Roscrea impress in reaching North Final

Walsh's of Nenagh North Tipperary Under 21 'A' Hurling Semi-Final

Roscrea 1-15

Borris-Ileigh 0-9

Report: Thomas Conway in Toomevara

Neither of Roscrea's prospective North Final opponents, Nenagh Éire Óg or Kiladangan, will be intent on looking too far beyond their postponed semi-final clash, now set to take place this Sunday, 12th December.

At the same time, both teams will enter that game with the knowledge that, should they prevail, another serious challenge awaits them in the decider. Because Roscrea are a serious team, and their comfortable victory over Borris-Ileigh last Sunday provided plenty of compelling evidence to confirm that.

1-15 to 0-9 wasn't a dramatic score-line, and this wasn't one of those gung-ho annihilations, but the winning side were superior on all fronts, edging ahead after a competitive opening couple of minutes before eventually powering off into the distance. Corner forward Luke Cashin was their star man, pulling off all sorts of outrageous scores and skilful trickery, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old UL student had help, not least from the man beside him, full-forward Conor Dooley.

Playing a precise and sometimes delicate brand of hurling, full of close criss-crossing runs and sharp diagonal passing, Roscrea were on the scoresheet within sixty seconds, Jack Lee peeling off his man and catching a short pass from centre-back Aidan Booth, before arrowing over from distance.

Booth, along with his wing-backs Conor Phelan and Luke Seacy were authoritative throughout, though Borris did manage to grind their way through in the early stages, keeping pace with Roscrea courtesy of free-taker Eddie Ryan and full-forward James Devaney. No need to spell about what Devaney is capable of. If you weren't already aware, his first point would have told you anyway - a sweeping over the shoulder effort after he had snapped the ball on the bounce.

It was two points apiece after five minutes, but by the water-break Roscrea had advanced, leading 0-6 to 0-3. The pick of their scores was a soaring long-distance strike from Seacy, which he unleashed out-of-the-blue from midfield, and while Borris almost managed to sneak back into the game when Eddie Ryan’s shot clanked off the post, Roscrea were clearly starting to motor.

Darragh Tynan zipped another point over just after water-break, followed by a Cashin free, and though Ryan responded with a Borris free at the other end, Roscrea stuck the knife in just before half-time, wing-forward Jack Lee finding enough space to force his shot past Paudie Stapleton from close-range. The goal was probably inevitable, but for Borris-Ileigh it came at the worst possible moment.

Leading 1-8 to 0-4 at the interval, the second-half saw Roscrea reinforce the same trend. They killed off any chance of a come-back with early points, most of them Cashin frees, though his first of the half was a beauty from play - pinged over from the wing after manoeuvring the ball down from the air.

They then won a penalty on 47 minutes, Dooley dragged to the ground after snatching a high ball, but Cashin wasn't quite as clinical this time around. He drilled the ball mid-height towards the corner, but Stapleton's movement was lightning quick and the keeper calmly knocked the ball away. That save, along with the unceasing work-rate of Kevin Maher, Colm Boyle and the entire Borris defensive unit has to be commended.

Roscrea were not for stopping, however. Cashin continued to fire them over and although Eddie Ryan was similarly accurate from placed-balls, it made little difference.

A defeat to Holycross-Ballycahill condemned Roscrea's senior hurlers to relegation in late October, but a win over Nenagh or Kiladangan would certainly restore confidence levels within the club. Based on Sunday's performance, this under-21 North title is there for the taking. It will take a massive performance, but for a club which just went down, things might be looking up.

Player of the Match: Luke Cashin (Roscrea)

Roscrea: Graham Fahey (7), Bryan McCabe (7), James Sinnott (7), Oisín Moloney (7), Conor Phelan (7), Aidan Booth (8), Luke Seacy (0-1, 8), Conor Donovan (0-1, 7), Darragh Tynan (0-1, 8), Owen Tynan (7), Kenny Lee (0-2, 8), Jack Lee (1-3, 8), Dylan Hogan (7), Conor Dooley (8), Luke Cashin (0-7, 3f) 9).

Subs: Jamie Ryan (6) for Hogan (50); Cian Bergin (NR) for J Lee (60+1).

Borris-Ileigh: Paudie Stapleton (8), Cian Stapleton (6), Ray McCormack (6), James Kelly (7), Séamus Ryan (7), Kevin Maher (7), Colm Boyle (7), Fintan Holland (6), Mikey Kennedy (0-1, 7), Cathal Hogan (6), Eddie Ryan (0-7f, 7), Dan Ryan (7), Adam Galvin (6), James Devaney (0-1, 7), Jack Fitzgerald (7).

Subs: Aaron Rabbitte (7) for C Stapleton (HT); Michael Ryan (6) for Hogan (46); Harry Gould (6) for Fitzgerald (52); Brian Murray (NR) for D Ryan (60+2).

Referee: Kieran Delaney (Toomevara).