Drom-Inch produce sensational comeback after extra time to defeat Moycarkey-Borris in epic battle
LEADING THE WAY: Séamus Callanan was the talk of Thurles after hauling 2-11, including 2-3 from play. Pic: Sport Focus
Comeback kings Drom & Inch produced a sensational seven-goal turnaround to overhaul a seven-point deficit against Moycarkey-Borris in an extra-time epic at Semple Stadium.
The four survivors from Drom’s sole county title in 2011 turned this Tipperary SHC quarter-final. Séamus Callanan hauled 2-11, including 2-3 from play, while super-sub David Butler bagged two goals. David Collins and Johnny Ryan also played key roles in the avalanche of goals.
They had four goals off the bench, with Jamie Bergin and Jack Lillis netting, while Tipp U20 Cormac Fitzpatrick ended with 1-3.
Their fifth goal was a sensational effort to kill off Moycarkey’s resistance. Fitzpatrick’s catch and Ryan’s angled pass created the opportunity. But it was finished off with a pair of outrageous one-handed strokes. Butler’s reverse flick found Callanan, who was knocked to the ground. Lying on his back, he swung the sliotar to Rhys Shelly’s top corner.
Five weeks had passed since Eddie Brennan’s Moycarkey side secured their quarter-final berth. They dispelled any early notions of rustiness with a goal inside 30 seconds. From the throw-in, David Costigan fed the sliotar to Bill Flanagan in the corner. He offloaded to Jack Hayes to bat in his fifth major in seven games.
Joe Egan tacked on a point before laying on a second goal chance for Kieran Cummins. The county panellist drove just wide.
Defenders Robbie Long and Podge Campion landed long-range settlers for Drom, but Stephen Walsh struck one in return.
The scoring rate slowed as the intensity rose in a low-key first half. There was no return from play and just four pointed frees across the next 14 minutes. Shelly slotted a huge placed ball, and his pinpoint puck-outs continued to create opportunities. Max Hackett was next to benefit for a 1-7 to 0-3 lead.
Drom hit back with three in a row, including a pair from Callanan, before some late drama.
From a route-one missile, Paudie Kinane collected the break, only to be denied the equalising goal by Shelly. The All-Star nominee returned fire with a monster clearance. Costigan won the break for a four-point swing. Kieran Morris’s fourth free made it 1-10 to 0-8 at half-time, and they added the opening pair of the second half.
It all changed with a 3-6 to 0-2 streak into the breeze between the 38th and 48th minutes. Points from Fintan Purcell, Collins, and Fitzpatrick sparked the momentum shift.
As Moycarkey disputed a point waved wide, Drom took a quick puck-out. Callanan slipped his marker and a covering defender to arrow into the roof of the net from an acute angle. Shelly was booked for some afters involving Callanan.
The former Tipp captain converted the next free to level for a first time; 1-13 apiece.
In the 46th minute, they had a second. Eoin Collins’ free broke for Fitzpatrick to pull to the net. Within 60 seconds, the third arrived. David Collins’ shot was blocked by Eoghan Hayes, but fell perfectly for Butler to whip under Shelly with another ground stroke.
Fitzpatrick’s juggling point made it 3-14 to 1-14.
Drom lost their momentum with seven consecutive wides. Moycarkey got their running game going again. Eoin Collins stood up well to save from Costigan, but Moycarkey hit six in a row. Substitutes Jack Fallon and Killian Cantwell pointed. Shelly’s second free levelled.
Drom went again through Long and Callanan points. Sixty seconds remained. Morris tapped a free over. Moycarkey won the puck-out and Fallon nailed the clutch leveller. 3-16 to 1-22 at full-time.
Moycarkey edged two clear in extra-time before the goal onslaught resumed. David Collins caught the sliotar and laid off for Butler to roll home.
Callanan landed an inspirational point before finishing the goal to break Moycarkey. They led 5-20 to 1-25 at the change of ends.
It was exhibition stuff for the remainder. Callanan scored off the hurley and sublime set-up play assisted for David Collins.
Bergin netted with his first touch after another Collins catch. Then, Lillis got in behind for the seventh green flag.
: S Callanan (2-11, 0-8 frees); D Butler (2-0); C Fitzpatrick (1-3); J Bergin, J Lillis (1-0 each); R Long, D Collins (0-2 each); F Purcell, M Conroy, P Campion, C Cahill, P Kinane (0-1 each).
K Morris (0-12, 9 frees, 1 65); J Hayes (1-2); R Shelly (2 frees), D Costigan, K Cantwell, J Fallon (0-2 each); S Walsh, K Cummins, M Hackett, J Egan, B Flanagan, P Molloy (0-1 each).
: E Collins; M Conroy, K Hassett, E Kennedy; F Purcell, R Long, P Campion (capt); L Campion, C Cahill; S Callanan, D Collins, J Campion; P Kinane, John Ryan, C Fitzpatrick.
: Johnny Ryan for Kinane (37), D Butler for John Ryan (37), M Campion for C Cahill (48), J Lillis for Purcell (68), J Bergin for Fitzpatrick (77, inj), C Cahill for Long (78, inj).
R Shelly; K Hayes, T Ryan (capt), S Walsh; P Molloy, E Hayes, T Hayes; R Darmody, K Cummins; D Costigan, J Egan, M Hackett; J Hayes, B Flanagan, K Morris.
J Fallon for Darmody (45), K Cantwell for Molloy (51), K Shelly for Hackett (60+1), P Melbourne for Cummins (66, inj), Hackett for Costigan (72), S Hayes for T Hayes (73).
C Doyle (Silvermines).
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