Sunday took place in Templederry where a goal-hungry Moycarkey Borris rattled the Kilruane MacDonaghs net four times to secure a quarter-final place.

Loughmore-Castleiney’s Ciaran Connolly goes for a score from distance. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Last year’s beaten finalists Toomevara bounced back from their first round defeat to Holycross Ballycahill to record a comprehensive 11-point win over Clonoulty Rossmore in The Ragg.

This was a tightly billed Group 2 game with both sides desperate for the full two points after opening round defeats but it was Toomevara who hurled with more verve and will as they dominated from start to finish to easily account for the West champions.

Adam Hall was the main man for Toomevara with five points from play, giving a virtuoso display in the two-man inside line with Tipperary star Darragh McCarthy, dovetailing nicely as the midfield battle was dominated by the Greyhounds with Conor O’Farrell on top all game long.

Clonoulty started well by racing into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead in what was a very tetchy beginning to the game, but slowly, Toome began to grind down their opponents as Jack Delaney, Adam Hall, Kevin McCarthy, and Darragh McCarthy (frees) began to mount on the scoreboard as the North outfit went in 0-12 to 0-7 in front at the break.

Stephen Ferncombe's placed balls were the main source of scores for Clonoulty Rossmore as they struggled to get free in the scoring zone. There was no such trouble from a Toomevara viewpoint as they continued to keep the scoreboard moving all game with Adam Hall and Kevin McCarthy prominent.

Leading by 0-26 to 0-16 late on, Tipperary star Darragh McCarthy struck the clinching goal and while Clonoulty nicked a goal with a last-gasp 21-yard free from Stephen Ferncombe, it was mere consolation as the Greyhounds won out on a 1-26 to 1-16 scoreline.

In Group 3, reigning champions Loughmore Castleiney put to bed any doubts about their credentials to retain their title with a complete performance to humble Mid champions JK Brackens in Templetuohy in the early afternoon on a huge 2-32 to 2-20 scoreline.

The McGrath combination was the key factor again as John and Noel ran the show from start to finish for the double champions of 2024, with Loughmore in full control throughout as Mossy McGrath bagged an early goal to set the tone as they held a big half-time lead of 1-19 to 1-8 with Andrew Ormond bagging the goal for JK Brackens.

That margin proved too large for the Templemore men to reel in during the second period and despite Ormond striking a second goal five minutes from time, Loughmore finished with aplomb as Paul McCahey raised the final green flag of the game to put a further gloss on the margin.

All the excitement on Sunday came in the Group 2 clash in Borris-Ileigh where newly promoted Cashel King Cormacs produced a seismic result to down Nenagh Éire Óg.

There was little between the sides throughout this one and the sides were tit-for-tat in the first 20 minutes with Devon Ryan placed balls keeping Cashel’s scoring moving while his counterpart Mikey Heffernan landed some good scores along with brother Barry and Ben West.

Nenagh moved into a 1-7 to 0-8 lead in the 24th minute when Jake Morris dispatched a penalty but Cashel’s resolve held true as they finished the half well to take a 0-12 to 1-8 lead in at the break.

Éire Óg started the second half in positive fashion with Jake Morris, Paddy Murphy, and Mikey Heffernan hitting three quick points to put the Sky Blues in front. Cashel though, didn’t wilt in the face of adversity to dominate the next 15 minutes with Ger Browne hitting some excellent scores to put the King Cormacs 0-19 to 1-12 in front.

Substitute Adam Carey roofed a ball to the back of the net from close range in the 55th minute to cut the gap to a point but there would be no smash-and-grab for the North Tipp outfit as Ross Bonner and the excellent Ger Browne found the scores to give their side a massive victory.

The last game of the day took place in Templederry where a goal-hungry Moycarkey Borris rattled the Kilruane MacDonaghs net four times to secure a quarter-final place.

Talismanic forward Kieran “Kiwi” Morris was the standout performer for Eddie Brennan’s team, finishing the game with 2-8 to his name and played an integral part in the display.

Three first half goals from Morris (2) and Joe Maher gave Moycarkey a healthy half-time lead of 3-9 to 0-10, and when Jack Hayes goaled within a minute of the restart, Kilruane MacDonaghs were left with too much ground to make up.

Willie Cleary frees and a more settled defence thereafter helped the Cloughjordan-based club to cut the gap to four points with ten minutes to go but they never really threatened to pull it back with late points from Kieran Cummins, Jack Fallon and Morris (free) sending Moycarkey through with a round to spare.