Burgess take their chances to win Junior title

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Final

Burgess 2-4

Rosegreen 1-4

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Kieran Grace (Burgess).

SCORERS - Burgess: Kieran Grace 1-1; Donagh Maher 1-0; Bill O’Flaherty 0-2; Sean Dunne 0-1.

Rosegreen: Tony Kerwick 1-0 pen; Killian Ryan 0-2 (1 free); Diarmuid Quinlan, Kark Harnett 0-1 each.

Burgess had to withstand a late period of pressure before earning their second County Junior ‘B’ Football title, and their first in twenty years, in defeating Rosegreen in a well-contested final on Saturday afternoon.

Enjoying the greater amount of possession, Burgess were by far the better side and in truth should have the game out of sight long before the final whistle.

Faster and stronger, Burgess had many leaders in William Ryan, Tony Dunne, Johnny Mulqueen, Stephen Murray and Donagh Maher while Kieran Grace, Bill O’Flaherty and Kieran Ryan were the ideal back-up in terms of possession. In addition, they had a reliable goalkeeper in Colm O’Brien, who not alone acted in the role of player/manager, he was also the one link with the team that won their last title in 2000.

The opening ninety seconds saw Burgess enjoy uninterrupted possession as they controlled play with a string of handpassing plus the odd kick pass before losing the ball which allowed Rosegreen set up an attack. In the fourth minute, a move outside the Rosegreen twenty-metre line involving Tony Dunne and Donagh Maher before the latter slipped the ball to wing back Kieran Grace who placed the ball low past Rosegreen keeper Gerard Cummins.

A twenty-five metre free by wing forward Killian Ryan opened the Rosegreen account in the sixth minute before Bill O’Flaherty increased the Burgess’ lead after he was put through by Kieran Grace.

Further Burgess pressure should have helped them increase their lead, but the Rosegreen defence held firm with Kevin Tobin at full back plus Tony Kerwick, Tom Dowling and Patrick Colville at half back keeping the threat at bay. Wing back Tony Kerwick had the freedom to move forward in attack and his presence help a positive move by the West-men which saw Podge Quinlan denied by Colm O’Brien. However, play was called back for a penalty and Tony Kerwick converted the spot kick to level at 1-1 each.

With play now swinging from end to end it was Rosegreen who took the initiative when Killian Ryan had his second point in the 26th minute. The lead lasted just two minutes when another Burgess attack ended with Donagh Maher finding the back of the net after assistance by Aidan O’Dwyer and the ever present William Ryan who had vacated his corner back position. Half time score Burgess 2-1 Rosegreen 1-2.

Burgess looked the better side in the opening minutes of the second half and points by Kieran Grace, Bill O’Flaherty and Sean Dunne had the North champions five in front and looking very much the part of champions.

Such was the belief in the side that they called on their bench by introducing four subs together in the 39th minute. A form of madness one might say but the Burgess management had an eye on the clubs under 21 hurling game with Lorrha Rovers twenty four hours later thus exit Kieran Grace and Aidan O’Dwyer stage left.

For brief period the fresh legs seem to inspire Burgess but they were unable to prize open the Rosegreen defence which remained steady all through with Vinny Downey and Mark Harnett adding their worth to the cause after their introduction. After Diarmuid Quinlan’s speed and good balance allowed him space to end Rosegreen’s barren patch with a point after nineteen minutes without a score, the contest became more frenzied and passions rose leading to a scuffle underneath the stand sideline yielding a yellow card to each team.

Eight minutes from time, a point by substitute Mark Harnett left three points separating the teams and the search for more Rosegreen scores continued but the Burgess defence held firm. In addition, Rosegreen’s efforts from placed balls were off target which didn’t help their cause.

Three minutes from time passions rose again and referee Paddy Russell red carded Burgess mentor Marty Caulfield. Play continued but the Burgess defence were resilient with William Ryan prominent in cutting off the threat on two occasions and in the 65th minute the full time whistle sounded with the Burgess following entering the field of play to salute their winning team.

TEAMS - Burgess: Colm O’Brien (7); William Ryan (8), John O’Brien (7), John Flaherty (7); Kieran Grace (Capt, 8), Tony Dunne (7), Aidan O’Dwyer (7); Bill O’Flaherty (7), Johnny Mulqueen (7); Kieran Ryan (7), Stephen Murray (7), Danny Ryan (7); Sean Dunne (7), Eoin Hogan (6), Donagh Maher (7).

Subs: Liam Grace (6) for K Ryan (39), Michael Ryan (6) for K Grace (39), Stephen Kirwan (6) for Hogan (39), Eoin Grace (6) for B O’Flaherty (39); David Nealon (NR) for Murray (60+1).

Rosegreen: Gerard Cummins (6); Sean Ryan (7), Kevin Tobin (7), Ross Bourke (7); Tony Kerwick (Capt, 7), Tom Dowling (7), Patrick Colville (7); Keith Bergin (8), Pa Ryan (6); Daniel Hayde (6), JP Anglim (6), Killian Ryan (6); Podge Quinlan (6), Diarmuid Quinlan (7), Colin Bourke (6).

Subs: Eoin McSweeney (6) for K Ryan (35); Vinny Downey (6) for Hayde (50), Mark Harnett (6) for S Ryan (50); Danny Fanning (6) for P Ryan (54); Nick Ryan (NR) for Bourke (60+1).

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)