Third quarter blitz won it for us – Kinnane
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Borris-Ileigh’s Conor Kinnane with his mother Carol and father Diarmuid (Manager) after winning the North Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling title. Odhran DucieImage 2 of 2
Borris-Ileigh - North Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling champions. Back row: Ciaran Cowan (Selector), Paddy McCormack, Paddy Brett, Tom Delaney, Conor Murray, Luke Ryan Buckley, Lar Stapleton, Cian Murphy, Patrick Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Charlie Fitzgerald, Eoin Boyle, Aaron Ryan, Evan Ryan, Diarmuid Kinnane (Manager), Cathal Bourke (Coach), Conor Kenny (Selector). Front row: Declan Maher (Physio), Denis Kelly (Selector), Eamonn Corcoran (Selector), PJ Kiely (Logistics), Conor Kinnane, Razuk Atik, Archie Devaney, Eddie Ryan, Colm Boyle, Mikey Kennedy, Eamon Groome, Harry Gould, Darragh Chute, Paul Kinnane (Hurleys), Sean Smyth (Selector), Tadhg Kelly (Hurleys). PHOTOs: ODHRAN DUCIE Odhran DucieBy James Hayden
Borris-Ileigh manager Diarmuid Kinnane cut an elated figure following his side’s six-point victory over Silvermines in the North Tipperary Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling final on Sunday.
Kinnane paid tribute to his charges, but also praised Silvermines for the effort they displayed in what he described as an ‘extremely tough’ game for his side.
“The ‘Mines threw everything at us in the game particularly in the first half,” he said.
“They wired into us as hard and as fair as they could and deservedly led at the break.
“We went through the stats at half-time and we could see they were winning the turnovers. To be honest we knew we had the work done as in our fitness and we just put it to our lads at half-time they had to go out and win it for themselves. We spoke about the effort they had put in this year and asked them to leave everything out on the field for the second half.”
Kinnane agreed that Borris-Ileigh really laid the foundations for their win in a fifteen-minute spell after the re-start.
“Silvermines left everything on the field too in fairness to them, but I would agree that the work-rate and determination we displayed in the third quarter is really what won it for us,” he added.
“We really, really worked hard and while Eoin Boyle was carrying a leg he still gave his all and we felt he would cause trouble, that’s why we left him there until the 40-minute mark.”
Praising his side, Diarmuid said that the work-rate Borris-Ileigh had shown all year was what stood to them in the end and agreeing that his side had a difficult route to the final, he said victories over Toomevara and Nenagh Eire Og really stood to them.
“We had to beat Toomevara in the quarter-final, in Toome’ and then beat Nenagh in Nenagh so to me that showed great character from our lads,” Kinnane continued.
“It’s hard to beat teams in their own back yard but we knew we were facing a high-quality team here today and we were under no illusions as to the challenge we faced. We prepared for a massive challenge here today and we got it from the ‘Mines. They never gave up and thankfully our lads never gave up either and luckily it was our lads who came out on the winning side.”