Borris-Ileigh have the game-plan to curb Ballygunner

GAA: AIB Munster Senior Club Championship Final Preview

 

By Shane Brophy

BORRIS-ILEIGH v BALLYGUNNER
Pairc Ui Rinn, Cork
Sunday 24th November
Throw-in @ 2.00pm (E.T.)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

The underdogs tag will sit comfortably on Borris-Ileigh as they look to claim their second Munster senior club hurling title on Sunday.
Defending champions Ballygunner of Waterford present a mighty challenge but it is certainly not insurmountable for a Borris-Ileigh side that have become used to confounding their doubters this year.
They may lack provinical championship experience but they make up for it in quality and a never say die spirit and they will need that to come to the fore at Pairc Ui Rinn if they are to turn what has been a special year into a amazing one.
They face formidable opposition in Ballingunner who are looking to become the first side since Clare's St Joseph's Doora-Barefield in 1998 & 1999 to successfully defend the Munster title and they certainly have a side more than capable of doing so.
Having won five Waterford titles in a row, they have a side littered with Deise senior stars, starting with goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe through Pauric Mahony and Peter Hogan in attack.
However, their side is built around their half back line of former Waterford seniors Shane O'Sullivan and Barry Coughlan, either side of centre back Philip Mahony.
It's a line Borris-Ileigh will have to get some joy against if they are to be successful. To that end, Conor Kenny's aerial ability will be key and if he can get on enough ball, he can do an awful lot of damage as he showed with his six point haul from play against Glen Rovers.
But then, Borris-Ileigh don't have to rely totally on him and the contributions of Jerry Kelly and James Devaney in the last two games have been noteworthy while Kevin Maher's free-taking will also have to be at a high level.
However, while Ballygunner's half back line isn't about stopping their opponents scoring primarily and they have done so well holding Sixmilebridge and Patrickswell to 0-12 and 0-9 respectively in their two Munster club games so far. They are also a springboard for their attack as they play a similar brand of hurling to the Waterford senior team with quick movement and creating runners off the shoulder.
They'll likely play a two man full forward line in the pacey Peter Hogan and rising star Dessie Hutchinson who has returned from playing soccer with Charlton Athletic in England and his performances will likely see him called up to Liam Cahill's Waterford panel in the new year.
Borris-Ileigh will likely set Paddy Stapleton on him to use his experience to curb his influence as much as they can.
It's a style of play that Borris-Ileigh wouldn't have come up against much this year, apart from Kiladangan whom they didn't allow get into their flow in the county final and this will have to be the gameplan against Ballygunner. It means Dan McCormack, Tommy Ryan and Kieran Maher having big roles in the middle of the field, as well as the half forward line working back the field also.
Niall Kenny's role at full forward will also be improtant in terms of holding up the ball. He is still chasing his best form after coming back from injury and is showing improvement in every game and if he can win enough ball to either score himself or for others to feed off, Borris-Ileigh have the potential for joy in attack.
While the starting fifteen for both sides look pretty even, Ballygunner who have a deep bench when they are able to call on the likes of Wayne & JJ Hutchinson, as well as Conor Power. Borris-Ileigh's bench wouldn't be as deep and only Jack Hogan has been used regularly as a sub in the last two games with Jody Harkin making a fleeting appearance late on against Glen Rovers when Paddy Stapleton limped off.
Stapleton should be good to go for this Munster Final and his experience will be vital in front of goalkeeper James McCormack who has been a shining light this year. Liam Ryan could be the man to take up Peter Hogan leaving Seamus Burke as sweeper if, as expected, Ballygunner do pull a man deep with Burke able to support his half backs of the McCormack brothers, Sean & Ray, as well as the commanding Brendan Maher.
It promises to be a special occasion for Borris-Ileigh as who knows when they might get back to another Munster Final as they team from 86 can attest to. A good start will be half the battle to put Ballygunner on the back foot but as we have seen from Borris-Ileigh this year, they are as good as front-runners as they are coming from behind so won't panic in either scenario and using their inter-county experience and tradition could take them all the way to a Munster title.