Late Kilruane surge sees off Borris-Ileigh

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 1

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-22

Borris-Ileigh 1-15

Report: James Hayden in Dolla

A late Kilruane MacDonagh’s surge finally put paid to a determined Borris-Ileigh challenge following an absorbing Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship opening round encounter on Sunday afternoon.

The magpies hit the men in maroon for six in the closing ten minutes with a barrage of points from the 54th to the 66th minute, terminating Borris-Ileigh’s hopes of securing victory.

Having fallen to Borris-Ileigh by three points in the North semi-final just eleven days previous, Thomas Williams’s charges exacted revenge with a hard-fought win over a Borris side who battled right to the finish, but it may have come at a cost with county star, Craig Morgan suffering a nasty looking finger injury right at the death.

The exertions of their North final loss to Kiladangan seven days previous may have caught them in the closing stages as a fresher Kilruane side ran their bench to push for the win.

Kilruane couldn’t have wished for a better start with full-forward Kian O’Kelly rattling the net inside the opening minute, but Borris-Ileigh battled back with frees from Patrick Ryan and Eddie Ryan coupled with a sixth minute James Devaney point cancelling out Kilruane’s early major.

Kilruane responded with Willie Cleary (free) and the influential Niall O’Meara on target before James Devaney arrowed over his second point on ten-minutes. Patrick Ryan (free) brought Borris’ level once more before two points on the bounce from Kian O’Kelly and Craig Morgan (free) edged Kilruane two in front once more.

Thomas Cleary extended that advantage before Conor Kenny retaliated for Borris’, angling over a lovely following a sublime Paddy McCormack delivery.

Jerome Cahill was growing into the game and his industrious work around the middle was beginning to yield dividends. Niall O’Meara set him up for a delicious 20th minute point before Cleary (free) edged Kilruane four clear in the two minutes later, 1-8 to 0-7.

Further points from Jerome Cahill fired Kilruane six clear and before a 26th minute Niall O’Meara effort put a slicker Kilruane outfit in the driving seat. The impressive Jerry Kelly arrowed over a badly needed response for Borris-Ileigh before a scintillating individual goal from James Devaney in the 32nd minute handed David O’Connor’s side the most timely of fillips.

Kilruane responded with yet another Jerome Cahill point just before the interval to ensure Kilruane took a 1-12 to 1-8 lead to the dressing room.

Borris-Ileigh emerged determined to claw back the deficit and indeed they did with a superb third quarter effort. Although Willie Cleary (free) was first off the mark for Kilruane after the re-start, five unanswered points between the 35th & 45th minutes from Patrick Ryan (2 frees), Jerry Kelly, Paddy McCormack and Eddie Ryan (free) brought Borris-Ileigh back on terms.

In what proved a dominant third quarter for Borris’ they showed real determination to peg back Kilruane’s interval lead, but MacDonaghs responded with points from Willie Cleary (free) and substitute Michael Cleary restoring a two-point lead.

Kilruane switched Niall O’Meara into a sweeping role and drafted in the experienced Eoin Hogan to assist, and the switches soon began to have their desired effect. Hogan’s point in response to a well-struck Jerry Kelly point served to lift the Kilruane faithful but back came Borris’ once more with Sean McCormack arrowing over a 52nd minute effort from range.

Unfortunately for Borris-Ileigh it proved to be their final score as Kilruane turned on the nitrous oxide in the closing stages. Four wides on the bounce from Borris also hampered their efforts as two excellent Cian Darcy points in time added on, coupled with points from Kian O’Kelly and Willie Cleary (free) ensured Kilruane’s victory.

Impressive for Kilruane MacDonagh’s were Jerome Cahill, Niall O’Meara, Willie Cleary, Craig Morgan, Aaron Morgan and Kian O’Kelly while James Devaney, Liam Ryan, Jerry Kelly, Patrick Ryan, Ray McCormack and Tom Delaney were to the fore for Borris-Ileigh.

Player of the Match: Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Páidi Williams (7), Jack Peters (7), Aaron Morgan (8), James Cleary (7); Niall O’Meara (0-2, 7), Craig Morgan (0-1f, 7), Kieran Cahill (7); Mark O’Neill (7), Conor Austin (7); Shane Cleary (7), Willie Cleary (0-8, 7f, 7), Jerome Cahill (0-4, 8); Cian Darcy (0-2, 7), Kian O’Kelly (1-2, 8), Thomas Cleary (0-2, 7).

Subs: Darragh Peters (7) for K Cahill (38); Michael Cleary (0-1, 7) for T Cleary (48); Eoin Hogan (0-1, 7) for Austin (49); Cormac Doheny (6) for O’Neill (57); Cathal England (NR) for S Cleary (60).

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (7); Shane Kenny (7), Ray McCormack (7), Liam Ryan (7); Colm Boyle (7), Tom Delaney (7), Kevin Maher (7); Tommy Ryan (7), Patrick Ryan (0-5f, 7); Eddie Ryan (0-2f, 7), Sean McCormack (0-1, 7), Jerry Kelly (0-3, 8); James Devaney (1-2, 8), Conor Kenny (0-1, 7), Paddy McCormack (0-1, 7).

Sub: Mikey Kennedy (6) for T Ryan (42).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).