Borris-Ileigh finish strongly to claim County Hurling League title
GAA: FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 1 Final
Borris-Ileigh 1-17
JK Brackens 1-12
Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Tom Delaney (Borris-Ileigh).
SCORERS - Borris-Ileigh: Patrick Ryan 1-11 (0-10 frees); Jerry Kelly, Conor Kenny 0-2 each; Mikey Kennedy, Tom Delaney 0-1 each.
JK Brackens: Shane Doyle 0-8 frees; Lyndon Fairbrother 0-4; Ned Walsh 1-0.
Tom Delaney turned in a man of the match performance at the heart of the Borris-Ileigh defence as they annexed the County Hurling League Division 1 title at the expense of JK Brackens last Wednesday.
Operating in a sweeping role, Tipp U20 panellist got through a huge amount of ball as he tidied up in defence and initiated attacks with well-placed deliveries. He capped it all with a point at the start of a Borris resurgence in the last quarter which swept them to the title.
In what was always an entertaining encounter, though lacking championship intensity, both sides were short several regulars and while Borris delighted in a first win of the trophy, Brackens were left to rue missed chances from play and frees which could have carried the day for them. On top of that they had two goal efforts brilliantly saved by Borris custodian James McCormack in the second half which must have convinced them that this just wasn’t their night.
Borris-Ileigh were clearly the better side in the first half with Patrick Ryan impeccable from frees, ably abetted by Jerry Kelly, back in harness after being abroad last year. James Devaney too showed an appetite for action as the north boys moved 0-10 to 0-6 clear by half-time. Patrick Ryan landed seven points with Conor Kenny, Jerry Kelly, and Mikey Kennedy also on the score sheet.
Shane Doyle had three frees for Brackens with Lyndon Fairbrother getting the other three for the Templemore boys who showed none of the zest that carried them to victory over Holycross-Ballycahill in their semi-final the previous Sunday.
Four points down at the break, JK Brackens put in a solid third quarter to reel in Borris by the 42nd minutes. Doyle (4 frees) and Fairbrother had points to which Conor Kenny replied for Borris, tying the game at 0-11 each.
Just when it seemed the Templemore lads would drive on for a win, Borris clawed their way back into the game and pushed five points clear with three from Patrick Ryan frees, and efforts from Tom Delaney and Jerry Kelly after 52 minutes.
Brackens needed a goal, but Lyndon Fairbrother’s blast was well saved by James McCormack in the Borris goal. Shane Doyle pointed for Brackens but in a 54th minute break Patrick Ryan netted for Borris for a 1-16 to 0-12 lead.
Ned Walsh then had his shot for goal saved by the in-form McCormack as Brackens chased redemption. Eight points down, and the game gone from them, Brackens did eventually get a goal when Ned Walsh availed of Shane Doyle’s quickly taken free, and Borris’ lack of concentration, to find the net but it was much too late, and Borris began to celebrate their first success in the competition.
Borris-Ileigh deserved their win. They defended well and were more clinical with their opportunities and claiming silverware now sets them up for good championship campaigns at divisional and county level. Of course, the league win, with teams lacking many established players, cannot be taken as an accurate reflection of how things will be in a few weeks’ time, but they can be happy with how fringe players have put up their hands for places ahead of the return of the absentees.
Tom Delaney was an inspiring figure at the heart of the defence, but the contributions of Jerry Kelly, James Devaney, Conor Kenny, Liam Ryan, and goalkeeper James McCormack were also crucial to this win.
JK Brackens will feel that they left the trophy behind them given the chances they spurned. Probably feeling the effects of a game the previous Sunday, they lacked the sharpness and decisiveness of that encounter with some of their big guns quieter than usual. Lydon Fairbrother was their biggest threat in attack with Ned Walsh also doing well. Luke Ormond, Jordan Moloney, Cathal Scully, Tom Murphy, and Eanna McBride also did their bit.
TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (7); Shane Kenny (6), Liam Ryan (7), Cathal Hogan (6); Dan McCormack (6), Tom Delaney (9), Mikey Kennedy (6); Kevin Maher (6), Kieran Maher (6); James Devaney (7), Sean McCormack (6), Conor Kenny (7); Jack Fitzgerald (6), Jerry Kelly (7), Patrick Ryan (7).
Sub: Tommy Ryan (6) for Fitzgerald (48).
JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (6); Luke Ormond (7), Cathal Scully (7), Ned Delaney (6); Martin Delaney (6), Paddy Cadell (6), Sean Walsh (6); Eanna McBride (7), Jordan Moloney (7); Shane Doyle (6), Stephen Cahill (6), Tom Murphy (7); Lyndon Fairbrother (7), Michael Cahill (6), Ned Walsh (7).
Subs: Joe Bourke (6) for N Delaney (51); Tom Corcoran (NR) for Scully (59).
Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla-D Kickhams).