Back-to-back North U21 finals for Borris-Ileigh

GAA: North Tipperary Under 21 'A' Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Borris-Ileigh 3-21

Nenagh Eire Og 2-14

Report: Michael Dundon in Borrisoleigh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Tom Delaney (Borris-Ileigh)

SCORERS - Borris-Ileigh: Paddy McCormack 0-11 (8 frees); Michael Ryan, Jack Bevans 1-1 each; Eoin Anderson 1-0; Shane Ryan 0-3; Razuk Atik, Lar Stapleton 0-2 each; Eoin Ryan 0-1.

Nenagh Eire Og: Emmet Jones, Eanna Tucker 1-1 each; Sam O'Farrell, Filip McIntyre 0-4 each; Michael Ryan, Michael Ryan McCloone, Billy O'Brien, James Heffernan 0-1 each.

Back to back North Under 21 'A' hurling titles beckon for Borris-Ileigh following their comprehensive win over Nenagh Eire Og in the divisional semi-final on Sunday in a game that was more competitive than the scoreline suggests.

Borris’ superiority is not in question but Nenagh contributed well to a decent contest, the home side’s third goal in injury time and giving them a flattering winning margin. The indications from this outing are that Borris are on track to retain their divisional title and primed for another crack at county honours having lost the county final to Holycross-Ballycahill last year.

The most obvious advantage enjoyed by Borris was their options in attack where they carried a threat in all positions while Nenagh laboured to get scores. This was apparent from an early stage as Borris raced into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. Sam O'Farrell points were keeping Nenagh in touch but Jack Bevans’ well-taken goal for Borris after nineteen minutes off a Tom Delaney free set Borris firmly on course and by half-time they had extended their lead to 1-12 to 0-7.

Sam O’Farrell and Filip McIntyre were working hard to keep Nenagh afloat but they needed to raise their game considerably in the second half if they were to retain their championship challenge. They made little progress through the third quarter as they traded scores with their rivals but an Eanna Tucker goal in the fiftieth minute, cutting the lead to five points (1-16 to 1-11) hinted at a Nenagh rally.

Four minutes later they had it down to a four points margin but then, a scything run by Paddy McCormack set up Michael Ryan for Borris’ second goal, to which McCormack and Lar Stapleton added points for a 2-20 to 1-14 lead approaching the hour mark. Nenagh were not giving up but Emmet Jones’ goal in injury time came too late for them to make further progress and three minutes into added time Paddy McCormack was again the provider as Eoin Anderson cooly finished to the net for Borris’ third goal.

It was an impressive showing by a promising set of young Borris players who have done well coming through the grades with the big prize still there to be won. A few have collected senior divisional medals this year and they will be fancied to retain their title at this level. Their “big guns” led by example. Tom Delaney was an inspiring figure at the heart of the defence snuffing out potential Nenagh threats and setting up attacks with his intelligent use of the ball. Up front Paddy McCormack led the line confidently. Apart from his eleven points, three from play, he had a hand in two of their goals, and will be a handful for any defence.

They did not want for support with Daniel Groome, David Rabbitte, Razuk Atik, Shane Ryan and Lar Stapleton also contributing handsomely to the win.

Nenagh had some quality players in their side but, unfortunately for them, not enough of them. Jake Donelan-Houlihan, Sam O'Farrell and Filip McIntyre put in a mighty shift as did Keelan Rice, Emmet Jones, and James Heffernan but on the day they were beaten by a better side and can have no complaint about the result.

TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: Archie Devaney (6); David Rabbitte (7), Evan Ryan (6), Eamon Groome (6); Patrick Ryan (6), Tom Delaney (8), Daniel Groome (7); Michael Ryan (6), Razuk Atik (7); Jack Bevans (6), Paddy McCormack (7), Eoin Anderson (6); Shane Ryan (7), Lar Stapleton (7), Daniel Chute (6).

Subs: Patrick Brett (6) for E Ryan (46); Jack Gould for Chute (57), Eoin Boyle for Stapleton (59).

Nenagh Eire Og: Eoin Garrigan (6); Keelan Rice (7), Jake Donelan-Houlihan (7), Conor Hodgins (6); James Heffernan (6), Emmet Jones (7), Aaron Tucker(6); Sam O'Farrell (7), Filip McIntyre (7); Eanna Tucker (6), Billy O'Brien (6), Mikey McCloone (6); Mikey Ryan (6), Evan White (6), Diarmuid Nolan (6).

Subs: Adam Boland (6) for White (HT), Bill Crotty (6) for Nolan (47), Rhys Cotter for Garrigan (60).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)