Ryan inspires Borrisokane into final

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Borrisokane 3-10

Father Sheehy’s 2-9

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Photos: Odhran Ducie

A man of the match performance from Gary Ryan inspired Borrisokane to defeat Father Sheehy’s in the County Premier Junior Football Championship semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan finished with 2-4, including two two-pointers in the 34th & 47th minutes with the second one giving the North champions a 2-9 to 1-7 lead, that increased to six before a late Fr Sheehy’s spurt had the margin down to four on the hour before Ryan scored his second goal to seal the game and overturn the round-robin defeat to the same opposition last month.

The winners always had the edge. Conor Ryan’s opening point in the second minute before Cormac Flynn levelled a minute later. Borrisokane looked the spritelier and six minutes later, Philip Austin’s well placed delivery put Ryan through on goal only for the right corner forward to be pulled down in the square. A penalty. Up stepped Gary Ryan who gave Joseph O’Brien no chance.

There was more from Borris and three points by Michael Heenan, Austin (free) and a second Conor Ryan point which could have been a two pointer only for goalkeeper O’Brien getting high enough to deflect the ball over the bar. The amended rule for that to be a two-pointer only becomes active in the New Year.

Fr Sheehys were not going away and the work-rate of Robert Maher, Cathal English, Tom Conway and the excellent Daire English always on the move while midfielder Darragh O’Brien worked his way through the Borris cover to score Fr Sheehys second point in the 26th minute.

Chances for Bryan Davis and Gordon Harding were just off target but Daire English made sure as Borrisokane went into dressing rooms 1-4 to 0-3 in front at half time.

The semblance of a Fr Sheehys fightback continued with Cormac Flynn pointing a free within a minute of the restart but Borris responded as Gary Ryan’s first two-pointer had the lead out to five, which increased after Philip Austin pointed a free.

The response from Fr Sheehys was immediate as a free by Cormac Flynn aided by a John English point from play had the deficit down to four after forty minutes.

Austin’s influence continued to keep The Clogheen men at arm’s length and in the 41st minute he began a move involving Shane Nevin and Conor Ryan before Gordon Harding was at the end as he shot low to the net.

However, Fr Sheehys were far from a spent force and over the next five minutes they scored 1-1 starting with the goal by Cathal English when the midfielders attempt for a point dropped in the square and the bounce deceived goalkeeper James Morris. Cormac Flynn’s free had the margin back to three with sixteen minutes remaining.

However, Borrisokane were back in business when Gary Ryan posted his second two-pointer in the 49th minute. Conor Ryan’s point a minute later had the lead back out to six but Fr Sheehys continued their fightback as Alex Spens scored from play aided by another Flynn free in the first minute of added time.

Just like before, when Borrisokane sensed danger and they found another way to quell the Fr Sheehy advance and they could not do it better when Gary Ryan fired home a goal after link work by Ciaran Foley and Philip Austin.

Three minutes into added time things looked safe for Borrisokane but one more Fr Sheehy attack yielded a goal which put a better gloss on the score as Borrisokane booked their way to the final against JK Brackens.

Player of the Match: Gary Ryan (Borrisokane).

Borrisokane: James Morris (6); Luke Quigley (7), James Hough (7), Kevin Harding (7); Bryan Davis (7), Shane Nevin (7), Seosamh Cleary (7); Philip Austin (0-2f, 8), Mike Heenan (0-1, 7); Mike Kelly (7), Gary Ryan (2-4, 1-0 pen, 2x2f) 8), Josh Chadwick (7); Conor Ryan (0-3, 8), Gordon Harding (1-0, 7), Kevin Cleary (6).

Subs: David Austin (6) for Harding (41); Ciaran Foley (6) for Chadwick (47); Luke Gleeson (6) for Kelly (54); Sean Egan (NR) for Heenan (60+3).

Father Sheehys: Joseph O’Brien (7); Dylan Flynn (7), Robbie O’Brien (7), Pa Ryan (7); John English (0-1, 7), Robert Maher (7), Cian O’Brien (7); Cathal English (1-0, 7), Darragh Maher (0-1, 7); Daniel Burke (6), Cormac Flynn (2-5, 0-4f) 7), Conor Walsh (6); Daire English (0-1, 8), Tom Conway (7), Pat Mulcahy (6).

Subs: Adrian O'Brien (6) for Ryan (HT); Shane McGrath (6) for Mulcahy (41); Eoin O’Neill (6) for Conway (54 inj); Alex Spens (0-1, 6) for D Maher (54); Padraic Hickey (6) for D Flynn (57).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).