Borris go from top to bottom in second half

Drom & Inch came from nine points down in this County Senior Hurling Championship clash on Saturday to beat neighbours Borris-Ileigh who went from topping the group at half time to finishing bottom and are now into a relegation scrap.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 3

Drom & Inch 0-27

Borris-Ileigh 2-19

Report: Noel Dundon at St Michael's Park, Holycross

Borris’ will rue this defeat and they will wonder how, having been nine ahead after 25 minutes, they let it slip. Much had to do with the second half play of their opponents who put in a very strong second shift, but even at that Borris’ had the chances to claim something from the game but failed to do so.

A big attendance turned up in Holycross to see the neighbours going at it and following a very lively opening which saw 0-3 apiece after just four minutes, the game settled down with Borris’ using their wind advantage to good use, their scores from the impressive Conor Kenny, James Devaney, and Tommy Ryan, while Tommy Nolan, Callanan and Maidhc Fitzpatrick were on target for a Drom, which found it hard to penetrate the posts in the half despite having plenty of chances.

Two goals from Paddy McCormack for Borris’ in the 11th & 13th minutes rocked Drom back on their heels, and with points from Conor Kenny, Tom Delaney, and Eddie Ryan (2), the North men were flying.

Drom were fortunate though to have kept the scoreboard ticking over and hit six of the last eight points of the half to claw themselves back into contention – Callanan (3), Cormac Fitzpatrick (2) and Johnny Ryan coming good for them. How vital those scores proved at the end, and it gave the Drom-Inch men much to ponder as they headed for the break.

The half time scoreline recorded Paddy McCormack’s goals as being the difference between the sides, 2-10 to 0-10, but the reality was much different. Borris-Ileigh were playing far better hurling and should have had a bigger advantage when the scores were tallied.

The revival of the Mid men was a slow burn after resumption – Eddie Ryan had the first score of the half for Borris’ which was cancelled by Tommy Nolan. James Devaney and Johnny Ryan traded scores before a Callanan brace from frees was cancelled by an Eddie Ryan brace from play – still two clear goals in it then after twelve minutes of second half play.

But it was noticeable that Podge Campion, John Campion and Fintan Purcell were getting in top in the half back line and Borris-Ileigh were finding it more difficult to win possession. The supply line to Conor Kenny was cut off and the fast ball which Devaney, Delaney and Eddie Ryan thrived on in the first half, dried up.

Then came the swing – Callanan, John Campion and Callanan again pointed for Drom. Eddie Ryan replied for Borris-Ileigh only to see Callanan (2) and Johnny Ryan cutting the deficit to the minimum. Now it really was game on.

A brilliant Eoin Collins save from James Devaney kept Drom in the hunt and though Eddie Ryan extended the Borris’ advantage, a two point salvo from David Collins levelled the tie with eight minutes of normal time to go.

It looked like Drom & Inch had all the momentum, but Ryan shoved Borris’ in front once more only to see Podge Campion tie up the game from distance with a fine score. Then, Tom Delaney found a score to give Borris' the edge again, but Callanan was equal to his score as was David Collins to a Kieran Maher point in the 61st minute as injury time began to expend.

It was nip and tuck, point-for-point, edge of the seat stuff and with so much riding on the outcome, the players were pouring into every tackle and fighting for every morsel of possession possible – a few minor flash points also adding to the drama.

Drom-Inch hit the front for the first time in the 62nd minute with Seamus Callanan’s free, and he doubled the advantage a minute later as Borris’ realised that they needed a goal if they were to salvage anything from a game. They couldn’t find it, and for a team which started very poorly, Drom & Inch finished like a train playing the kind of hurling they had threatened all season, to secure their first points of the campaign, enough to escape the relegation playoffs.

Seamus Callanan rolled back the clock and was the main man again for Drom & Inch but Podge Campion, Fintan Purcell, John Campion, Jamie Moloney and Johnny Ryan had much to do with their revival, while Eoin Collins’ second half save proved so important in the move to sending Borris-Ileigh into the relegation battle rather than themselves.

Player of the Match: Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (9); Lorcan Campion (6), Jamie Moloney (7), Stevie Nolan (6), Podge Campion (0-1, 8), Fintan Purcell (7), Kevin Hassett (6), John Campion (0-1, 7), Cormac Cahill (0-1, 7), Johnny Ryan (0-3, 6), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (0-1, 6), Seamus Callanan (0-13, 10f, 9), David Collins (0-3, 8), Cormac Fitzpatrick (0-2, 7), Tommy Nolan (0-2, 6).

Subs: Michael Campion (6) for Hassett (35); David Butler (6) for Ryan (55).

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack (6); Colm Boyle (7), Liam Ryan (7), John McGrath (8), Ray McCormack (6), Brendan Maher (6), Seamus Burke (7), Tommy Ryan (0-1, 6), Dan McCormack (7), Paddy McCormack (2-0, 8), Eddie Ryan (0-11, 9f, 8), Conor Kenny (0-2, 8), James Devaney (0-2, 6), Kieran Maher (0-1, 6), Tom Delaney (0-2, 7).

Subs: Shane McCormack (6) for Kenny (52); Shane Kenny (NR) for T Ryan (58).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)