Borris progress continues with Senior League glory

CAMOGIE: County Senior League Final

Borris-Ileigh 2-8

Burgess/Duharra 0-9

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Borris-Ileigh: Nicole Walsh 1-3 (1-2 frees); Aiden Hogan 0-2 (1 free); Dani Ryan, Aoife Fitzgerald, Aoife Ryan, Ava Bevans 0-1 each.

Burgess/Duharra: Jenny Grace 0-7 frees; Katie Grace, Kaitlin O’Halloran 0-1 each.

A LARGE crowd filled the stand in the County Camogie Grounds on Sunday for the County Senior League Final between Burgess/Duharra and Borris-Ileigh.

At the final whistle it was the girls in maroon that were celebrating a five point victory, a great achievement for the Sean Maher managed side having just won the intermediate county final in style last year.

Unbeaten coming into the final, the Borris girls trailed by three points and more worryingly had yet to score after eighteen minutes. Two Jenny Grace frees, either side of a lovely Katie Grace point from way out on the wing, had Burgess Duharra in a commanding position after a low-scoring opening quarter.

A Nicole Walsh free in the nineteenth minute settled the young Borris-Ileigh team. She doubled her tally with a second free three minutes later before Aoife Fitzgerald got Borris’ first score from play with a well-taken point on the move. This tied the game on 0-3 each as half time approached.

Borris-Ileigh were enjoying a very good spell with Noirin Stapleton and Dani Ryan excellent in midfield while Nicole Walsh was working very hard and getting on to a lot of possession on the half forward line.

In the 30th minute, a free from distance by Walsh dropped into the danger area and was pounced on by the lively Ava Bevans and finished to the back of the net to swing the lead in Borris-Ileigh’s favour at half time, 1-3 to 0-3.

The second half began with a well-taken score from Dani Ryan. Jenny Grace showed her free taking skills once again with a point on the 32nd minute. This was cancelled out by a Nicole Walsh free. With only six minutes gone in the second half, Borris-Ileigh had their second goal when a Nicole Walsh free from distance floated all the way to the back of the net to put her side into a strong position, 2-5 to 0-4 in front.

Burgess/Duharra needed to find scores, but their forwards struggled up front with Avril Ryan, Emma Kelly, Niamh McGrath, and Jane Delaney all in flying form for the opposition. Duharra, though, continued to work hard and Grace again fired over two frees to keep the, in touch.

The second half continued to improve as a contest with the crowd treated to some fine scores. Two from Aoife Ryan and Aedin Hogan made it 2-7 to 0-6 in the 51st minute and Borris looked to be on their way to victory.

However, Burgess/Duharra refused to go down without a fight and some good clearances by Aisling Cremin at centre back galvanised the side and they had the next three points in succession from Jenny Grace (2 frees) and Kaitlin O’Halloran.

Aedín Hogan finished the scoring for Borris with a simple tap over free in the 62nd minute, while at the other end, Danielle Nealon got onto a lobbed in free and had a great strike on goals that was blocked by one of the many Borris’ players back defending in their own half. The clearance singled the end of the game, and it was Borris-Ileigh who were celebrating a great start to the year.

TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: Kellie Healy; Tara Kennedy, Niamh McGrath, Jane Delaney, Emma Delaney, Emma Kelly, Avril Ryan, Noirin Stapleton, Dani Ryan, Aoife Fitzgerald, Aoife Ryan, Aedín Hogan, Ava Bevans, Emma Maher, Nicole Walsh.

Burgess/Duharra: Ciara Holohan; Iris Grace, Fiona Kirwan, Ella Slattery, Katie O’Flaherty, Aisling Cremin, Laura Kennedy, Jenny Grace, Katie Grace, Aisling Kennedy, Amy Kennedy, Kaitlin O’Halloran, Caoilfhionn Maher, Gemma Grace, Fiona McGauley.

Subs: Danielle Nealon for Maher, Laura Reid for McGauley, Grace O’Dwyer for A Kennedy.

Referee: Joe Kearney (Clonoulty/Rossmore).