No regrets is the mantra for Maher and Borris-Ileigh

 

By Cóilín Duffy

 

Brendan Maher is keen to let the good times roll, as Borris-Ileigh contest their first AIB Munster Senior Club Hurling final since 1986 this Sunday, when they meet reigning champions Ballygunner of Waterford in the decider in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Back then they had a one-point win over Clarecastle with Michael Ryan as captain, but there's been some well documented lean years since, before delivering their first Tipperary Senior Hurling title earlier this month thanks to a three-point win over Kiladangan in the decider.

Celebrations weren't lacking, even with the potential of a hectic schedule ahead.

"Too be honest we celebrated as if we had no game coming up," Maher told the Nenagh Guardian.

"We said that we definitely wanted to celebrate it. After 33 years of not winning it, we didn't want to not celebrate it.

"We got back training on the Wednesday evening after the win on the Sunday, and just reset from there. We trained again on Friday, and thankfully got the result again (against Glen Rovers) on the Sunday.

"It was a quick-turnaround, but in fairness there is a good group there, well led obviously by Johnny Kelly.

"He has the experience of being through that kind of thing with Portumna and Coolderry before, so he was able to give us a few pointers on what to do, and what not to do."

Maher says as Borris-Ileigh step into the unknown, it's good to have Kelly's experience to draw upon.

"He referenced the positives and negatives that he experienced with Portumna, more so than anyone, and the regret that they had in 2003 when after winning Galway, Dunloy beat them in a semi-final.

"They shouldn't have lost that game. They were strong favourites going into it, and he said there's still huge regret from that year. Despite them winning the county title it was nearly overshadowed by the defeat."

 

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