Returning Maher revives Borris past Kiladangan

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

Borris-Ileigh 2-23

Kiladangan 1-25

Report: James Hayden in Nenagh

Borris-Ileigh’s Brendan Maher shook off a half-time dizzy spell to score a match-winning goal to edge out Kiladangan in what proved an absorbing County Senior Hurling Championship group 4 clash on Sunday afternoon.

The start of the second half was delayed after Borris-Ileigh’s medical team tended to the former inter-county star on the pitch when he appeared to take a dizzy spell after coming out of the dressing room. Manager, Philip Maher took the decision to bring off Maher but having coughed up a ten point lead, he was forced to re-introduce his star man with the long-time servant popping up to net the all-important goal in the second minute of time added on.

In essence this was a game of two halves with Borris-Ileigh thoroughly dominating the opening half before Kiladangan took the game to the men in maroon in the second. Kiladangan came into this tie following an impressive win over Thurles Sarsfields in the opening round, but they noticeably struggled to reach the pitch of the game early on.

Playing with the aid of a slight breeze, Borris-Ileigh stormed clear in the opening six minutes thanks to a second minute Paddy McCormack goal together with three points from Eddie Ryan (2 frees) and a fine effort from Dan McCormack. Conor Byrne finally got Kiladangan off the mark in the sixth minute before a cracking Paul Flynn goal fired last year’s county runners-up back into contention.

Borris-Ileigh continued to dominate though in most sectors with a purple patch mid-way through the half saw them pull 1-10 to 1-3 clear. Kiladangan struggled to cope with the dominance of Jerry Kelly playing in the sweeper role behind his own half-back line while in attack Conor Kenny’s aerial threat caused Kiladangan noticeable problems. Eddie Ryan’s accuracy from frees also ensured Borris-Ileigh maintained a clear-cut lead throughout the second quarter.

Points from Billy Seymour, Tadhg Gallagher and Conor Byrne kept the scoreboard ticking for Kiladangan, but the truth was they were so far off the pace that the game threatened to get away from them. By the 30-minute mark Kiladangan trailed 1-17 to 1-7 following the fourth JD Devaney point before Billy Seymour (free) cut the deficit to nine. Eddie Ryan converted his sixth free of the half deep in time added on to ensure Borris’ took a commanding ten-point lead to the dressing room, 1-18 to 1-8.

Kiladangan emerged a changed team for the second half and whatever was said at half-time it obviously jolted them into life. Borris-Ileigh were undoubtedly unnerved by what happened to Brendan Maher and a decision to shift Dan McCormack into defence and move Jerry Kelly into attack didn’t work out and within fifteen minutes of the restart Kiladangan were back to within two points. Quick-fire points from Billy Seymour, Bryan McLoughney, Tadhg Gallagher, and Paul Flynn (2) halved the interval deficit before Jerry Kelly slotted over a long-ranger from play and another from a placed ball in an attempt to stem the tide.

Sean Hayes and Alan Flynn popped up with two further Kiladangan points to edge their side closer before a 46th minute Dan McCormack point opened the gap back out to three. With the wind having dropped noticeably Kiladangan upped the tempo once more and three frees from the stick of Billy Seymour brought Kiladangan level with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

At this juncture it appeared Kiladangan would surge clear over a Borris-Ileigh side at sixes and sevens, and they did with Dan O’Meara and Seán Hayes propelling the ‘Dangan into a fully-deserved three-point advantage, 1-24 to 1-21.

Borris-Ileigh needed rejuvenation and with their challenge waning they were buoyed by successive Eddie Ryan frees which cut the gap to a point. Tadhg Gallagher responded with his third point, one which looked to seal victory before Dan McCormack gathered Jerry Kelly’s clever free out of defence and he found Brendan Maher unmarked in front of goal before unleashed a searing drive straight to the top left-hand corner of the net.

Kiladangan’s surged back up-field and Seán Hayes raided with virtually the last attack of the game, but referee Conor Doyle pulled him for catching the sliotar three times and for Kiladangan the chance to level went abegging.

Borris-Ileigh’s victory now sets up a tantalising round three weekend with Borris’ facing Thurles Sarsfields and Kiladangan going up against Clonoulty/Rossmore. Kiladangan face a must-win situation to maintain their interest in the championship while a win for Borris-Ileigh would guarantee a top of the group finish for Philip Maher’s charges.

Player of the Match: Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh)

Borris-Ileigh: Jody Harkin (7); Colm Boyle (7), Liam Ryan (8), Seamus Burke (0-1, 7); Brendan Maher (1-0, 7), Jerry Kelly (0-1f, 8), Ray McCormack (7); Tom Ryan (0-2, 7), Sean McCormack (7); Eddie Ryan (0-11, 9f, 8), Dan McCormack (0-2, 8), James Devaney (0-4, 8); Kevin Maher (7), Conor Kenny (0-2, 7), Paddy McCormack (1-0, 7).

Subs: Dan Ryan (6) for Maher (HT); Brendan Maher for D Ryan (53); Jack Hogan (NR) for T Ryan (60+3).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (7); John O’Meara (7) James Quigley (7), Fergal Hayes (7); David Sweeney (7), Joe Gallagher (0-1, 8), Declan McGrath (7); Tadhg Gallagher (0-3, 7), Alan Flynn (0-1, 7); Dan O’Meara (0-1, 7), Billy Seymour (0-10, 7f, 8), Paul Flynn (1-3, 8); Bryan McLoughney (0-1, 7), Sean Hayes (0-3, 8), Conor Byrne (0-2, 7).

Subs: Shane Gleeson (6) for McLoughney (54); Willie Connors (NR) for Byrne (60+1); Jonathan Horan (NR) for McGrath (60+3).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).