A win to savour for Borris Captain Dan
By Shane Brophy
Dan McCormack has won a lot in his illustrious career, including 2 All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals with Tipperary along with a county and Munster club championship in 2019 with Borris-Ileigh in 2019 but Sunday’s North Final win is one that will rank high.
“It was more the manner of the contest,” said the Borris-Ileigh skipper who was winning just his second North medal to add to the 2017 success.
“North Finals are huge and you see the crowd that was there today, it was an unbelievable occasion.
“The match itself ebbed and flowed and we thought we were home but Nenagh are a good side. Jake (Morris) hit the 21-yard free very well, it bounced into the ground. We got the goal near the end and they came back again so it was over and back and a brilliant win.”
McCormack added that regardless of the outcome of the game, it was important they backed up the performance from the semi-final win over Kiladangan, and they did that and more.
“Over the last couple of years, we might turn up with a big performance in one game and might be flat the next time. It is something we have talked about to try and get more consistency and greater work ethic into our performances.
“Coming off the field, a few of the lads we saying that was the kind of game in the last few years we wouldn’t have ground out so that was one of the most pleasing things from it.”
He added: “Talent was never the issue. It is hard to put your finger on it, possibly a mindset thing but when everybody clicks together it is huge.
“We have a good juvenile club and have won a couple of North under 21 titles in the last few years so you can see them coming through.
“We have Jack Hogan back who is another who has been out for a couple of years, Colm Boyle as well, lads hitting their mid-twenties and then you have the experience in the side so there is a nice blend there.”
While the victory guarantees Borris-Ileigh a knockout berth in the county championship via a preliminary quarter final, the aim is not to need it and qualify on their own merit for the knockout stages and maintain the momentum when the group stage of the county championship begins on the weekend after next.
“We have Clonoulty in two weeks time and they are in the same boat as us after winning a West title. We have had a couple of tough years after fighting relegation and hadn’t gotten out of the group since 2021 so that is our next goal, to finish in the top two in what is a tough group as are all the groups in the county championship,” concluded the Borris captain.