Borris-Ileigh produce top performance to win U15A North title in Templederry

North Tipperary U15A Hurling Championship Final

It may have been a 58-year wait but it was worth it all as this Borris-Ileigh team produced a brilliant display to rumble the holders Toomevara at a sunny Fr Kenyon Park, Templederry last Sunday shortly after noon.

The five-decade wait may be a stretch but Borris-Ileigh won in what is the third instalment of this grade since the U15 grade was re-introduced in 2021.

The new winners joined Roscrea (2021) and Toomevara on the honours list but that’s for the history books now it cannot take from such a great performance.

Fielding a much stronger team all round, size was the key factor as the vast majority of the team neared the five-foot ten-inch mark and they used every ounce of their size to nail this title against a Toomevara side that had plenty of skilful hurlers and will be the standard bearers in a few years with eight of this panel underage for 2024.

Naming the best players would mean a mention for the fifteen that started but Cathal Kennedy at centre back plus Michael Ryan, Jack Bevans and Shane Ryan in attack deserve special mention.

The trio combined to score 0-18 including eleven from play. Their hurling was excellent but the win served to create history for an underage player where full forward Patrick Groome scored three goals. Elsewhere, Sam Clarke and Eoin Ryan deserve a mention.

The Borris defence did their part with full-back Daniel Groome very sound behind Cathal Kennedy at six with Liam Kinane, and Jack Gould contributing to the win while Oisin Ryan was so reliable in goal.

Toomevara will have their day next year but on this occasion, they could depend on Padraig Hackett at centre-back with Tony Dunne and Adam Whyte always by his side.

Cormac Frend had his moments with Cody Quirke, Liam Hackett, Michael Ryan and Ken Dunne doing their best. The winners opened the scoring with two points inside the opening five minutes but suffered a setback when they conceded a Cormac Frend goal in the seventh minute after Toome produced a sweeping move from defence which involved five different players.

The setback was temporary as the Maroon clad went on a seven-point run starting with the strongly built Sam Clarke with Cathal Kennedy producing three with two from frees while Jack Bevans (free) plus one each from play from Shane Ryan and Eoin Ryan.

Toomevara’s Patrick Hackett pointed a free in the 23rd minute but it was a temporary setback to the winners as Michael Ryan scored two points either side of another Cathal Kennedy point from play before Patrick Groome scored his first goal thanks to a good run by Michael Ryan.

Two Jack Bevan frees increased Borris-Ileigh’s lead and if that were not enough, an interception of a Toome puckout saw Patrick Groome race through the Toome cover before finding the back of the net to give them a comfortable half-time lead.

Toome made three changes at half time but points by Bevans and Kennedy added to Toome’s misery which was made increasingly worse when Groome scored his third goal in the 37th minute.

Borris-Ileigh added five more points with the usual men on target including one from substitute Gregory Hodgins which came much to the delight of a partisan Borris-Ileigh following.

In fairness, Toome never gave up and were rewarded by two Darragh Kelly frees. Borris were the winners, adding to the U17A title they won a few weeks ago.

Borris-Ileigh: Oisin Ryan; Eoin Anderson, Daniel Groome Michael O’Brien; Jack Gould, Cathal Kennedy, Liam Kinane; Sam Clarke, David Rabbitte; Michael Ryan, Eoin Ryan, Jack Bevans; Shane Ryan, Patrick Groome, Jack Groome.

Subs used: Jamie Healy for Clarke (49); Luke Ryan for J Groome (49); Paul Kinnane for Anderson (49); Gregor Hodgins for S Ryan (53); Sean O’Hanlon for M Ryan (53).

Toomevara: Shane Conway; Jack McCormack, Tony Dunne, Adam Whyte; Jack Fitzpatrick, Patrick Hackett, Paddy Daly; Cormac Frend, Ciaran Troy; Donnacha Frend, Cody Quirke, Liam Hackett; Darragh Kelly, Michael Ryan, KJ Dunne.

Subs used: Daniel Powell for J McCormack (HT); Darragh Hartnett for D Frend (HT); Derek Hickey for Fitzpatrick (HT); Evan Ryan for Quirke (53); Patrick O’Brien for Kelly (57); Ruairi O’Dwyer for Daly (57).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe)