Borris withstand Toome fightback

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

Borris-Ileigh 1-17

Toomevara 0-18

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

It was the proverbial game of two halves as Borris-Ileigh held on to beat great rivals Toomevara in the opening round of group 1 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday.

2019 champions Borris-Ileigh were by far the best in the first half and Toomevara improved massively in the second, and the latter might feel the more disappointed as they squandered three goal chances late on when they had the upper hand.

Then again, it might not have come to that had Borris-Ileigh made most of their excellent first half dominance when they had Toomevara well beaten with their speed and hurling prowess with the greyhounds unable to make head or tail of what was going on.

The opening eleven minutes saw Borris-Ileigh take a commanding 1-7 to 0-1 lead, opening with points from play by Eddie Ryan and Paddy McCormack after six minutes before the increased their lead with five unanswered points by Dan McCormack, James Devaney, Kieran Maher, and Kevin Maher plus another Ryan free in the tenth minute. One minute later, James Devaney had the game’s only goal when he took an assist from the raiding Eddie Ryan.

Toomevara were in trouble, but Darragh McCarthy would come to their rescue with two frees before Borris-Ileigh hit three unanswered scores beginning with a ninety-five metre free by Eddie Ryan, followed by one from Kieran Maher before corner back Colm Boyle made it 1-10 to 0-3 after 24 minutes.

Two minutes later, Darragh McCarthy replied with a free, but Tom Delaney scored a brace to enhance Borris-Ileigh’s dominance, but Toome came back with Darragh McCarthy (free) and Darren Delaney reducing the margin to ten. Eddie Ryan brought his total to four with his third free before Adam Hall stepped forward with a well-taken point leaving the half time scoreline at 1-13 to 0-7.

Toomevara had the breeze for the second half and within five minutes they had two points on the scoreboard with another Darragh McCarthy free followed by a Mark McCarthy point from play as the half time substitute proved that he was badly missed in the first half.

Borris-Ileigh had Brendan Maher in attack for the second half; he had started at full forward before drifting back to help out the defence for the last twenty minutes of the first half. His influence began to tell as he won a close range free which Eddie Ryan converted, and he added another in the 38th minute. Borris wouldn’t score for the next seventeen minutes as Toomevara took command; Darragh McCarthy pointing twice, either side of a score from his brother Kevin.

Borris had a goal chance through Eddie Ryan in the 50th minute but was unable to complete the act. Toome countered and Darragh McCarthy spurned one when taking his chance but substitute Jake Hackett didn’t waste time in scoring a point but Eddie Ryan replied with a much-need score for Borris.

Another Hackett point soon followed as Toome within three with four minutes remaining. The excitement levels continued to grow and Toomevara came in search of more scores and should have levelled but Jack Delaney rushed his effort when he kicked wide from close range.

Toomevara came once more and two minutes later, Mark McCarthy blazed wide from close range; Borris were relieved. Eddie Ryan missed a good chance to relieve the pressure with a free while Darragh McCarthy (free) and Josh McCarthy from play brought Toome within a point as play was deep into added time.

Borris-Ileigh lost James Devaney to a straight red card for a reckless foul but the maroons stepped up to the pressure and Eddie Ryan drew a foul sixty-eight metres out and he converted free to seal a good win.

Borris-Ileigh were certainly light years better than the performance produced in their North quarter final loss to Kiladangan. Their defence rarely put a foot wrong in the first half with Colm Boyle, John McGrath, Ray McCormack Dan McCormack, and Brendan Maher very prominent with Kevin Maher, Tommy Ryan, Paddy McCormack, Eddie Ryan, James Devaney, Kieran Maher plus Tom Delaney catching the eye.

Toomevara for their part can thank Darragh McCarthy for keeping them in the game when all else was going wrong. Rory Brislane, Andrew Ryan, Liam Ryan, Robbie Quirke and Conor O’Farrell with Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hackett came good in the second half as Borris-Ileigh’s dominance began to fade especially when Brendan Maher left injured in the 45th minute.

Player of the Match: Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh).

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (7); Colm Boyle (0-1, 8), Liam Ryan (7), John McGrath (7); Ray McCormack (8), Dan McCormack (0-1, 7), Tommy Ryan (7); Kevin Maher (0-1, 7), Kieran Maher (0-3, 7); Paddy McCormack (0-1, 8), Eddie Ryan (0-8, 6f, 8), Conor Kenny (6); James Devaney (1-1, 6), Brendan Maher (7), Tom Delaney (0-2, 7).

Subs: Seamus Burke (7) for B Maher (45 inj); Shane McCormack (6) for T Ryan (55); Tommy Ryan for Kevin Maher (57); Shane Ryan (6) for Kieran Maher (57); Sean McCormack (NR) for Kenny (58).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (7); Jake Ryan (6), Andrew Ryan (7), Seamus O’Farrell (6); Barry O’Connell (6), Liam Ryan (7), Josh McCarthy (0-1, 7); Robbie Quirke (7), Conor O’Farrell (7); Jack Delaney (6), Kevin McCarthy (0-1, 7), Darren Delaney (0-1, 6); Darragh McCarthy (0-10, 8f, 1 65) 8), Colm Canning (6), Adam Hall (0-1, 6).

Subs: Jack Ryan (7) for Jake Ryan (19 inj); Mark McCarthy (0-2, 7) for Canning (HT); Josh Powell (6) for S O’Farrell (42); Jake Hackett (0-2, 7) for C O’Farrell (44); Shane Nolan (NR) for O’Connell (58); David Nolan (NR) for L Ryan (blood).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).