Ryan inspires Borrisokane past Skeheenarinky

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Borrisokane 1-22

Skeheenarinky 1-20

Report: James Hayden at Pairc Ciocum, Dundrum

Borrisokane produced a powerful second-half display to overcome a determined Skeheenarinky challenge and secure their place in the Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals following an absorbing quarter-final on Sunday afternoon.

In a contest that ebbed and flowed throughout, the Lower Ormond men showed admirable composure when the pressure was at its greatest, eroding a five-point half-time deficit before taking control of the contest in the closing stages.

Skeheenarinky, the South champions, who had accounted for Newport the week previous, looked well placed after an impressive opening half, but their challenge faltered in the final quarter as Borrisokane grew increasingly dominant around the middle third and eventually edged their way into the last four, where they will meet Ballingarry.

The North men made the brighter start with Mike Kelly opening the scoring with a sweet effort from distance before the impressive Gary Ryan fired over his first of five first-half points from play.

The Skeheenarinky response, however, was emphatic. Darragh Brennan pointed from close range before he turned provider, setting up centre-forward Tomás Vaughan for a superbly taken goal with just six minutes gone.

Tommy Sweeney subsequently extended the South champions’ advantage before Gary Ryan replied from range. He added another two points in the 13th minute to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

Skeheenarinky might have restored their advantage moments later but Borrisokane goalkeeper Luke Gleeson produced a superb full-length diving save to deny a rasping Vaughan effort.

Skeheenarinky continued to enjoy the upper hand around midfield and points from Tommy Sweeney and Vaughan stretched their lead to three. Vaughan then converted a 20th minute free to put four between the sides.

Conor Ryan responded with a sublime score for Borrisokane but Skeheenarinky continued to find openings and successive points from Fionán O’Sullivan and Darragh Brennan had the South side five ahead by the 25th minute.

Both sides exchanged two further scores before the interval, with Liam Cleary and Conor Ryan finding the target for Borrisokane, while Tommy Sweeney and Darragh Vaughan responded for Skeheenarinky. The South champions therefore carried a deserved 1-11 to 0-9 advantage into the dressing room.

Borrisokane made a significant adjustment at half-time with Conall Larkin introduced for Shane Nevin, and John Egan’s charges immediately looked a more balanced outfit following the restart.

Their revival gathered momentum as they began to take the game firmly to Skeheenarinky, with Gary Ryan once again leading the charge, adding two further points to his already impressive tally to reduce the gap to three by the 37th minute, before Jack Larkin set up his brother Oisin for a beautifully struck score to leave it 0-13 to 1-13.

Skeheenarinky managed to retain their three-point advantage approaching the midway point of the half with Tommy Sweeney and Tomás Vaughan both on target, while Oisin Larkin and Conor Ryan ensured Borrisokane remained firmly in contention.

The momentum, though, was beginning to swing decisively in Borrisokane’s favour. They were now dominating possession through the middle third and, as Skeheenarinky struggled to contain the increasing pressure, three unanswered points brought the sides level in the 52nd minute.

Then came the defining moment. Borrisokane sensed an opportunity and went for the jugular, with experienced club stalwart Philip Austin producing the decisive score of the contest.

Austin, lurking on the edge of the square, gathered a long delivery from Mike Heenan before keeping his composure to finish neatly past the advancing Glen Walsh, sending Borrisokane into a lead they would never relinquish, 1-19 to 1-16.

Oisin Larkin stretched the advantage to four points in the 53rd minute with a ‘65 before Gary Ryan capped a magnificent individual performance by registering his eighth point from play as the sixty-minute mark approached.

Skeheenarinky refused to surrender, however, and responded with points from Darragh Brennan and Tomás Vaughan to keep their hopes alive. Vaughan then floated over a 65 deep into added time, but time was against the South champions and Borrisokane held firm to book their place in the county semi-final.

For Skeheenarinky, it was a case of a promising first-half performance ultimately undone by Borrisokane’s greater intensity and control after the break.

For Borrisokane, their ability to overturn a five-point half-time deficit underlined both their character and championship credentials, and they can now look forward to a semi-final meeting with Ballingarry.

Player of the Match: Gary Ryan (Borrisokane).

Borrisokane: Luke Gleeson (7); Joseph Murphy (7), Shane Nevin (6), James Hough (7); Peter Collins (7), Jack Larkin (0-1, 8), Mike Heenan (Capt, 0-1, 7); Dylan Power (7), Conor Ryan (0-2, 8); Mike Kelly (7), Liam Cleary (0-1, 7), Gary Ryan (0-8, 9); Ciaran Foley (7), Philip Austin (1-0, 7), Oisin Larkin (0-9, 7f, 8).

Subs: Conall Larkin (7) for Nevin (HT); Donal Cleary (7) for Kelly (40); Diarmaid Hogan (NR) for Hough (57); Kevin Cleary (NR) for Power (57).

Skeheenarinky: Glen Walsh (7); Seamus O’Callaghan (7), James Barry (Capt, 7), Eoin Morrissey (7); Noel Vaughan (7), Oisin Brennan (7), Riaín O’Callaghan (7); Fionán O’Sullivan (0-3, 2f, 7), Jack Kearney (7); Conor Sweeney (0-2, 7), Tomás Vaughan (1-7 (0-6f), 8), Charlie English (6); Sam McGrath (6), Darragh Brennan (0-4, 7), Tommy Sweeney (0-4, 7).

Subs: John Ryan for Morrissey (36); Mikey Maher (6) for McGrath (45); Christy English (6) for O’Callaghan (50).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).