Tipp stars back in action as All-Ireland hero McCarthy nets again

Irish Examiner

27-07-2025

Six days on from Tipperary's All-Ireland triumph, Robert Doyle captured further silverware as Clonoulty-Rossmore claimed the West Tipp SHC title.
Wearing number 14 but lining out at full-back, Doyle drove forward 60 yards with the sliotar before offloading to Stephen Ferncombe for the 57th-minute clinching goal in a 2-17 to 1-16 triumph over Cashel King Cormacs.
Centre-forward Ferncombe tallied 2-10 (1-3 from play) across the hour, but man-of-the-match honours went to goalkeeper Jason O'Dwyer for producing three outstanding saves. Captain Jack Ryan, son of Tipp legend Declan, clipped 0-3 before lifting the O'Dwyer Cup in Golden.
Clonoulty wrapped up their ninth consecutive title, and 25th in total, while Cashel's 30-year wait for goes on.
Cashel's defensive spine of brothers Eoghan and Ronan Connolly supplied two points each from play, while the Tipp senior added three long-range frees.
The Eoin Cadogan-coached side jumped off to a three-point head start, but the first major turning point was a rocket-launched Ferncombe free from his own 45 which bounced to the net. O'Dwyer's low save from Cathal Quinn ensured the champions would lead 1-8 to 0-8 at the break.
O'Dwyer then denied Ger Browne and David McGrath, but Adrian Cummins rattled the net in between to reignite the Cashel challenge.
Eoghan Connolly finally brought them level with seven minutes to play, but the holders kicked on with a 1-2 burst.
Meanwhile, Rhys Shelly saved his second penalty of the week as Moycarkey-Borris saw off Loughmore-Castleiney by 4-25 to 2-20 in the Mid Tipp quarter-final.
Harty Cup final goalscorer Jack Hayes raised two green flags and Bill Flanagan netted two more. At one stage, Eddie Brennan's men took Loughmore for 2-7 without reply to avenge last year's final defeat.
The dual county champions fought back with goals from Liam and Tomás McGrath, but Shelly stopped John McGrath's penalty in stoppage time to snuff out any hint of a comeback.
With the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday, Moycarkey will face Thurles Sarsfields in the last four, while JK Brackens will meet Holycross-Ballycahill, who defeated Drom & Inch by 0-35 to 3-22.
Even without the injured Bryan O'Mara, Holycross began in highly impressive fashion to construct a wind-assisted 0-21 to 1-7 half-time cushion. Their long-range shooters Joe Caesar and Tiarnán Ryan finished with 0-5 each, while free-taker Darragh Woods nailed 0-11 among 13 different scorers.
Drom came with a late charge as All-Ireland Schools and U20 champion Cormac Fitzpatrick picked off 1-11, while Tony Cahill and David Collins added 1-3 each to finish four adrift.
Elsewhere, Darragh McCarthy scored his second penalty of the week as Toomevara fended off Lorrha-Dorrha by 2-21 to 1-21 to advance to the North Tipp semi-finals.
They will meet Kiladangan, who breezed through with a 2-29 to 0-16 romp past Roscrea. John and Dan O'Meara got the goals.
Kilruane MacDonaghs overhauled Nenagh Éire Óg to join them in the final four.
Trailing by two at the break, the 2022 county champions turned the game with Thomas Cleary and Cian Darcy goals.
Darcy ended on 1-7 from play to outlast Tommy Heffernan's late goal in a 2-22 to 1-21 success.
They will play Borris-Ileigh, who received a bye.
The South Tipp hurling final will be contested between holders Carrick Swan and Killenaule after respective wins over Mullinahone and St Mary's.
It took the Swans just a minute to find the net through Callum Walsh, while Callum Lanigan arrowed over 0-13 (six from play). Mullinahone left it too late for Cillian Direen's consolation goal in a 1-23 to 1-15 defeat.
Michael Doyle's goal before half-time was crucial in overcoming Richie Gunne's major in a 1-23 to 1-18 win for Killenaule. Goalkeeper John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer scored 0-5 (4 frees) for the victorious Robins.