Borris-Ileigh and Clonoulty Rossmore ends all square in turgid encounter in Thurles

FBD Insurance Senior Club Hurling Championship - Round 1 - Group 4

Clonoulty Rossmore 0-16

Borris-Ileigh 1-13

By Michael Dundon

Borris-Ileigh swooped late for two points to earn a deserved draw with West champions, Clonoulty Rossmore in a most entertaining FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship tie at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

There was little between these sides all the way and while Clonoulty’s West success guarantees them a place in the knockout stages of the championship, Borris needed a result in this very difficult group which also features Kiladangan and Thurles Sarsfields – all four teams county champions in recent years, to keep their challenge on course.

The sides didn’t disappoint those expecting a good tussle and while the standard of play may not have been top drawer, there was no questioning the spirit of the two sides who did well despite the tricky surface. A draw was a fitting result though both will claim they should have prevailed.

Handling and striking errors abounded as the sides traded scores in a first half that was lively but lacking in championship intensity. Eddie Ryan for Borris and Cathal Burke for Clonoulty engaged in a free-taking battle that saw the Borris man land four, to add to another from play, while his Clonoulty rival was on target six times as Clonoulty went 0-7 to 0-5 clear after 21 minutes. Ronan Heffernan got the other Clonoulty point.

The big moment of the half came in the 32nd minute when Dan McCormack set up James Devaney who “skinned” the Clonoulty rearguard with a blistering run to fire home a great goal for a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead for his side.

Within five minutes of resuming Clonoulty were level and they were level three more times as the game reached the 50-minute mark (1-11 to 0-14). Then Clonoulty had two points from Cathal Bourke and Jack Ryan whose influence on proceedings was growing by the minute to be 0-16 to 1-11 ahead with five minutes to play.

Borris were not wilting. Kevin Maher pointed in the 57th minute and in injury time, with the last strike of the game after Jerry Kelly was fouled, Eddie Ryan showed composure beyond his years to land the leveller for the North representatives, and a point that could yet be very valuable.

Not losing was almost as important as winning, and in this regard, Borris will be pleased to have salvaged a draw when defeat was staring them in the face but they will readily appreciate that better things will be required if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages.

They had Jerry Kelly operating in a defensive role for much of the game and he was very effective but their key man was Eddie Ryan whose free-taking accounted for half-their scores.

It is something they will need to address with more required from his attacking colleagues in terms of scores on the board. They lost Ray McCormack to injury early on and will be hoping he is fit for the next round. Dan McCormack, Conor Kenny, and Seamus Burke were others to contribute handsomely to the Borris cause.

Clonoulty-Rossmore will be disappointed to get caught so late but for all that should be happy with their draw. Following an easy West Tipp campaign this was their first big test and they came through with their title credentials intact.

They too will be concerned at the lack of scorers, Cathal Bourke hitting twelve of their points with Jack Ryan adding three, and only Ronan Heffernan of the rest of the team raising a flag. Improvement in that department is imperative if real progress is to be made.

Apart from that trio, John O Keeffe was soundness personified at the heart of the defence with Michael Ryan doing a power of work at midfield. Danny Slattery also had his moments.

Borris-Ileigh: Jody Harkin; Colm Boyle Liam Ryan, Seamus Burke; Brendan Maher, Dan McCormack, Ray McCormack; Shane Kenny, Tom Ryan; Jerry Kelly, Eddie Ryan (0-9, 0-7f), James Devaney (1-0); Kevin Maher (0-1), Conor Kenny (0-2), Jack Hogan.

Subs used: Paddy McCormack for S Kenny (27); Dan Ryan (0-1) for S Kenny (29); Paddy Stapleton for R McCormack (46).

Clonoulty Rossmore: Martin Sadlier; Tommy Ryan, Enda Heffernan, Stephen Quinn; Ciaran Quirke, John O’Keeffe, Sean O’Connor; Ronan Heffernan (0-1), Michael Ryan; Aaron Ryan, Cathal Bourke (0-12f), Jack Ryan (0-3); Danny Slattery, Robert Doyle, Stephen Ferncombe.

Subs used: Jimmy Maher for Quinn (47); James Hammersley for Ferncombe (58).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)