MCCARTHY BROTHERS DARRAGH and Kevin combined for 2-12 to inspire Toomevara past the challenge of Moycarkey Borris, and into their first Tipperary senior hurling final since 2008. Darragh scored the two goals in quickfire fashion just before half-time while his older brother Kevin was a constant threat, racking up five points from play for the Greyhounds. The brace of goals gave Toomevara a 2-9 to 0-11 lead at the interval and though Eddie Brennan’s Moycarkey side pushed hard in the second half, Toome finished strong to reach a first decider in fifteen years.
The sides went point for point in the first fifteen minutes before three-in-a-row from Moycarkey Borris gave them the most comprehensive lead of the day, 0-10 0-7 after 22 minutes. Centre back and captain Eoghan Hayes was prominent in their strong start, while the evergreen Kieran Morris also chipped in with two rousing points from play. Centre forward Kevin McCarthy kept Toomevara in touch with three from play while his namesake Mark swung over a trademark sideline.
But it was the third McCarthy, Darragh, who did the most damage of all. Toome’s young talisman had been relatively quiet up to that stage but he exploded into life in decisive fashion. For his first, he showed pace and strength to break away from the close attention of Tom Ryan.
His shot had a lethal combination of top-spin and power, ensuring goalkeeper Rhys Shelly stood no chance. He followed it up with a second seven minutes later, finishing after a ne.
