Borris-Ileigh take their chances in seeing off Duharra

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Quarter Final

Borris-Ileigh 1-13

Burgess/Duharra 0-14

Report: Geraldine Kinane in Borrisoleigh

Borris-Ileigh progressed to the semi-finals of the County Senior Camogie Championship after a two-point quarter final victory over Burgess/Duharra on Monday night.

The huge crowd that gathered under the lights in Borrisoleigh witnessed an enthralling battle between two determined teams. The game went right down to the wire with extra time looking like a real possibility as Jenny Grace fired over a 61st minute free to tie the game, 1-11 to 0-14.

But there was time for more drama and when a Borris-ileigh free was bought forward for dissent, the classy Nicole Walsh made no mistake in putting the home side into the lead. Immediately, Duharra went on the attack and a great ball in by Caoimhe Maher fell to her sister Ciardha, who was playing her first game in five weeks after a serious shoulder injury. She came storming through like a train but fired her shot narrowly wide.

Moments later, Teresa Ryan who had grown more into the game as it progressed was on the attack for Borris-Ileigh and won herself a free which Nicole Walsh pointed to put two between the sides deep in injury time.

Burgess/Duharra were to get one more opportunity and landed a long range free into the danger zone which Borris defended gallantly and cleared their lines as referee TP Sullivan sounded the full time whistle to the delight of the home crowd.

Borris-Ileigh got off to a dream start when Aoife Ryan, who was a handful all night, made a great run at pace towards the Burgess/Duharra goal and finished to the net after four minutes, to add to Nicole Walsh’s first minute pointed free.

Before the goal, Burgess/Duharra missed a goal chance of their own, one of four or five good chances that went a begging throughout the hour. This will be their biggest regret that especially when they had the aid of a strong wind in the opening half, they only went in at the break one point up, 0-9 to 1-5. In reality, they should have executed some of their goal opportunities but credit must also go to Kellie Healy in the Borris-Ileigh goal who was brilliant and pulled off some superb point blank saves.

The first half was played at a great tempo with the Monday night under lights factor adding to the drama and excitement. Jenny Grace and Nicole Walsh traded points from play and frees while Caoimhe & Ciardha Maher also pointed in an entertaining opening twenty minutes.

Borris-Ileigh led 1-5 to 0-7 approaching half time before two-in-a-row from Jenny Grace gave them the slenderest lead at the break, 1-5 to 0-9.

The visitors extended their lead to three by the 35th minute with a Jenny Grace free and an excellent point from the wing by Kaithlin O’Halloran.

But the Borris-Ileigh response was excellent with five unanswered points in a five-minute spell as they began to get on top in most areas of the field. Again Nicole Walsh ‘s free-taking was crucial as she nailed four frees, while Ava Bevans also pointed to make it 1-10 to 0-11 as the game looked to be slipping away from the visitors.

But Burgess/Duharra were never going to lie down and with Jenny Grace excellent in the middle of the field from general play along with another two pointed frees she soon had the gap back to one.

Another Nicole Walsh free was cancelled out by Grace in the 61st minute to level the game but two more frees by Walsh bought her personal tally to eleven points and completed the scoring as Borris recorded a famous victory.

Player of the Match: Kellie Kealy (Borris-Ileigh).

Borris-Ileigh: Kellie Healy; Emma Galvin, Avril Ryan, Niamh McGrath; Julieanne Bourke, Teresa Ryan, Danielle Ryan; Noirin Stapleton, Aoife Fitzgerald; Nicole Walsh (0-11, 9f), Ava Bevans (0-1); Therese Groome, Aoife Ryan (1-1), Emma Maher.

Subs: Katie Fitzgerald for Galvin (inj), Moira Maher for Stapleton, Jane Delaney for E Maher.

Burgess/Duharra: Ciara Holohan; Grace O’Dwyer, Fiona Kirwan, Iris Grace; Gemma Grace, Aisling Cremin, Katie Grace; Jenny Grace (0-10, 6f, 1 45), Katie O’Flaherty; Kaitlin O’Halloran (0-1), Caoimhe Maher, Caoilfhionn Maher; Laura Reid, Amy Kennedy, Ciardha Maher (0-3).

Subs: Ella Slattery for Caoilfhionn Maher; Roisin Duffy for Reid.

Referee: TP Sullivan (Nenagh Eire Og).