Tallow secured their senior hurling survival with a 1-19 to 0-18 win over Dunhill in a rip-roaring relegation battle at a rainy Fraher Field.
Denis Walsh's side lost Darragh Mulcahy to a second yellow card after 45 minutes but outscored their opponents by seven points to three in the final quarter. Tommy Ryan totalled nine points while Ian Beecher finished with five from play. Ryan is the top scorer in the 2022 championship with 2-47.
Tallow raced eight points up after eight minutes (1-5 to 0-0). Darah Buckley fired the ball into the ground past Donal Carey in the seventh minute. Ryan shot three points while Ryan Grey and Mark Stewart got one each.
Shane Casey's move to centre forward was a game changer for Dunhill. The former county man sent over eight points (five frees and three from play) to drag his team within one at the break (1-9 to 0-11). Tallow were guilty of eight wides.
Eamonn Murphy levelled the match for the first time five minutes into the second period (1-10 to 0-13). Casey missed a chance for Dunhill to take the lead from a free before Ryan and Beecher pointed at the other end. Casey converted a free before Darragh Mulcahy got his marching orders for a tough tackle on Micheal Harney. Casey levelled again from the subsequent free (1-12 to 0-15).
A player down, Tallow rose to the challenge. Mark Stewart regained the lead when he batted over. His third point of the day. Ryan rifled over three terrific scores from play. Ryan Grey knocked Eoghan Casey to the ground before he split the posts. The Tallow crowd rose to their feet. Ian Beecher grabbed a puckout and shot his fifth from play.
Tallow will spend a 36th straight season in the senior ranks next year while Dunhill move down to the new premier intermediate championship.
Scorers for Tallow: Tommy Ryan 0-9 (4fs, 1 65), Ian Beecher 0-5, Darah Buckley 1-0, Mark Stewart 0-3, Ryan Grey 0-2.
Scorers for Dunhill: Shane Casey 0-11 (8fs), Eamonn Murphy 0-5 (1f, 1 65), Adam Green, John Groves 0-1 each.
Tallow: Dean Beecher; Eoin McGrath, Mark O'Brien, Kenneth Kearney; Tommy Daly, Robbie Geary, Jake Beecher; Darragh Mulcahy, Jordan Henley; Kieran Geary, Ian Beecher, Mark Stewart; Darah Buckley, Ryan Grey, Tommy Ryan.
Subs: Shane Martin for Kieran Geary (45), Eoin Condon for Stewart (52).
Dunhill: Donal Carey; Cian Hally, Sean McDonald, Killian O'Connell; John Roche, Micheal Harney, Walter Hally; Eoghan Casey, Darragh Murray; Adam Green, John Groves, Mike Hally; Dylan Power, Shane Casey, Eamonn Murphy.
Subs: Kevin Dineen for Power (44), Micheal Casey for Mike Hally (45).
Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald
