Borris’ point their way past Templederry

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Borris-Ileigh 0-29

Templederry Kenyons 0-23

Report: James Hayden in Nenagh

Borris-Ileigh proved just too good for Templederry in a well-contested County Senior Hurling Championship clash on Sunday.

This clash served up a feast of points scoring as Borris-Ileigh bounced back from an opening round defeat to Thurles Sarsfields to get their championship campaign up and running in earnest.

Templederry went into this encounter searching for a win also following what has been a disappointing year to date for the Kenyons but once again came up short despite an impressive performance.

The concession of too many frees, some contentious and some not, without doubt contributed to their downfall, with the unerring accuracy of Brendan Maher punishing the Kenyons at every opportunity. The Borris-Ileigh captain amassed a tally of sixteen points, with fourteen coming from placed balls in what was a stellar display of free-taking.

Templederry were never too far away from Borris’ throughout but with the men in maroon leading by five, the dismissal of Eanna Murray on 52 minutes for a second bookable offence put the kibosh on Templederry’s efforts to claw back Borris-Ileigh’s lead.

The first half proved a fast-paced high-tempo scoring affair with the points coming thick and fast from the get-go. Brendan Maher (free), Kevin Maher and JD Devaney were on target in the opening minutes for Borris’ while Eanna Murray (2 frees) and Gearóid Ryan ensured Templederry kept pace.

Further efforts from the impressive Sean Ryan and a brace from the influential Brian Stapleton kept Templederry ticking over with Borris’ depending on the accuracy of Brendan Maher to enhance their tally.

It was all nip and tuck until the 14th minute when a trio of efforts from Brendan Maher (free), Kieran Maher and Eddie Ryan edged Borris-Ileigh three clear. Borris-Ileigh maintained that advantage until three points on the bounce for Templederry (2 Eanna Murray frees and an Odhran Murphy point) brought the men in green and white level.

Borris-Ileigh responded once more though with successive Brendan Maher frees edging Shane O’Neill’s charges two clear.

With the interval fast approaching, Templederry once more found their range, with Brian Stapleton and Gearóid Ryan restoring parity before James Devaney brought the best out of Tim McCutcheon in the Templederry goal who dived full length to make the save in what was realistically the only clear-cut goal opportunity in the game. Brendan Maher duly converted the resulting 65’ to ensure Borris-Ileigh took a slender 0-14 to 0-13 lead to the dressing room.

At this juncture many observers would have given Templederry a distinct chance of overturning the pre-match odds but after just six minutes of the second half the landscape had changed.

Successive frees from Brendan Maher coupled with points from Conor Kenny and JD Devaney extended Borris-Ileigh’s lead to five and but for a wayward handpass by Niall Kenny, in a bid to put his brother Conor through on goal in the 36th minute, the lead could have been even bigger. Christy Coughlan gratefully gathered the wayward handpass and set up Brian Stapleton for a rousing Templederry point, and one that served to inject new impetus into a flagging Kenyons outfit.

Colm Murray quickly added another and a brace of Eanna Murray frees had Templederry back to within one with 45 minutes on the clock.

Borris-Ileigh were duty bound to respond, and respond they did, with three Brendan Maher frees and a 50th minute James Devaney point widening the gap to five once more.

Following an altercation on the sideline Eanna Murray then received his marching orders, a second yellow card infringement after he appeared to flick back the hurley while being ousted towards the sideline barrier by the Borris-Ileigh rearguard. As harsh looking as it appeared, it dealt a body blow to Templederry from which they never recovered. In a flash the advantage was out to seven thanks to points from Shane Kenny and Conor Kenny and by the 59th minute the gap was out to nine.

Credit to Templederry though they kept fighting against the tide, with four points without reply in injury time drawing the sideline wrath of Borris-Ileigh coach John Fitzgerald. Late points from Conor Kenny and Kevin Maher served to steady the ship and Borris-Ileigh deservedly ran out seven-point victors.

Borris-Ileigh now face neighbours Drom & Inch needing a win, and likely a big one at that to stay in the championship. Templederry will be hoping for just that outcome and also to pull off a victory over Thurles Sarsfields in order to escape a relegation battle and maybe scrape into the quarter finals.

Player of the Match: Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (7); Seamus Burke (7), Ray McCormack (7), Kieran Maher (0-1, 8); Liam Ryan (7), Jerry Kelly (8), Sean McCormack (7); Brendan Maher (0-16 (13f, 1 65’) 8), Tommy Ryan (7); Conor Kenny (0-4, 8), Dan McCormack (7), Eddie Ryan (0-1, 7); Kevin Maher (0-2, 7), Niall Kenny (7), James Devaney (0-3, 7).

Subs: Shane Kenny (0-2, 7) for N Kenny (38); Paddy Stapleton (NR) for T Ryan (60); Ciaran Cowan (NR) for Burke (60+1).

Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon (8); Liam McCutcheon (7), Christy Coughlan (8), Tadhg McLoughlin (7); Darragh Carey (7), Tom Stapleton (7), Brian Stapleton (0-5, 8); Colm Murray (0-1, 7), Matthew Hogan (7), Gearóid Ryan (0-2, 7), Odhran Murphy (0-1, 7), Eanna Murray (0-5, 4f) 7); Mikie Ryan (0-1, 7), Sean Ryan (0-8, 5f) 7), Padraig O’Leary (7).

Subs: Michael Hayes (NR) for M Ryan (59); Michael Ryan (NR) for McLoughlin (59); Conor Looby (NR) for Murray (59).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).