Tipp ace Darragh McCarthy fires 1-12 to keep Toomevara alive

The 2024 runners-up were on the brink of elimination but rallied against Kiladangan

Toomevarra's Darragh McCarthy tussles with Kiladangan's David Sweeney. Pic: Padraig Hogan, Sportsfocus

Darragh McCarthy scored 1-12 as Toomevara rescued their Tipperary SHC campaign with a 13-point victory over Kiladangan.

The 2024 runners-up were on the brink of elimination against a side that had knocked them out three times in recent seasons. However, Kiladangan never raised a gallop at Dolla. The North champions now head for the preliminary quarter-finals.

Both sides finished with 13 men as Dara O’Dwyer and David Sweeney were sent off for Kiladangan, while Kevin McCarthy and Robbie Quirke were dismissed for Toome. O’Dwyer and McCarthy received straight reds, which would rule them out of the next round.

Toome had 11 different scorers, with Conor O’Farrell (0-3), Kevin McCarthy, and substitute Adam Hall (0-2 each) providing the main back-up to their county star. Of Darragh McCarthy’s haul, 1-2 was struck from play.

Five points on the spin helped them to a 0-15 to 0-7 half-time lead, which Austin Duff padded out to 13 by the 53rd minute. The bad-tempered finish began with O’Dwyer lashing out at Duff for the first red card.

Three minutes later, Liam Ryan’s long delivery was snatched by Darragh McCarthy to tap in the clincher. His older brother, Kevin, and Sweeney, for throwing his hurley, were sent off in the aftermath.

In stoppage time, Toome goalie Rory Brislane was taken off due to injury and Quirke picked up a second yellow. In between, Willie Connors volleyed home in the fourth added minute to end with 1-5 to his name.

Uniquely, all four teams from Group 1 remain in the championship. Holycross-Ballycahill were already guaranteed top spot ahead of Toome, while Kiladangan and Clonoulty-Rossmore had the safety net of a preliminary quarter-final as divisional champions.

However, bottom-side Clonoulty will also enter the relegation play-offs, unless they win the county title.

The West champions defeated Holycross in an entertaining dead-rubber contest at Boherlahan by four points, 4-19 to 2-21.

Three goals in a nine-minute spell handed them the impetus. Cathal Bourke whipped home the first of his 1-5 total before Cathal Barrett palmed a bouncing Stephen Ferncombe free off the line. Clonoulty returned with Michael Ryan feeding Ferncombe to blast to the net.

Michael and Jack Ryan drew saves from Ewan Bourke before their third was finished off by Ciarán Quirke for a 3-8 to 0-9 half-time lead.

Holycross clawed their way back into contention with Jimmie Lahart’s goal. Clonoulty held them at arm’s length with Jimmy Maher, having assisted two goals, claiming one of his own with a flick on Ferncombe’s free.

Joe Caesar netted for Holycross, but Enda Heffernan’s brave block on Lahart denied them an equaliser.

In Group 4, 2022 champions Kilruane MacDonaghs defeated Roscrea by 1-23 to 0-20 to secure their progression.

That meant Borris-Ileigh exited the championship despite a 3-21 to 2-17 victory over already-qualified table-toppers Moycarkey-Borris.

Cian Darcy’s 53rd-minute goal was the key score for Kilruane in Nenagh, producing an outstanding batted finish from Michael Cleary’s deflected shot.

Darcy’s 1-4 total was supplemented by 0-11 from Willie Cleary. The free-taker’s sole point from play arrived on the stroke of half-time to lead 0-16 to 0-13 at that juncture.

Darragh Tynan led the Roscrea resistance with six points from play, but they could never close within that three-point barrier.

Kilruane rounded off the win with a point from goalkeeper Páidí Williams, launched from just outside his own 21.

Roscrea join Clonoulty, Lorrha, and Mullinahone in the relegation mix.

Eddie Ryan put in a standout performance to score 1-15 in Borris-Ileigh’s season-ending seven-point victory over Moycarkey, including 1-4 from play and a pointed penalty.

The youngster also released Ray McCormack for his opening goal in the seventh minute to get Borris up and running at The Ragg.

Moycarkey’s Kieran Cummins scored 0-3 in the opening quarter, including a stylish sideline cut.

Rhys Shelly’s magnificent save prevented a Jerry Kelly goal to remain within three points, 1-11 to 0-11, at half-time.

However, Ryan rounded him for a goal after the break and Paddy McCormack’s dummy pass created the third on the three-quarter mark.

They led by 10, but goals from Bill Flanagan and Max Hackett made it a one-score game.

Ryan kicked on with the final four points, one each from a 65, play, free, and penalty, after Paddy McCormack was fouled.