Borris-Ileigh make winning start to 2020 season

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Hurling League Round 1 Review

 

The County Hurling League got underway in earnest last weekend and vast majority went ahead as the rain managed to hold off to get the competitive season underway.

 

Division 1

Six weeks after appearing in the All Ireland Club final, Borris-Ileigh began their 2020 season in winning fashion with a 3-13 to 0-19 victory away to Eire Og Annacarty on Sunday.

Borris played against the wind in the wind in the first half but Jack Hogan to injury after just two minutes. Scores from Thomas Fahy and Kevin Maher kept Borris ticking over before goals from Kieran Maher and a Kevin Maher penalty saw them going in level at half time, 2-5 to 0-11.

The third quarter went score for score before points from Jerry Kelly, Conor Kenny and Tommy Ryan put us Borris two up with twelve minutes left before Maher scored his second goal off a rebound after Devaney had been denied by Darragh Mooney and that goal proved to be the difference.

With Roscrea’s pitch unplayable, Roscrea made the short journey to Toomevara to play this first round league game on Sunday as the sides shared the spoils, 0-12 to 1-9.

Toome started this game strongly with Connor O'Meara prominent in the opening five minutes, scoring two fine points. Roscrea responded well and were back level after scoring two frees and went ahead after nine minutes with another scored free.

A massive rain shower 20 minutes in made conditions tough for both sides but it was Toome who went in at half time with a two point lead, 0-6 to 0-4.

The second half saw Roscrea at one stage taking a three point lead, but Toome stayed in touch with a well-taken goal from substitute Paul Ryan. Kevin McCarthy was very good on the frees for Toome, while Mark McCarthy contributed two points from play. It was Kevin McCarthy that squared up the match a minute into injury time to leave the sides level at the final whistle.

Elsewhere in group 1, defending champions Drom & Inch edged out neighbours Loughmore/Castleiney 1-16 to 1-15 while Clonoulty/Rossmore left Clonakenny with the two points following a 1-12 to 1-6 win.

In group 2, Nenagh Eire Og overcame Kilruane MacDonaghs by the narrowest of margins on Sunday morning, 1-14 to 1-13.

They had to do so after losing Dáire Quinn early on through injury after James Cleary and Kieran Cahill had given MacDonaghs a two-point advantage. Indeed Cahill had a fine afternoon for Kilruane, finishing with a personal tally of 0-6.

At half-time Kilruane led 0-9 to 0-6 but the home side were quick off the mark scoring 1-2 inside the opening four minutes of the second period; the goal was scored by Adam Healy after good work from Killian Gleeson. Nenagh controlled the second half but had a nervy finish as James Cleary scored a late goal to level the sides but Killian Gleeson quickly restored Nenagh’s lead with what proved to be the match winning point.

 

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