Borrisokane aim to add another title to Football haul in Premier Junior Final

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Junior Football Championship Final Preview

By Liam Hogan

BORRISOKANE V CLONMEL OG

Templetuohy

Saturday, 1st November

Throw-in @ 2.30pm (E.T.)

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Father Sheehy's)

Clonmel Og and Borrisokane will compete in next Saturday’s Tipperary Premier Junior Football Championship final.

In what will be the second instalment of this new grade, the winners will be promoted to Intermediate level for 2026.

Borrisokane

When it comes to winning county football titles, Borrisokane have two at adult level, the first in 1994 when defeating Kilsheelan/Kilcash in the Intermediate final 2-10 to 1-9. They also won a Junior ‘A’ title in 2012 with a one point win over Drom & Inch, 0-6 to 0-5, in which had five of the present panel still playing in Philip Austin, Gordon Harding, Robert Davis, Shane Nevin, and Seody Cleary.

Winners of nine North Intermediate titles, Borrisokane has been very much to the forefront when it comes to Gaelic football in the division. In 2012 they added a North U21 ‘B’ title to their North & County Junior successes. One year later, they claimed the U21 ‘A’ title. There was more success in 2014 at U21 ‘B’ level matching a North intermediate title the same year plus another Intermediate win two years later.

In 2018 they were North U21 ‘B’ champions for the third time before winning their second North U21 ‘A’ title in 2019 with victory over Inane Rovers. That victory, it could be said, played part of the foundation for their progress to this year’s final with Jimmy Hough, Jason Quigley, Michael Heenan, Conor Ryan, Michael Kelly, Kevin Cleary, Kevin Harding, and Liam Cleary involved.

Their progress to this year’s premier junior final began in August with defeat to JK Brackens, 2-18 to 1-11. The second round saw a 1-16 to 1-5 victory over a second string Kiladangan team which doubled up as the North final. Philip Austin was top scorer with 0-8 (6 frees), with Gary Ryan adding 1-2 as Borrisokane never had to reach second gear. Borrisokane then faced Fr Sheehys in the final group game which resulted in a 1-9 to 0-6 defeat.

The win over Kiladangan was enough to ensure a place in the quarter finals against Moyle Rovers which showed an improved Borrisokane performance as they won 1-11 to 0-6 with Gary Ryan’s goal from a penalty giving the Greens breathing space in a game they were never really tested.

Borrisokane returned to The Ragg for their semi-final against Fr Sheehy’s where they overturned the result of a few weeks earlier.

Once again, Gary Ryan was their goal-scorer in chief as he landed 2-4 including a goal from a penalty plus two two-pointers. This was a big improvement of their previous day’s work and the 3-10 to 2-9 win does not do them justice.

Ryan is not their only score getter with Conor Ryan, impressive each day, plus Mike Heenan, Gordon Harding, and Philip Austin are potential scorers. Austin continues to direct operations with no panic each day while Mike Kelly, Seody Cleary, Shane Nevin, Luke Quigley and Jimmy Hough are relentless as they have yet to let the side down.

Clonmel Og

For Clonmel Og, this final is a form of rehabilitation as they hope to resurrect the days when they were strong contenders at a higher level.

First set up in 1984 on foot of the population surge in the Clonmel area, they set out to take part in under-age competition eventually growing into an adult club. They won their first South Junior championship in 1990. Elevated to the intermediate grade they eventually won the County title in 2008 when they defeated south rivals Kilsheelan/Kilcash in the final.

They reached three finals in the noughties starting with defeat to Upperchurch/Drombane in 2015. Two years later, they failed to Kiladangan before finishing runners-up for the third time in 2019 with honours going to Moycarkey/Borris in the decider.

They continued to contest the Intermediate championship but were unable to make inroads to the knockout stages before they were relegated to Junior ‘A’ in 2023 by virtue of a one point defeat in the final at the hands of Golden Kilfeacle.

With the football grades re-aligned, Clonmel Og found themselves in the new Premier Junior grade for 2024. Two group games resulted in defeats to Moyle Rovers (five points) and JK Brackens (one point) but with no relegation they regrouped for 2025 and the results have been good so far. They began with a draw against Cashel King Cormacks 1-12 to 2-9 before defeating Moyle Rovers 2-9 to 1-6 and later accounting for Sean Treacys 0-17 to 0-4. Having received a bye to the semi-final, they defeated JK Brackens 3-15 to 2-13. This was a test of character for Clonmel Og. They trailed by 0-12 to 1-2 at the break. However, four two-pointers helped steady the ship and a goal by Matthew Norris gave them the lead. Yet they fell two in arrears with five minutes left before goals by Luke Hannigan and Darragh McVicker helped them to a five point win.

There are many potential score getters on the team, Chris O’Gorman, Niall O’Connor, Conor Arrigan and Shane O’Connor with Darragh McVicker, Hannigan and Matthew Norris very prominent. In addition, their goalkeeper Kyle Grant is known for a save of two.

The team has a sprinkle of players that have worn the blue & gold for Tipp. Darragh McVicker was a member of the senior panel in 2024 while Niall O’Connor played at under 20 level while Luke Hannigan and Jamal Yousif played Minor in 2024.

With the hurling left to one side, Borrisokane relish nothing better than a jab at some silverware with the big ball. However, Clonmel Og will be Borrisokane’s biggest test to date and based on match reports and opinions from their backroom they have potential to get goals and also secure vital two pointers which is so vital in today’s game. Clonmel Og with a slight nod.