Devaney double sees Borris-Ileigh past Kilruane

GAA: The Hibernian Inn North Tipp Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Borris-Ileigh 2-18

Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-21

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS – Borris-Ileigh: James Devaney 2-3; Patrick Ryan 0-5 (4 frees, 1 ’65); Jerry Kelly 0-4; Conor Kenny 0-2; Colm Boyle, Paddy McCormack, Sean McCormack, Eddie Ryan (free) 0-1 each.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Willie Cleary 0-10 (8 frees); Niall O’Meara 0-4; Jerome Cahill 0-2; Conor Austin, Mark O’Neill, Shane Cleary, Thomas Cleary, Aaron Morgan 0-1 each.

Two goals from James Devaney proved the difference as Borris-Ileigh progressed to another North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Final after holding off Kilruane MacDonaghs in a well-contested semi-final on Wednesday evening.

Despite playing their second game in the space of 72-hours off the back of defeating Nenagh Eire Og in the quarter finals on Sunday evening, Kilruane didn’t show any level of fatigue and were getting on top when a touch of fortune favoured Borris-Ileigh in the 53rd minute when a Jerry Kelly shot for a point came back of the post to the unmarked James Devaney who turned inside advancing keeper Paidi Williams and steered the ball to the net.

It proved to be the key score despite Kilruane pushing Borris all the way to the final whistle.

Borris-Ileigh just about merited their victory where Devaney and the returning Jerry Kelly, after a year away, contributed 2-7 from play between them while debutante Paddy Ryan was prominent in a creative sense. Special mention to Shane Kenny who kept Cian Darcy, not only scoreless, but got to very few possessions after his 1-8 from play in the quarter final.

They will feel with Seamus Burke and Tom Delaney to return in the defence and Eddie Ryan further up the field, their options are certainly stronger than in previous years despite Brendan Maher not being involved this year.

After limping out of the quarter final win over Nenagh, Craig Morgan didn’t feature for Kilruane and was a loss in defence where Shane Cleary filled in but had his hands full with Jerry Kelly, however, Niall O’Meara was outstanding at right wing back, contributing four points from play and was a tour de force throughout.

Kilruane were the quickest out of the blocks, scoring four of the first five points with O’Meara, Jerome Cahill, and Conor Austion on target from play. Conor Kenny was prominent in the first half for Borris and was on target twice along with Colm Boyle and Devaney to draw level after eight minutes.

Borris’ first goal came five minutes later, started by Kenny who worked the ball through Sean McCormack and then to Devaney on the overlap who finished well. Patrick Ryan’s second converted free stretched Borris’ lead to five but Kilruane had the better of the second quarter as they cut the deficit to three, 1-10 to 0-10, by half time with Thomas Cleary, Mark O’Neill, and O’Meara on target from play, as well two Willie Cleary frees to points from Paddy McCormack, Jerry Kelly and a 65 from Patrick Ryan.

Borris-Ileigh were on the front foot for the first ten minutes of the second half pushing four clear with Sean McCormack adding his name to the scoresheet. However, aided by a tactical change by playing Jerome Cahill as an extra man at the back, they created overlaps from where long-range points flowed from O’Meara (2), Aaron Morgan and Shane Cleary to get back within one. Four wides in the middle part of the second half prevented them from betting back on terms although Willie Cleary came to the fore with his first of two from play.

Then came the decisive moment with Devaney’s second goal in the 53rd minute but Kilruane never relented and got back within three on a couple of occasions but a fourth point from play by Jerry Kelly and a monster late free from sub Eddie Ryan got Borris-Ileigh over the line.

TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (6); Liam Ryan (6), Ray McCormack (7), Johnny McGrath (6); Shane Kenny (8), Dan McCormack (7), Mikey Kennedy (6); Colm Boyle (7), Kevin Maher (6); Jerry Kelly (8), Sean McCormack (7), Conor Kenny (8); Patrick Ryan (7), Paddy McCormack (6), James Devaney (8).

Subs: Cathal Hogan (6) for McGrath (41 inj); Eddie Ryan (6) for Maher (44); Tommy Ryan for L Ryan (55-57 blood); Tommy Ryan (6) for Kennedy (57).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams (6); James Cleary (6), Aaron Morgan (7), Eoin Hogan (6); Niall O’Meara (9), Jerome Cahill (7), Shane Cleary (6); Conor Austin (7), Mark O’Neill (6); Cian Moyles (6), Kieran Cahill (7), Cian Darcy (6); Thomas Cleary (7), Kian O’Kelly (6), Willie Cleary (8).

Subs: Cathal England for T Cleary (17-18 blood); Cathal England (6) for Moyles (42); Jack Peters (7) for Hogan (46); Cormac Doheny (6) for O’Neill (58); Michael Cleary (6) for Darcy (58).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).