Borrisokane overcome Kickhams again to secure quarter final spot

GAA: FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 Playoff

Borrisokane 0-24

Knockavilla Kickhams 3-12

Report: James Hayden in Borrisoleigh

Borrisokane secured passage to the knockout stages of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship with a hard-earned victory over Knockavilla Kickhams on Saturday.

The North men overcame the same opposition in the previous week’s final round-robin fixture but with both sides finishing with the same points and identical score difference in their group, it necessitated a playoff to decide the final group standings.

Borris manager Seamus Gleeson was forced to plan without the services of injured full-back Shane Nevin with Stephen Gavin switched into full-back to marshal the inside back line while the experienced Bryan Davis slotted in at left wing-back.

With Knockavilla Kickhams through to a preliminary quarter-final as West champions regardless of the outcome, Borrisokane had to win to keep their season going it was no surprise when the men from Lower Ormond raced into an early four-point advantage.

Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze, Borris’ fired over four points without reply after Kickhams opened their account thanks to an Elliot Thompson effort. Three of those four points came from scorer-in-chief Oisin Larkin while an early Jack Larkin opener saw Borris’ lead by 0-5 to 0-1 after ten minutes before the West men narrowed the gap thanks to a brace of Orrin Jones frees.

Kickhams were guilty of being over elaborative in attack but grew more into the game as the half wore on with efforts from Ben Loughman and captain David Butler narrowing the gap to a point by the 17th minute.

Borrisokane responded in style though with the impressive Liam Dooley surging up-field and firing over two long-range efforts while Oisin Larkin clipped over a well-struck free before all Borrisokane’s good work was undone by a 25th minute Pa Ryan goal, finished clinically with a low drive following a booming Lorcan Carr delivery from the wing.

The physical nature of the exchanges necessitated the interjection of referee, Kevin Jordan on a number of occasions in the closing stages of the half while he also brandished a red card to a Borrisokane mentor following a verbal altercation.

Borrisokane manufactured two fine points in response to the Kickhams goal with Oisin Larkin and Bryan Davis (free) both raising white flags. Larkin added another on thirty minutes before Borrisokane were forced to substitute their captain Mike Heenan after he shipped a heavy blow to his shoulder with Gary Ryan introduced into the fray.

Borrisokane added two further points deep in injury time with Oisin Larkin and Kevin Cleary both on target to ensure they led by 0-14 to 1-7 at the break.

Kickhams narrowed the gap in the opening minute of the second half thanks to an Orrin Jones point before Gary Ryan (free) and Oisin Larkin added a brace for Borrisokane. Once again, Kickhams hit back with a timely goal with Pa Ryan bagging his second of the day with a quick-fire strike on goal after the sliotar broke kindly for him.

Back came Borrisokane though with Oisin Larkin firing over a sublime effort from range before Gary Ryan knocked over his side’s nineteenth point. Borrisokane continued to maintain a healthy lead as the clock ticked towards sixty minutes. Oisin Larkin, Jack Larkin, Seody Cleary and Liam Dooley were all on target as Kickhams went in search of goals in a bid to fashion an unlikely victory.

In fairness they did net one with Ben Loughman netting a consolation goal. However, there was also one final scare with Kickhams breaking clean through on goal before Kevin Jordan halted play and awarded a free out for a thrown ball. Borrisokane had survived the prospect of extra-time and seconds later they deservedly ran out three -point winners and progression to the last eight.

Impressive for Borrisokane were Bryan Davis, Oisin Larkin, Jack Larkin, Philip Austin, Jimmy Hough, Liam Cleary, and Liam Dooley while Lorcan Carr, Pa Ryan, Orris Jones and Ben Loughman caught the eye for Knockavilla Kickhams.

Player of the Match: Oisin Larkin (Borrisokane)

Borrisokane: Colm Larkin (7); Brian Dooley (7), Stephen Gavin (7), Jimmy Hough (7); Peter Collins (7), Liam Cleary (7), Bryan Davis (0-1f, 8); Liam Dooley (0-3, 8), Mike Heenan; Dylan Power (7), Oisin Larkin (0-13 (0-5f), 9), Philip Austin (7); Kevin Cleary (0-1, 7), Jack Larkin (0-3 (0-1f), 7), Conor Ryan (7).

Subs: Gary Ryan (0-2, 1f, 7) for Heenan (30+5 inj); Seody Cleary (0-1, 7) for K Cleary (51); Mike Kelly (NR) for Austin (60); Eanna Dooley (NR) for C Ryan (60+2).

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Jack Breen (7), Eddie Daly (7), Eoin McCormack (7), Jack Ryan (7); Jamie Duncan (7), Paudie O’Carroll (7), Lorcan Carr (0-1, 7); Elliot Thompson (0-1, 6), David Butler (0-1, 6); Paudie Slattery (6), Ben Loughman (1-1, 7), Orrin Jones (0-6, 5f, 1 65’) 7); Dean Thompson (6), Pa Ryan (2-0, 7), Conor Horgan (6).

Subs: Daniel Lonergan (0-1, 7) for D Thompson (30+1); Ben Ryan (0-1, 6) for E Thompson (HT); Joe Fitzgerald (6) for Butler (35); Paul O’Dwyer (6) for Slattery (35); Mike Shanahan (NR) for P Ryan (55).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).