Tipp SHC: Holycross-Ballycahill and Loughmore Castleiney advance after goal fests

 Loughmore Castleiney's John McGrath shoots the ball past Toomevara's Jake Ryan and Andrew Ryan for his side's third goal.

Tipp SHC

FBD Semple Stadium was the setting for the opening two Tipperary SHC quarter-finals on Saturday. 

Goals were the order of the day with 11 goals in total over the two games.

The opening game pitted Holycross Ballycahill, seeking their first semi-final appearance since 1999, against last year’s Premier Intermediate champions Cashel King Cormacs, who were bidding for a first semi-final spot since 1996.

At the end, it was the mid-Tipperary side who advanced, thanks to three first-half goals, the third coming in added time before the half-time break, to leave the interval score, 3-11 to 0-11.

To compound the King Cormacs' woes, they were reduced to 14 on 40 minutes, after influential midfielder Eoghan Connolly received a straight red card for a frontal charge on David Fogarty. 

A fourth major for Holycross put the game beyond the reach of the west side. They did, however, get in for what were consolation goals in a 60-second spell inside the last 10 minutes, following the dismissal of Cathal Barrett on a second yellow card after 53 minutes.

The opening exchanges were pedestrian enough, with the sides level at 0-3 each after five minutes. 

Holycross stepped it up and hit the next four points on the bounce, with Darragh Woods coming more into the game. 

They got the first break when Robbie Ryan goaled after Cathal O’Reilly had intercepted an attempted clearance and fed Tiarnan Ryan. 

Eoin Craddock got in for a second major, seven minutes later, to put his side eight to the good. 

At this early stage, the gulf in class began to appear as Holycross were making more use of the ball, especially in attack, while opening up gaps in the Cashel defence. 

Darragh Woods grew into the game and finished the half with eight points to his credit.

After the restart, Cashel made a mini comeback with four points on the bounce, reducing the deficit to six. This is as near as they would get, as Holycross hit the next four points, two either side of Eoghan Connolly’s dismissal.

They pushed on over the final quarter, their only blemish being the concession of the two goals.

They are back in the last four for the first time since 1999 and will fancy their chances going forward.

The second game at the Stadium was a re-run of last season's decider, where Loughmore Castleiney won their fifth title when defeating Toomevara by five points. 

Saturday's game produced five goals in total as the Loughmore forwards looked dangerous from early on. 

They got a tonic of a goal after just two minutes when Ed Connolly intercepted an attempted short puck and beat Rory Brislane from close in. 

With John McGrath and Darragh McCarthy trading minors, the holders had eased into a one-point lead by the 12th minute before Tomás McGrath got in for goal number two. 

John McGrath got on the end of a long ball from Ciaran Connolly to slot home a third major on 18 minutes to put them five to the good.

Matters could have been worse for Toomevara when Tomás McGrath bore down on goal, but Rory Brislane came to the rescue. 

Loughmore finished the half on a high as Ed Connolly hit three on the bounce and Noel McGrath closed out the scoring with his second minor. Half-time score, Loughmore Castleiney 3-11, Toomevara 0-11.

After the break, the mid-Tipp side showed that they were not going to surrender their title easily, scoring four of the opening six points, including two sidelines from Ciaran McCormack, from opposite sides of the field. 

Loughmore kept the three-goal cushion between the sides up until added time, when Toomevara got in for two late goals in the 61st and 63rd minutes. Full-time score, Loughmore Castleiney 3-22 Toomevara 2-20.