Borris-Ileigh fall in injury time to Clonoulty

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 1

Clonoulty/Rossmore 3-20

Borris-Ileigh 2-21

Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg

Two injury time points scuppered Borris-Ileigh’s chances of a winning start to the County Senior Hurling Championship in round one of group 2 as Clonoulty/Rossmore shaded an entertaining encounter on Sunday.

With both teams guaranteed involvement in the knock-out stages, irrespective of how they fare in the group games because of their divisional successes, the relevance of this game was questionable but, to their credit, both sides gave it everything in a rip-roaring encounter that went down to the wire.

When Borris-Ileigh reflect on this narrow defeat they will be regretting three good goal chances which went abegging. In such a tight contest, those lapses cost them dearly but their consolation is that their overall performance was otherwise satisfactory. Next up for them is a clash with county champions Loughmore/Castleiney, surprisingly beaten by Moycarkey-Borris in their first round tie. A result there is imperative for morale as the campaign progresses.

Borris-Ileigh started without the Tom Delaney and Kevin Maher but Delaney, who is nursing an injury, came on for the second half. They also lost Jack Hogan after 25 minutes, making their task all the more difficult.

Clonoulty/Rossmore too were short-handed with Enda Heffernan, Tommy Ryan, and Ciaran Quirke sidelined, but they coped well with their absence and will meet Moycarkey-Borris in the second round in this group.

In what was an absorbing contest all the way, Borris-Ileigh drew first blood when Kieran Maher made a great run out of defence to goal after four minutes for a 1-1 to no score lead.

Robert Doyle and Jack Ryan were very influential as Clonoulty settled and they combined after eleven minutes for Ryan to net to put his team 1-4 to 1-3 ahead.

They were 1-6 to 1-4 to the good when Borris hit a purple patch, points from Eddie Ryan (3), Paddy McCormack, and Tommy Ryan putting them 1-9 to 1-6 clear and with the sides exchanging points in lively fashion, they extended this advantage by the break to 1-14 to 1-10.

Clonoulty had the favour of the fresh-ish breeze in the second half and Robert Doyle, operating well beyond his defensive patch, took a Cathal Bourke pass to rifle home their second goal after just two minutes.

The chase was on in earnest and Clonoulty hit the front when, after 46 minutes, Stephen Quinn netted. Ahead 3-13 to 1-18 going into the last quarter, Clonoulty’s joy was quickly dampened as Paddy McCormack goaled for Borris a minute later.

The tempo had risen considerably and after fifty minutes the sides were level, 2-19 to 3-16. A share of the spoils looked a possibility. Jason O’Dwyer denied Borris what might have been a winning goal with a smart save. Clonoulty went down field for two Stephen Ferncombe points. Borris responded with efforts from Conor Kenny and Eddie Ryan drawing the game as injury time began.

But it wasn’t over yet. Cathal Bourke whipped over a delightful long-range point for Clonoulty, followed immediately by another from Jack Ryan in the 63rd minute leaving Borris had no time to respond.

A big win for the West champions but they would be the first to acknowledge that it could have gone either way. Robert Doyle was an inspiring figure for them with Jack Ryan not far behind. Danny Slattery, Ronan Heffernan, Jamie Davern, Nathan Slattery, and Stephen Ferncombe also had big games for them.

A setback for Borris-Ileigh after their North final win but with the tie with Loughmore looming the opportunity is there to make amends.

James Devaney was in top form in attack where Eddie Ryan too impressed. Dan McCormack, Tommy Ryan, Paddy McCormack, and Liam Ryan were others to catch the eye.

Player of the Match: Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (6); Danny Slattery (7), Robert Doyle (1-2, 9), Jimmy Ryan (6); John O’Keeffe (0-1, 6), Ronan Heffernan (7), Jamie Davern (0-3, 7); Nathan Slattery (7), Donncha Quirke (6); Jimmy Maher (0-1, 6), Cathal Bourke (0-1, 6), Michael Ryan (0-1, 6); Stephen Ferncombe (0-9, 7f, 7), Jack Ryan (1-2, 7), Stephen Quinn (1-0, 6).

Subs: Sean O’Connor (6) for J Ryan (32); Thomas Butler (6) for Quinn (50); Philip Kelleher (NR) for M Ryan (57).

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (6); Kieran Maher (1-0, 6), Liam Ryan (7), Colm Boyle (6); Tommy Ryan (0-2, 6), Dan McCormack (7), Sean McCormack (6); Jack Bevans (0-1, 6), Patrick Ryan (6); Jerry Kelly (6), Eddie Ryan (0-10, 7f, 7), Paddy McCormack (1-2, 7); Jack Hogan (0-1, 6), James Devaney (0-3, 7), Conor Kenny (0-2, 6).

Subs: Cathal Hogan (6) for Hogan (25 inj); Tom Delaney (6) for Maher (HT).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).