Ryan rescues vital point for Borris-Ileigh

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

Borris-Ileigh 1-13

Clonoulty-Rossmore 0-16

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Borris-Ileigh picked up what could yet be a crucial point as they finished strongly against Clonoulty-Rossmore in group four of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday to rescue a draw when defeat looked on the cards.

After an indifferent campaign in the North division, Borris needed a result from this encounter with the West champions and while they will be happy enough not to have lost, they will also be fully aware that they could have taken full points.

This is a very difficult group with Kiladangan and Thurles Sarsfields waiting in the wings, but Sarsfields and Clonoulty have already qualified for the knock-out stages because of their divisional successes, so the onus is on Borris and Kiladangan to ensure they get the required results to secure a top two position in this group. A testing road lies ahead for Borris.

In that context, this is an important point for Borris-Ileigh, one that could yet define their campaign, and one which was fully deserved.

In a lively first half marked by many handling and striking errors on both sides, the sides traded points, with Eddie Ryan of Borris and Cathal Bourke of Clonoulty the marksmen. The were level three times but as the game moved into added time in the first half Clonoulty were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead. Then Dan McCormack set up James Devaney who raced through for a trade-mark goal and a half-time lead of 1-6 to 0-7 for Borris.

The second half followed a similar pattern. The sides were again level three times but points from Jack Ryan and Cathal Bourke then sent Clonoulty to the front, 0-16 to 1-11 with five minutes to go.

Borris-Ileigh’s belief in themselves was now under question and they responded in the best possible manner. With three minutes to go, Kevin Maher pointed. An equaliser was pursued with vigour, but it did not arrive until the 64th minute when Jerry Kelly was fouled and Eddie Ryan showed nerves of steel to send his strike straight between the posts.

Not losing was crucial and Borris-Ileigh achieved that, and it should give them great encouragement facing into the remainder of a programme which has no soft touches. An early injury to Ray McCormack will be a concern however, but the hope is that he will be fit for the next round.

Eddie Ryan was the mainstay of their attack, his excellent striking from placed balls playing a huge part in garnering this point. The work of Jerry Kelly, Brendan Maher and Dan McCormack at halfback zone played a big part in the outcome also while Conor Kenny and James Devaney also had their moments. The spirit shown was commendable but there is lots of room for improvement.

Clonoulty-Rossmore will be frustrated at having been caught so late when the win looked safe. They will be concerned that they relied so heavily on Cathal Bourke for their scores all of his twelve points coming from frees. They registered just four points from play, Jack Ryan striking three of them, and there must be improvement in this regard if they are to further their dan Breen cup prospects.

Full marks to Cathal Bourke for the quality of his striking and Jack Ryan, after a quiet first half, came more and more into the game as the hour progressed. Michael Ryan got through a lot of work at midfield while Ronan Heffernan, the ever-reliable John O’Keeffe, Danny Slattery, and Sean O’Connor led by example.

Player of the Match: Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh)

Borris-Ileigh: Jody Harkin (6); Colm Boyle (6), Liam Ryan (6), Seamus Burke (6); Brendan Maher (7), Dan McCormack (7), Ray McCormack (6); Shane Kenny (6), Tom Ryan (6); Jerry Kelly (7), Eddie Ryan (0-9, 7f, 9), James Devaney (1-0, 7); Kevin Maher (0-1, 6), Conor Kenny (0-2, 7), Jack Hogan (6).

Subs: Paddy McCormack (6) for S Kenny (27), Dan Ryan (0-1, 6) for R McCormack (29 inj); Paddy Stapleton (6) for P McCormack (46).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Martin Sadlier (6); Tommy Ryan (6), Enda Heffernan (6), Stephen Quinn (6); Ciaran Quirke (6), John O’Keeffe (7), Sean O’Connor (7); Ronan Heffernan (0-1, 7), Michael Ryan (7); Aaron Ryan (6), Cathal Bourke (0-12f, 8), Jack Ryan (0-3, 7); Danny Slattery (7), Robert Doyle (7), Stephen Ferncombe (6).

Subs: Jimmy Maher (6) for Quinn (47); James Hammersley (NR) for Ferncombe (58).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).