Borrisokane building in downing Drom

Borrisokane served up their best display of the year in defeating a disappointing Drom & Inch side in last Sunday’s County Intermediate Hurling Championship preliminary quarter final.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Borrisokane 3-20

Drom & Inch 0-13

Report: Liam Hogan at St Flannan’s Park, Moneygall

It took a while before they got into their stride but two first half goals gave them a six point half time lead and above all some confidence as Michael Heenan, Conor Ryan and Oisin Larkin led the way with the trio scoring a combined total of 3-13 with a display much to the delight of their support.

And if there were any worry back at base the North defence held their part of the bargain especially Roan Murphy, Liam Cleary, and the ever reliable Bryan Davis.

Mid champions Drom & Inch had their moments though and if they displayed a little more team work and were much more accurate in front of goal (thirteen wides over the hour) things might have looked a little better at the end.

In a busy opening five minutes, Drom made the perfect start when Joey Maher, their best man up front, had the scoreboard moving after sixteen seconds. Michael Heenan levelled before midfielder John Ryan, another leader for Drom, had the Mid champions in front but Dylan Power levelled.

The scores continued to come quick and fast, but it was at one end only as Borris hit the high notes, scoring 1-4 without reply in nine minutes.

The sequence began with Conor Ryan leading the way quickly followed by a well-taken Liam Cleary point. There was no let up and in the eighth minute, Oisin Larkin scored a goal after Philip Austin charged through the Drom cover before parting to the full forward giving Paul Collins no chance. The Drom cover was in trouble and as the Borrisokane attack could shoot almost at will with the hard working Peter Collins increasing his team’s lead before an Oisin Larkin free made it 1-6 to 0-2.

Despite the setback, Drom managed to keep in touch. Some nice defensive work by Liam Ryan, Darragh Kennedy and Paul Mullen helped renew the supply lines which allowed John Ryan score in the thirteenth minute, and he had a hand in supplying ball to Joey Maher who scored next before Jack Lillis converted a free.

Trailing by four, Drom looked as if they could live with the North-men, but the opposition had other ideas as the continuous running play of Michael Heenan, Conor Ryan, Peter Collins and Oisin Larkin kept Drom under threat as Collins had the Borris machine back on track with a point in the seventeenth minute.

Two minutes later, the game was all over when an alert Oisin Larkin banged home from close range after Paul Collins saved a point only to see the ball deflected back out and Larkin made no mistake to make it 2-7 to 0-5.

However, John Ryan’s point from midfield in the 26th minute, aided by two Kinnane frees kept Drom’s faint hopes alive but Oisin Larkin’s free 2-8 to 0-8 at the break.

The second half began with a succession of quick scores starting with Kinnane free after 47 seconds. Joey Cleary, who replaced Philip Austin in the fourteenth minute, brought the crowd to its feet with well-taken point a minute later before Joey Maher left five separating the teams.

It was thus and no further for Drom because Borrisokane, with Joey Cleary playing well as a third midfielder, turned on the burners again as the ever present Michael Heenan, scored two points either side of a Paudie Kinnane free before quick points by Conor Ryan and Oisin Larking (free) left it 2-13 to 0-11.

Brian Moore pulled one back for Drom, but more erratic shooting kept them out of reach while Borrisokane didn’t have such problems and in the 43rd minute the result was put to bed when Conor Ryan scored their third goal. Oisin Larkin added a free and the lead was out to eleven, 3-14 to 0-12.

Paudie Kinnane’s free was just a mere consolation score as Borrisokane saw out the remainder of the game with ease in the guise of five unanswered points through Conor Ryan, Larkin (free), Conor Ryan, Gary Ryan, and Bryan Davis.

Shane Hassett managed to supply one more score for Drom & Inch, but Oisin Larkin had the final say with his first point from play to bring down the curtain on the game with Borrisokane looking good as they face Golden Kilfeacle in the quarter final.

Player of the Match: Michael Heenan (Borrisokane)

Borrisokane: Barry Ryan (6); Shane Nevin (6), Stephen Gavin (6), James Hough (6); Liam Cleary (0-1, 7), Roan Murphy (7), Bryan Davis (0-1, 8); Dylan Power (0-1, 6), Kevin Cleary (6); Mike Heenan (0-3, 8), Peter Collins (0-2, 7), Philip Austin (6); Conor Ryan (1-4, 7), Oisin Larkin (2-6, 0-5f, 7), Eanna Dooley (7).

Subs: Joey Cleary (0-1, 8) for Austin (14 inj); Gary Ryan (0-1, 7) for Dooley (46); Luke Quigley (6) for Power (50); Eddie O’Dwyer (6) for Nevin (50); Josh Chadwick (NR) for Heenan (57).

Drom & Inch: Paul Collins (6); Eoghan Kennedy (6), Liam Ryan (7), Michael Purcell (6); Paul Mullen (6), Darragh Kennedy (6), Conor O’Meara (6); John Ryan (Matt 0-3 7), Paul Bergin (6); Brian Moore (0-1, 6), Conor Gleeson (6), Jack Lillis (0-1f, 6); Paudie Kinnane (0-4f, 6), Joey Maher (0-4, 7), Aidan O’Meara (6).

Subs: Jamie Bergin (6) for Lillis (20 inj); Colm Kinnane (6) for C O’Meara (46); Jack Johnston (6) for Moore (48); Shane Hassett (0-1, 7) for A O’Meara (50); Michael Clohessy (6) for Maher (50).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).