Borrisokane punish wasteful Ballinahinch

Borrisokane side proved too hot to handle for Ballinahinch in what proved a well-contested North Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Friday evening.

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Borrisokane 3-16

Ballinahinch 1-13

Report: James Hayden in Puckane

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Liam Cleary (Borrisokane)

SCORERS - Borrisokane: Conor Ryan 2-2; Liam Cleary 0-6; Philip Austin 1-2; Oisin Larkin 0-4 (2 frees); Michael Heenan, Gary Ryan 0-1 each.

Ballinahinch: David Gleeson 1-3, Brendan Ryan 0-5 (1 free, 1 65’); Alan Kelly 0-2, John Foley, Ger Grace 0-1 each.

Borrisokane side proved too hot to handle for Ballinahinch in what proved a well-contested North Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Friday evening.

Pairic Hogan’s side put pay to Ballinahinch’s North aspirations with an impressive display from a side peppered with a potent mix of youth and experience. Three goals could easily have been five or six for a dangerous Borris’ attack with Philip Austin providing an influential fulcrum for the dangerous Conor Ryan and Oisin Larkin to revolve around.

Coupled with dominance of both Liam and Kevin Cleary at midfield and the steadying nature of the experienced Brian Davis at full-back and Stephen Gavin at centre-back and you have a Borrisokane side that appeared both impressive and well-balanced throughout.

Ballinahinch on the other hand will rue no less than eighteen wides, many of which were from scorable opportunities, and in essence this was their downfall considering Borrisokane shot just five wides.

Trailing by 2-10 to 0-7 at the break, Ballinahinch upped their workrate for the third quarter but with six wides in this period they failed to make any impact on the scoreboard and still trailed by nine at the second water-break with both sides bagging 1-2 apiece in this period.

In essence though Borrisokane laid the foundations for victory in the opening half when playing with the assistance of a noticeable breeze the amassed a 1-6 to 0-4 lead in the opening quarter, and backed this excellent start by outscoring their rivals 1-4 to 0-3 in the second quarter.

Borrisokane started brightly and points from Liam Cleary and Philip Austin got them off the mark. Further points from the duo fired them three clear by the eleventh minute, with Ger Grace registering the only score for the saffron and blues. Ballinahinch narrowed the gap to two by the 15th minute thanks to successive points from placed balls from Brendan Ryan before Conor Ryan broke through the Ballinahinch cover to net Borrisokane’s opening goal on the quarter-hour.

David Gleeson responded for Ballinahinch with a well-struck point but the impressive Borris’ midfielder, Liam Cleary hit an almost immediate riposte to ensure his side led by five at the first water break. Cleary was again on hand to float over a point from long-range after the water break before David Gleeson and Brendan Ryan reduced the deficit to four by the 28th minute.

Back came Borris’ though with Oisin Larkin finding his range from way out the field before Philip Austin bagged Borrisokane’s second goal right on the half-hour mark. Ballinahinch almost found the net in response, but David Gleeson was well bottled by Brian Davis and the danger was quickly averted. Ballinahinch almost coughed up another goal minutes later after Conor Ryan raided again but this time his high hand-pass attempt to the unmarked Philip Austin on the edge of the square was intercepted and cleared to safety. Oisin Larkin and Conor Ryan both raised white flags before the break while Brendan Ryan was on target for Ballinahinch deep in time added on to leave a sizeable gulf between the sides at the interval.

Ballinahinch started the second half brightly with David Gleeson netting straight from the throw-in before John Foley chipped in with a close-range point but just as it seemed Ballinahinch were building up a head of steam back came Borrisokane with a right sucker punch, in the guise of a third goal from the stick of Conor Ryan.

Oisin Larkin (free) and Mike Heenan extended Borrisokane’s lead to ten points on 48 minutes and from this juncture Borrisokane cruised to a wholly deserved victory and a meeting with a strong Moneygall side in a much-anticipated North final.

Conor Ryan, Liam Cleary, Philip Austin, Andy Austin, Brian Davis, Oisin Larkin and Stephen Gavin really shone for Borrisokane while Brendan Ryan, David Gleeson Shane McGrath and Karl Kelly caught the eye for Ballinahinch.

TEAMS - Borrisokane: Luke Gleeson (7), James Hough (7), Brian Davis (8), Cathal Dooley (7); Roan Murphy (7), Stephen Gavin (7), Michael Kelly (7); Liam Cleary (8), Kevin Cleary (7); Dylan Power (7), Andy Austin (7), Conor Gavin (7); Oisin Larkin (7), Philip Austin (8), Conor Ryan (8).

Subs: Mike Heenan (7) for Kelly (45); Gary Ryan (6) for Power (56); Colm Larkin (6) for K Cleary (56); Eddie O’Dwyer (NR) for A Austin (60).

Ballinahinch: Donnacha McGrath (7), Paddy Kelly (6), Tom Grace (7), Cathal Ryan (6); Kevin Fitzpatrick (7), Shane McGrath (7), Darragh McGrath (7); Karl Kelly (7), Kevin Mulcahy (7); Adam Ryan (6), Brendan Ryan (7), Ger Grace (7); Joey Kelly (6), John Foley (6), David Gleeson (7).

Subs: Alan Kelly (7) for J Kelly (HT); Brendan Hourigan (6) for Fitzpatrick (45); Cathal Ryan (B) (NR) for Grace (60).

Referee: Kieran Delaney (Toomevara).