Storming first half from Moycarkey Borris puts them in pole position for the knockout stages

Dan Breen Cup Group 2: Moycarkey Borris 3-25 Roscrea 4-12

stephen.gleeson@tipperarystar.ie

Moycarkey Borris produced a fantastic opening half full of skill and accurate striking and kept going in the second half to ensure they secured a valuable win over Roscrea in the Tipperary County Hurling Championship Group two game played at Templemore on Saturday night. 

Despite the absence of Kieran Morris and Joe Egan from the starting team Moycakey immediately got going by creating chances and keeping the scorekeeper busy with Jack Hayes, Max Hackett and player-of-the-match Kyle Shelly in top form. 

Three first half goals with Kyle Shelly striking two and another bullet from the talented Max Hackett, fired to the left of Daryl Ryan in the Roscrea goals at the Town End in the Park, ensured there was no way back in the second half for Roscrea. 

After just 7 minutes Moycarkey raced into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead before Conor Sheedy got the town side's second point from play however there was no mercy from Moycarkey who struck a second goal on 11 minutes leaving the score 2-9 to 0-2

The onslaught continued with the third goal on 13 minutes pushing Moycarkey 3-9 to 0-2 clear as they kept going tagging on three further points without reply. 

Eoghan Hayes was having a stormer at centre back, Jack Fallon and Joe Maher were winning a serious amount of ball and Kyle Shelly was lethal in the forwards.

 The running of Max Hackett and Jack Hayes meant that Roscrea couldn't find any rhythm and were under constant pressure.

In defence Stephen Walsh, Peter Melbourne and Tom Ryan used the ball cleverly setting up fast attacks on the dry sod which suited the mobile team.  

Alan Tynan tried to rally Roscrea and Luke Cashin too and they found the net finally after some good work by Roscrea forwards earned them a penalty which goalkeeper Daryl Ryan blasted to the right of Rhys Shelly on 19 minutes. 

From the puckout though Moycarkey took the bounce out of the northerners revival as they went down the field and struck another point to leave it 3-12 to 1-3. 

Owen Tynan and Glen Loughnane points before the break brought Roscrea a little closer at the break but Moycarkey were in total control leading 3-16 to 1-6. 

The second half was a more even encounter with a highlight being a full length diving save from Rhys Shelly late on in the game.  

In the half Moycarkey hit 0-9 while Roscrea struck 3-6 however the intensity dropped significantly as the half wore on and thoughts for many were on the next game. 

The gap on the scoreboard meant that when Roscrea finished off a trio of late goals from Evan Fitzpatrick, substitute Leigh Loughnane and a late consolation strike from Alan Tynan there still wasn't room for a revival.  

Overall Moycarkey looked sharp and skillful with coaches Brian Moran and Niall Corcoran having the side well prepared for the championship. 

Afterwards Brian Moran admitted the loss to Loughmore in the divisional final "had stung them" and he said that  "the response was excellent". 

If they can maintain this form for the championship they could go far into the competition. The balance looks good to the team with the tone set from Rhys Shelly right up to his brother Kyle who was excellent on frees and in open play. 

The backs used the ball intelligently while the midfielders were accurate with their ball intowards the full forward line and in Max Hackett they have a player who has the potential to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck.

They still have plenty to work on with concentration levels dropping late on - and the concession of late goals - a cause for concern as well as some wides which on another day, against more efficent opponents, would need to be converted but overall it was a quality Moycarkey-Borris performance so there is plenty to build on.