Darragh McCarthy scores two late points to down Borris in epic extra time U19 North Final

Ger Gavin North Tipperary U19A Hurling Final

Toomevara 3-23 

Borris-Ileigh 2-25 

After Extra Time

By James Hayden 

Toomevara were crowned North Tipperary U-19 ‘A’ hurling champions following a dramatic extra-time victory over a brilliant Borris-Ileigh side following a hugely absorbing and dramatic North under 19 ‘A’ hurling decider at a breezy MacDonagh Park in Nenagh on Sunday afternoon last.

Extra time was ultimately required to separate the sides and decide the destination of the Michael ‘Spike’ Nolan Cup following a ding-dong decider with Toomevara's second-half substitute Liam Hackett proving the match-winner for the ‘Greyhounds’ during that extra-time period thanks to two cracking goals.

Going into this decider the ’Greyhounds’ were seeking back-to-back titles together for the first time at this grade following last year's three-point victory over Ballina in the final. Both sides registered decisive and convincing wins in their respective semi-finals with Toomevara overcoming Ballina by nine points while Borris-Ileigh overcame Silvermines by a margin of three clear goals.

Despite playing against a swirling breeze blowing into the scoreboard end Borris-Ileigh were quickly off the mark with three early points from Eoin Boyle (2) and Paddy McCormack (free) firing the men in maroon into a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage after just three minutes. 

Paddy Brett added to Borris-Ileigh’s advantage with a sweetly struck point before Toomevara’s Darragh Mccarthy (free)  doubled his side’s tally following an earlier Austin Duff point.

Borris-Ileigh were then gifted an early goal when after good work by Lar Stapleton saw the flight of Paddy Brett’s long-range delivery deceive Darragh Hayes in the Toomevara goal for the first major of the game, 1-4 to 0-2.

Toomevara’s response was immediate though with the effervescent Austin Duff fizzing over two further quick-fire efforts to cut the deficit to just a goal by the seventh minute before Darragh McCarthy raided and blazed his effort high over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. 

Cathal Kennedy responded for Borris’ before Austin Duff set Darragh McCarthy up for a cracking Toome goal on 12 minutes, a goal that served to level proceedings for the first time in the half.

The game tightened up noticeably from this juncture but the scores still came thick and fast with some sublime efforts on target from both sides as the whirlwind nature of the game continued apace. Darragh McCarthy and Paddy McCormack traded frees on the quarter-hour mark before Borris’ center-forward Eoin Boyle fired Jimmy Slattery’s charges into a two-point lead with his third point of the game.

Jack Doran responded with a fantastic effort for Toome’ before Paddy McCormack set up Darragh Chute for Borris-Ileigh’s ninth point. Toome’ hit back again with yet another point from Jack Doran before Darragh McCarthy arrowed over from long-range to bring Toomevara level once again, 1-9 to 1-9. 

Eoin Boyle continued to torment Toome’ though and his fourth point on 23 minutes edged Borris’ back into the lead before Darragh McCarthy levelled proceedings once again. 

Two points on the bounce from Paddy McCormack saw the initiative swing back in favour of Borris’ once more and with the interval approaching a fifth Paddy McCormack free put three between the sides. Jack Hackett surged up from center-back to fire over his first from play on the cusp of half-time to ensure Toomevara trailed by just two points at the break, 1-11 to 1-13.

Toomevara re-jigged their side at the break and having already introduced Cody Quirke before the break Ken Dunne and the Toome’ management side introduced Liam Hackett into their attack. 

Toome’ could have rattled the Borris’ net straight from the restart with Codey Quirke hitting the crossbar and Jack Doran rattling the upright from the resulting rebound. Liam Hackett seized upon the second resound but he fired his effort to the right and wide.

Fresh from the let-off Borris-Ileigh extended their interval advantage to three with a 33rd minute Paddy McCormack free before McCormack and Darragh McCarthy traded frees to see Borris lead by two with 42 minutes elapsed, 1-15 to 1-13.

With the game well and truly in the melting pot at this stage Eoin Boyle once again displayed his class with his fifth from play, an audacious effort from 45-metres out as he was challenged. Darragh McCarthy responded with a delicious effort from close to the stand side as both sides vied for the upper hand. 

Toome’ had the chance to narrow the gap to just a solitary point on 47 minutes but his free from between the 65’ and 45’ yard line drifted to the left and wide.

Toomevara were then afforded the chance to seize the initiative after Razuk Atik was adjudged to have pulled Jake Hackett to the ground. 

In what was an amazing sixty seconds of play Archie Devaney dived excellently to his left to deny Darragh McCarthy from a well-struck penalty before Borris’ surged back upfield with wing-back, Cathal Frend forced into a goal-line save to deny Paddy Brett an almost certain goal.

With everything on the line, Toomevara threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Borris-Ileigh. Austin Duff barrelled over two of the finest points ever to grace the MacDonagh Park pitch to bring Toomevara back on terms. Borris’ were fighting a rearguard action at this stage and were rocked back on their heels again when centre-back Jake Hackett arrowed over his second of the game to fire Toome’ back in front. 

Paddy McCormack responded once more for Borris’ before Darragh McCarthy looked to have sealed victory with a cracking point deep in time added on. Borr’s weren’t done yet though and it fell to Paddy McCormack to land a booming lang-range free to send the decider to extra-time.

Paddy McCormack struck first for Borris’ in the first period of extra-time before a super score from Eoin Boyle fashioned a two-point advantage for Borris-Ileigh. Jack Doran responded with his third point of the game for Toomevara before Eoin Boyle set Paddy Brett up for Borris-Ileigh’s second goal of the game. Paddy McCormack quickly added a long-range free and suddenly Borris’ were five clear, 2-22 to 1-20.

In the blink of an eye Toome’ whittled the gap back to two after Liam Hackett netted eight minutes into the first-period extra-time, a cracking goal that breathed life back into a flagging Toomevara side. Paddy McCormack arrowed over a close-range free to see his side take a three-point lead into half-time in extra-time, 2-23 to 2-20.  

The second period of extra time saw Jack Doran and Darragh Chute fire over points for their respective sides before Liam Hackett raided for Toome’s third goal of the game, a scything effort straight to the roof of the Borris' net that served to bring Toomevara right back on level terms again, 3-21 to 2-24. 

Buoyed by the goal Toomevara hit the front with a superb Darragh McCarthy point before Paddy McCormack fired over another booming free to level proceedings once more, and the prospect of penalties now loomed very large.

There was one last twist in the saga though and it was that man Jake Hackett again who drove at the Borris-Ileigh defence with Tom Delaney forced to bring him down. Up stepped Darragh McCarthy and he flighted over the sliotar from close range to secure a solitary point victory and a victory that will go down in the annals of North Tipperary hurling as one of the most memorable finals ever at this grade. 

Toomevara: Darragh Hayes; Jack Ryan, Josh Powell, Michael Gleeson; Jack Harford, Jake Hackett (0-2), Cathal Frend; Brian Farrell, Jack Doran (0-4); Dylan Carroll, Jack Hogan (0-1), Austin Duff (0-5); David O’Brien, Patrick Hackett, Darragh McCarthy (1-11, 0-6f).

Subs used: Cody Quirke for Carroll (26); Liam Hackett (2-0) for O’Brien (HT); Ciaran Troy for Gleeson (51); David Conway for Harford (HT, ET).

Borris-Ileigh: Archie Devaney; Eamon Groome, Lar Stapleton, Cian Murphy; Michael Ryan, Tom Delaney, Patrick Ryan; David Rabbitte, Cathal Kennedy (0-1); Paddy McCormack (0-15, 0-11f), Eoin Boyle (0-6), Jack Bevans; Razuk Atik, Paddy Brett (2-1), Darragh Chute (0-2).

Subs used: Jack Gould for Murphy (39); Conor Murray for Rabbitte (62); Cian Murphy for Kennedy (HT, ET).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)