Borris-Ileigh dethrone Kiladangan to book North final return
GAA: Munster Solar North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Borris-Ileigh 2-23
Kiladangan 1-14
Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh)
SCORERS – Borris-Ileigh: Eddie Ryan 0-15 (13 frees); Paddy McCormack 1-3; Kevin Maher 1-0; Kieran Maher, Tommy Ryan, Jerry Kelly, James Devaney, Jack Hogan 0-1 each.
Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 1-9 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65); Conor Byrne 0-2; Willie Connors, Sean Hayes, Bryan McLoughney 0-1 each.
Borris-Ileigh produced one of their finest championship displays in recent years to dethrone reigning champions Kiladangan and book their place in the North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final with an emphatic twelve-point semi-final victory on Saturday evening.
Determined to avenge last year's final defeat to the same opposition, David O'Connor's side delivered a performance full of intensity, discipline and quality, controlling the contest for long periods before finishing with a flourish to end Kiladangan's reign as North champions.
The result also brought an end to Kiladangan's remarkable era of dominance. Saturday's semi-final was their eighth consecutive North semi-final victory bid and they had appeared in every final since 2017. Although no championship was played in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, their haul of seven divisional titles since 2013 ranks among the greatest periods in the club's history.
Dan Hackett's men were also hoping to become the first club since the great Kilruane MacDonaghs side of the mid-1980s to complete a North three-in-a-row. It is a feat achieved only by Kilruane MacDonaghs (twice), Toomevara (four times), Roscrea, Borris-Ileigh and Lahorna De Wets in the early years of the competition.
Despite being without influential Shane Kenny and Ray McCormack, Borris-Ileigh fielded a strong side. However, it was Kiladangan who settled quickest, using the assistance of the breeze to edge ahead through early scores from Bryan McLoughney and Conor Byrne.
The sides traded scores throughout a competitive opening quarter. Eddie Ryan opened Borris-Ileigh's account with two frees before Sean Hayes restored Kiladangan's advantage. Ryan and Billy Seymour exchanged placed balls before Conor Byrne nudged the champions back in front with their fifth point.
The game's defining moment arrived midway through the first half. A lapse in concentration in the Kiladangan defence allowed James Devaney to gather possession before delivering an inviting pass to Paddy McCormack, who made no mistake in rifling the sliotar to the net for the opening goal.
That score swung momentum firmly in Borris-Ileigh's favour. Kieran Maher and Eddie Ryan added further points as the men in maroon stretched their advantage to five, leading 1-8 to 0-6 after twenty minutes.
Kiladangan responded through successive Billy Seymour frees to reduce the deficit, but Borris-Ileigh finished the half strongly. Jack Hogan and another Ryan free ensured they carried a deserved 1-11 to 0-9 lead into the interval.
Kiladangan made the perfect start to the second half when Billy Seymour blasted an excellent goal to reignite their challenge.
Yet Borris-Ileigh's response underlined the confidence and composure that had characterised their performance. Tom Delaney marshalled the defence superbly while Paddy McCormack continued to trouble the Kiladangan rearguard. Three unanswered points from Eddie Ryan and two from McCormack quickly cancelled out Seymour's goal before the Kiladangan sharpshooter replied with another well-taken free.
By now Borris-Ileigh were firmly in control around the middle third, where Tommy Ryan, Dan McCormack, Jack Bevans, and Jerry Kelly repeatedly won crucial possession. Scores from Tommy Ryan and Kelly stretched the margin to seven points as the momentum continued to swing decisively in their favour.
To their credit, Kiladangan refused to surrender and twice reduced the deficit to five points between the 46th and 51st minutes. However, every time they threatened to mount a comeback, Eddie Ryan punished indiscretions from placed balls to restore Borris-Ileigh's healthy cushion.
Any lingering hopes of a Kiladangan revival were extinguished in the closing minutes. Seconds after being re-introduced to the fray, Kevin Maher ghosted in behind the defence and calmly finished to the net, putting the outcome beyond doubt.
Further points from Paddy McCormack and the outstanding Eddie Ryan completed a thoroughly deserved victory for Borris-Ileigh as they convincingly secured a place in the decider.
While Kiladangan never truly reached the standards that have made them the dominant force in North Tipperary over the past decade, credit must go to Borris-Ileigh, whose relentless work rate, defensive organisation and clinical finishing left the champions with no way back. The absence of the injured James Quigley was keenly felt in defence, while Paul Flynn's attacking threat was also missed.
For Dan Hackett and his management team, attention now turns to the county championship. Borris-Ileigh, meanwhile, can look forward to another opportunity to lift the Frank McGrath Cup for the first time since 2017 and a chance to erase the disappointment of last year's narrow final defeat.
TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (7); Kieran Maher (7), Liam Ryan (8), Colm Boyle (7); Tom Delaney (8), Dan McCormack (Capt, 7), Sean McCormack (7); Jack Bevans (7), Tommy Ryan (7); Jerry Kelly (8), Eddie Ryan (8), Paddy McCormack (8); Kevin Maher (7), James Devaney (7), Jack Hogan (7).
Subs: Patrick Ryan (6) for Hogan (46); Conor Kenny (6) for Maher (49); Kevin Maher for Kieran Maher (55).
Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (Capt, 7); David Sweeney (6), Darragh Flannery (7), Darragh Butler (7); Willie Connors (7), Alan Flynn (7), Dara O’Dwyer (7); Tadhg Gallagher (6), Conor Byrne (7); Matthew Cleary (6), Billy Seymour (7), Dan O’Meara (7); Sean Hayes (7), Joe Gallagher (6), Bryan McLoughney (7).
Subs: Darren Moran (6) for Cleary (42); Tom Boland (6) for Gallagher (50).
Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).