Borrisokane overcome by impressive Golden

Golden Kilfeacle saved their best for the second half as their greater scoring power helped them gain a place in the last four following this quarter final win over Borrisokane in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday evening.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Golden Kilfeacle 3-23

Borrisokane 0-21

Report: Liam Hogan at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

In an entertaining game, the second half improvement came after a slow start when Borrisokane opened a four point lead inside ten minutes. But bit by bit Golden got back into the game to come level 0-8 to 1-5 after sixteen minutes. They had to survive a scare or two in the process before gradually taking hold of the rein and take a half time lead of 2-11 to 0-14.

Golden maintained their momentum in the second half where their backline were more cohesive and limited the Borris attack to just three points from play, while up front, they had Jack Leamy and Ben Currivan leading the way for this young side which had six under 21 players in their starting line-up.

Fresh from their win over Drom & Inch in the preliminary quarter final, Borrisokane came strongly in the opening ten minutes taking a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with Oisin Larkin scoring five points (2 frees and a sideline ball) while Michael Heenan added two from play.

With Jack Leamy leading the way at full forward it didn’t take long for Golden to regain ground and between the 12th & 16th minute he scored 1-2, including the equalising goal when his effort for a point dropped short and was deflected to the net off Barry Ryan’s out-stretched hand.

Michael Heenan’s third point had Borrisokane in front but after Seanie O’Halloran levelled the Borris defence was outsmarted when Sam Hall reached a high ball from another Leamy delivery before the corner forward steered the ball to the net.

Despite the setback, Borrisokane continued to take on the west-men and approaching half time they outscored Golden 0-5 to 0-2 thanks to three frees by Oisin Larkin while the ever present Bryan Davis and the hard working Dylan Power each scored from play.

It was end-to-end as the scores came thick and fast, and in added time Golden finished on a high as Padraig Dalton, Ben Currivan and another Leamy free extended the lead to three at the break.

The opening twelve minutes of the second half belonged to Golden as they outscored Borris 0-6 to 0-1 with Leamy picking off three frees, aided by points from Sam Hall, Ben Currivan, and wing back Eoin Marnane.

Borrisokane fought on, but the Golden defence had their number as they continued to limit the scoring chances from play as Borris had to depend on three Oisin Larkin placed balls which had the margin back to six.

However, that margin would soon become nine when the resulting puckout reached Sam Hall who turned provider for Jack Leamy to fire home his second goal.

Borris replied with Oisin Larkin increasing his tally with two more frees but the confident Golden side had all the answers and two more points by Jack Leamy plus one from the very accurate Ben Currivan had the margin out to ten.

Dylan Powers’s second point was Borrisokane’s final score before a Leamy 65 and a Sam Hall score from play brought the curtain down on an impressive Golden Kilfeacle win.

This was a good display by Golden. Scoring 3-16 from play, including 3-5 by the inside full forward line of Sam Hall, Jack Bergin, and Jack Leamy. In addition, Ben Currivan added four points from play while Cian Ryan, another under 21 player, led the way at midfield along with Seanie O’Halloran who also scored four points from play. The entire backline played their part too with Eoin Marnane and Niall Heffernan and Cian O’Connell prominent at half back while Shane O’Connell was solid at full back.

Borrisokane had to depend on Oisin Larkin for leadership up front while Michael Heenan, Dylan Power, Bryan Davis, Stephen Gavin, and Shane Nevin did their best.

Player of the Match: Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle)

Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan (7); Aidan O’Connell (7), Daithi Barbary (7); Eoin Marnane (0-1, 7), Niall Heffernan (7), Cian O’Connell (7); Seanie O’Halloran (0-4, 8), Cian Ryan (7); Padraig Dalton (0-2, 7), Ben Currivan (0-4, 8), Eanna Ormond (7); Sam Hall (1-1, 7), Jack Leamy (2-9, 0-6f, 0-1 65) 8), Jack Bergin (0-2, 7).

Subs: Ciaran Byrnes (NR) for Barbary (56); Jack Dalton (NR) for Marnane (58).

Borrisokane: Barry Ryan (6); Shane Nevin (7), Stephen Gavin (6), James Hough (6); Liam Cleary (6), Roan Murphy (6), Bryan Davis (0-2, 7); Dylan Power (0-2, 7), Kevin Cleary (6); Mike Heenan (0-3, 7), Peter Collins (6), Philip Austin (6); Conor Ryan (6), Oisin Larkin (0-14, 10f, 1 ‘65, 1 s-cut) 7), Gary Ryan (6).

Subs: Eanna Dooley (6) for G Ryan (49); Joey Cleary (6) for K Cleary (50).

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)