Silverware for Borrisokane in Football return

GAA: FBD Insurance County Football League Division 4 Final

Borrisokane 4-13

Killenaule 1-11

Report: Michael Dundon in Killenaule

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Gordon Harding (Borrisokane)

SCORERS – Borrisokane: Gordon Harding 3-2; Gary Ryan 0-4 (1 free); Fiachra Bond 1-0; Philip Austin 0-3 (2 frees); Peter Collins, Shane Nevin, Josh Chadwick, James Haugh 0-1 each.

Killenaule: Fiachra Fitzgerald 0-4 (2 frees); Thomas Maher 1-1; Michael Doyle 0-3; Liam Ryan 0-2; Dara O’Gorman 0-1.

Borrisokane’s football revival got a welcome shot in the arm as they captured County League Division 4 honours with a comprehensive win over Killenaule on Friday evening.

Goals from Gordon Harding in the tenth and Fiachra Bond in the thirteenth minutes surged Borrisokane 2-4 to 0-2 and they never looked back.

They were clearly the superior side, with Harding a constant threat on the edge of the square, and former county man Philip Austin also hugely influential.

Indeed, they might have had a couple of more goals before half-time but opted for points. At the interval they led 2-9 to 0-5 with Killenaule, whose second team this was, struggling to find a foothold in the game.

Points from Luke Ryan and Michael Doyle at the start of the second half hinted at a Killenaule revival but it was short-lived. In the 40th minute, Gordon Harding got his second goal when finishing of a fine move, and seven minutes later completed his hat-trick when, having his penalty saved, he thumped home the rebound.

By then, Killenaule were down to fourteen men, Stephen Browne having been black-carded for the foul that led to the penalty, but they battled on gamely, sub Tomas Maher netting minutes from the end.

Borrisokane captain Mikey Kelly accepted the trophy on behalf of his colleagues and there could be more to follow for them as this side should give a good account of itself in the premier junior championship. Granted the opposition will be stiffer, Borrisokane are a very well structured side with a lot of talent and will be hard to beat.

Gordon Harding’s hat-trick was the stand-out performer and he could have had a couple more but opted for points instead. Philip Austin’s class shone out all through, while Michael Heenan, Garry Ryan, Mikey Kelly, and Luke Gleeson were others to do well.

Killenaule lost to Borrisokane earlier in the league and were outsiders going into the final. From an early stage it was apparent that they were in trouble and while giving them due credit for their effort they never looked like winning. Michael Doyle, Luke Ryan, and Finn Fitzgerald were their top performers with Oisin Shelly and sub Thomas Maher also to the fore.

TEAMS – Borrisokane: James Morris (6); Luke Gleeson (6), Andy Nevin (6), Luke Quigley (6); Liam Cleary (6), Michael Heenan (7), James Haugh (7); Peter Collins (7), Shane Nevin (6); Mikey Kelly (6), Garry Ryan (7), Josh Chadwick (6); Philip Austin (7), Gordon Harding (9), Fiachra Bond (6).

Subs: Dermot Hogan (6) for A Nevin (HT); Kevin Cleary (6) for Chadwick (40); Sheody Cleary for S Nevin (43); Cathal Blake (6) for Bond (48); Sean Egan (6) for Quigley (53).

Killenaule: Charlie Cummins (6); Ronan Desmond (6), Stephen Browne (6), Denis Fogarty (6); Jimmy Ryan (6), Luke Ryan (7), Nathan Barrett (6); Declan Fanning (6), David McCormack (6); Oisin Shelly (6), Michael Doyle (7), Tony Ryan (6); Dara O’Gorman (6), Finn Fitzgerald (7), Dara Fitzgerald (6).

Subs: Danny Shelly (6) for D Fitzgerald (27); Cathal Lawrence (6) for Desmond (38); Thomas Maher (7) for Barrett (49); Jack Healy (6) for Fogarty (52).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport).