Tipperary minor Paddy McCormack scored 1-1 for Borris-Ileigh

Borris-Ileigh progress past wasteful St Patrick's

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Borris-Ileigh 1-14

St Patrick’s 2-8

Report: Liam Hogan in Cashel

The phrase “they got out of jail” was common among the Borris-Ileigh supporters after the final whistle after they escaped with a three-point win over a very plucky St Patrick’s side in the County Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling semi-final on Sunday.

Borris dominated the first half and led 0-10 to 1-3 at the break but two goals in the third quarter helped the South champions close the gap and in the dying minutes they finished the better side and should have gone in front, but their accuracy let them down with their wides tally reaching seventeen while the winners hit nine.

The North champions never really got into their stride with much expected from Paddy McCormack and Eddie Ryan but in fairness St Patrick’s had all their eggs in a row and their plans worked well with Bill Cuddihy, Evan Holohan, Ryan Crannitch, Jack Cleere and Cian Crannitch very much on their game.

In the opening minutes, Borris-Ileigh forced St Patrick’s keeper Conor Brett to save at the concession of a 65 which Eddie Ryan converted and he added a free before the North champions were three in front after seven minute thanks to an Eoin Boyle score after Razuk Atik supplied the pass.

But despite their slow start, St Patricks were full of running. Lengthy puckouts by Conor Brett were well directed which allowed Aidan Fitzgerald and Danny Broderick use their height to catch most of them. In addition, the speedy Daithi Hogan (son of former Tipp footballer Davy Hogan) managed to weave his magic with his mazy runs but unfortunately the final piece of the move fell apart on occasion until he finally found the Borris-Ileigh net in the tenth minute.

The Borris defence had their hands full, but Colm Boyle stood firm at full back while Tom Delaney was ever busy at midfield and up-front Eddie Ryan continued with accuracy from placed balls with the one-point lead increasing to four after Paddy Brett, Paddy McCormack, and Eoin Boyle each found the target.

Aidan Fitzpatrick’s point in the eighteenth minute broke the sequence before Borris-Ileigh increased their lead to five after Tom Delaney’s long-range point was quickly followed by another Eddie Ryan free. Another Fitzgerald score was the perfect response for St Patrick’s, but Eddie Ryan posted his fifth point and with the half coming to a close the final score rested with a Cathal Foley free. He had replaced the normally accurate William Cleere who was having an off day.

St Patrick’s started the second half very well with Cathal Foley pointing a free in the third minute and one minute later Aidan Fitzgerald had the ball in the Borris-Ileigh net when he took a pass from William Cleere.

Two Eddie Ryan frees gave Borris some respite and in the 38th minute Paddy McCormack found a chink in the Pat’s defence when scoring a goal after winning a long delivery from Tom Delaney. Both sides followed up with pointed frees through Foley and Ryan before St Patricks began to trouble the Borris defence with Daithi Hogan, Aidan Fitzgerald and William Cleere causing problems. Their only trouble was their inaccuracy in front of goal curtailed their chances of taking the lead. They were that close, but they had to wait until the 50th minute before Cleere resumed his free-taking duty, and he added another two minutes later.

The Borris-Ileigh defence also needed to be on their toes and Colm Boyle was excellent while Tom Delaney had covered every inch of ground. They came back in search of scores, but goalkeeper Conor Brett made a double save when first denying Paddy McCormack with Daniel Ryan denied seconds later but and as time ticked away, they were satisfied to see Eddie Ryan point a free from midway which secured a win for the north champions and a place in the final against Upperchurch/Drombane or Cappawhite Gaels.

Player of the Match: Tom Delaney (Borris-Ileigh)

Borris-Ileigh: Archie Devaney; Conor Murray, Colm Boyle, Aaron Ryan; Cian Murphy, Mikey Kennedy, Eamon Groome; Tom Delaney (0-1), Eoin Boyle (0-2); Razuk Atik, Eddie Ryan (0-9, 7f, 1’65), Paddy Brett (0-1); Daniel Ryan, Harry Gould, Paddy McCormack (1-1).

St Patricks: Conor Brett; Sean Nash, Bill Cuddihy, Evan Holohan; Ryan Crannitch, Jack Cleere, James Ryan; Cian Crannitch, Robbie Noonan; Daithi Hogan (1-0), Aidan Fitzgerald (1-2), Finn Madigan; Cathal Foley (0-4f), William Cleere (0-2f), Danny Broderick.

Referee: John O’Grady (Rosegreen).