Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Round-Up

By Liam Hogan

Borrisokane 5-13

Shannon Rovers 1-16

Philip Austin almost single handily defeated Shannon Rovers in a one-sided North Intermediate Hurling Championship encounter played at Gardiner Park, Borrisokane last Saturday.

Seeking their first win in the competition the Borrisokane full forward scored 3-2 and had a hand in another as Borris were much too good for their neighbours.

Rovers began brightly with George Hannigan hitting the butt of the post after sixteen seconds. Borrisokane managed to clear before Philip Austin opened the scoring but the Rovers came again and Andy Byrne levelled with a point that whizzed inches over the bar.

However, Borrisokane began to set the pace and with Oisin Larkin supplying three points, Borrisokane had moved 0-5 to 0-2 in front after eleven minutes before Philip Austin had goal number one a minute later.

Tom Hogan replied with two frees before referee Conor Doyle signalled the first water-break and when the teams returned another Oisin Larkin free had Borris five in front before he followed up with a goal in the 20th minute with Philip Austin involved in the assist.

With Michael Kelly and Liam Cleary pulling the strings in the middle third, Borrisokane continued to press on and in the 27th minute Austin was on the rampage again when scoring his second goal, before adding another on the half hour to move the home side 4-6 to 0-4 in front.

Six minutes of added time followed, enough time for Rovers to claw back some of the deficit and George Hannigan found the net before Jack McLoughney added a point. Play continued with Liam Cleary replying and at half time Borrisokane led 4-7 to 1-5.

Borrisokane hit three quick points before Philip Austin completed his hat-trick of goals, this time Oisin Larkin providing the assist to make it 5-10 to 1-5 after 38 minutes.

Borris added three more points, the final one arriving in the 45th minute at which stage it was 5-13 to 1-8.

Tom Hogan had supplied the Rovers trio and with Borrisokane happy enough to contain their neighbours the Rovers sharpshooter led the way with eight more points from placed balls. They needed more but Emmett Moran, Oisin McMahon, Andy Byrne and George Hannigan could do no more as the Borrisokane defence refused to yield.

Borrisokane: Luke Gleeson; Peter Collins, Brian Davis, Jimmy Hough; Michael Kelly, Stephen Gavin, Roan Murphy; Liam Cleary (0-2), Kevin Cleary; Conor Gavin (1-1), Andy Austin, Dylan Power; Conor Ryan (0-1), Philip Austin (3-2), Oisin Larkin (1-7 (0-5f). Subs: Joey Cleary for Ryan (44), Andy Nevin for P Austin (44); Kevin McKenna for Collins (54 inj); Gordan Harding for A Austin (58).

Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill; Emmett Moran, Padraig O’Meara, Jack McLoughney (0-1); Oisin McMahon, Matt Tierney, Jack Sullivan; Alan Hannigan (0-2), Austin Tierney; Andy Byrne (0-1), Michael Tierney (0-1), Tom Hogan (0-11 (10f, 1’65); Sean Moran, George Hannigan (1-0), Marcus Esmonde. Subs: John O’Meara for Moran (36); Conor Ryan for McLoughney (36); Kieran O’Sullivan for Matt Tierney (43); Derek Horan for Esmonde (45); Paul Bourke for Tierney (53); Marcus Esmonde for G Hannigan (60 inj).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)

The other round three game between Moneygall and Ballinahinch failed to materialise as Ballinahinch gave a walkover.

How the walkover wouldn’t alter the group’s final positions. Moneygall finished in first place and they play Shannon Rovers in one of the semi-finals this Friday with Borrisokane and Ballinahinch on the same evening.