Borris-Ileigh make it two U21 North titles out of three with win over battling Silvermines

North Tipperary U21A Hurling Championship Final

Borris-Ileigh 2-16  

Silvermines   1-13

By James Hayden 

Borris-Ileigh were crowned North Tipperary U21A hurling champions following an absorbing clash with a battling Silvermines side at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday afternoon last.

Silvermines went into this encounter off the back of a superb semi-final victory over a fancied Ballina side a week previous. 

In contrast, a determined Borris-Ileigh side dispatched Toomevara and Nenagh Eire Og en route to this year’s decider.

Before the throw-in, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Mike Horan, a founding member of the Silvermines GAA juvenile club in 1968, and coincidentally this year was the last time Silvermines contested a North U-21 ‘A’ final.

Borri-Ileigh, who were last crowned champions in 2022,  were afforded a tonic start when Paddy McCormack netted with aplomb with the very first score of the game, a well-taken goal after Darragh Chute’s insightful ball provided McCormack with the chance to rattle the Silvermines net.

Crucially, this goal, coupled with a similar lightning start to the second half, provided Borris-Ileigh with the platform for a hard-earned six-point victory.

Silvermines responded in style and hit three points on the bounce with Darragh Treacy, Conor McKelvey (free), and Ger Leamy all on target to bring the ‘Mines upside by the tenth minute.

In an opening half which saw little or no impact from a slight breeze and both sides level on four separate occasions, Borris’ edged back in front with Eddie Ryan (free) and Paddy McCormack both on target to edge the men in maroon two clear by the quarter-hour mark.

The ‘Mines really had Borris-Ileigh under the cosh in the opening half and they ensured Diarmuid Kinnane’s charges were made to work hard for every possession. 

Between the 15th and 23rd minutes, the momentum undoubtedly swung in favour of the men in blue and white with efforts from Conor McKelvey (free) and Adam Steed bringing the ‘Mines level in the 20th minute before a sublime Darragh Treacy effort edged the ‘Mines in front for the first time. 

Archie Devaney was also called into action to deny Ger Leamy after a well-struck 19th-minute effort on the Borris-Ileigh goal.

With Sean Nolan battling hard for every possession in attack and their defense held firm, the ‘Mines doubled their lead with a 22nd-minute Luke O’Brien point after he surged up from centre-back to arrow over a fine effort from close range.

Borris-Ileigh’s response was immediate with two majestic points from Paddy McCormack and Eddie Ryan bringing the sides level once more. Again the ‘Mines retorted with points from corner-forward, Cathal Treacy and Conor McKelvey restoring their earlier two-point advantage. 

With the game ebbing and flowing towards the interval break Borris-Ileigh levelled once more thanks to successive Eddie Ryan frees before Conor McKelvey flighted over a sublimely struck sideline cut deep in time and added on to ensure Silvermines took a 0-10 to 1-6 advantage to the dressing room.

Borris-Ileigh’s Eoin Boyle looked in trouble before the break with a niggling leg injury but the Borris’ backroom team elected to leave him on the inside forward line for the re-start. 

The Borris-Ileigh players obviously delivered a few home truths to each other at the break and they emerged determined to seize the initiative. 

And seize it they did by fashioning a tremendous start to the second half, hitting 1-4 without reply as a shell-shocked Silvermines side struggled to keep pace.

Within 50 seconds of the re-start Borris-Ileigh had manufactured a second goal. Darragh Chute once again provided the incisive ball to Paddy McCormack. 

McCormack slipped the attentions of full-back, Sean Ryan Prendiville and delivered a looping hand-pass into the path of the inrushing Paddy Brett. 

Brett first-timed his one-handed effort past the advancing Conor Murphy in the Silvermines goal to fire Borris-Ileigh into a lead they would never relinquish.

Silvermines almost hit back with a goal of their own after Sean Nolan’s effort was cleared off the line by Colm Boyle before Borris’ added to their tally with points from Darragh Chute, a high looping effort which was adjudged to have crossed the plane of the uprights the despite the best efforts of Conor Murphy and Eddie Ryan (free). 

Ryan, who was undoubtedly Borris-Ileigh’s marquee player, arrowed over an outstanding effort from range seconds later before the impressive Mikey Kennedy fired Borris’ into a 2-10 to 0-10 lead with a superb 45th-minute point.

At this stage, all looked to be going south for the Silvermines but credit to them they forced their way back into contention with a Conor McKelvey free followed up by a cracking goal from the stick of the Silvermines centre-forward, 2-10 to 1-11. 

McKelvey had the chance to narrow the gap further seconds later but his free unfortunately tailed wide for his side’s tenth wide of the game.

Borris-Ileigh’s resolve was undoubtedly being tested at this stage but Eddie Ryan kept the scoreboard ticking with two points on the bounce, the first from a placed ball and the second from play. 

Silvermines kept in touch, and with Sean Nolan now on freetaking duties, he arrowed over two points from placed balls to see the ‘Mines trail by just three with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Silvermines did their utmost to fashion a goal at this juncture but Borris-Ileigh defended in depth and with full-back Colm Boyle leading the charge, they repelled the ‘Mines time and time again. 

Centre-back Tom Delaney surged upfield for an inspirational 58th-minute point to put four between the sides. 

Eddie Ryan hit his sixth free of the game right on the stroke of full-time before a lung-bursting run from corner-back Patrick Ryan deep in time added on culminated in a well-converted close-range free for Eddie Ryan.

With six now between the sides and the game deep in injury time, the ‘Mines attempted to manufacture a few late last-gasp goal chances but the Borris’ defence held fast to ensure a hard-fought yet fully deserved six-point victory over a gallant Silvermines side.

Scorers: Silvermines: Conor McKelvey (1-5, 0-3f, 0-1 65), Darragh Treacy 0-2, Sean Nolan 0-2f, Luke O’Brien, Ger Leamy, Adam Steed, Cathal Treacy all 0-1 each.

Borris-Ileigh: Eddie Ryan (0-11, 0-7f), Paddy McCormack 1-2, Patrick Brett 1-0, Mikey Kennedy, Darragh Chute, Tom Delaney all 0-1 each.

Silvermines: Conor Murphy; Sean McGrath, Sean Ryan Prendiville, Sean Murphy; Brehon O’Donnell, Luke O’Brien, Cynan Bailey; Michael Corcoran, Adam Steed; Ger Leamy, Conor McKelvey, Darragh Treacy; Sean Nolan, Danny Quinn, Cathal Treacy.

Subs used: Brian Leamy for D Treacy (50); Ronan Cunneen for Steed (52).

Borris-Ileigh: Archie Devaney; Harry Gould, Colm Boyle, Eamon Groome; Lar Stapleton, Tom Delaney, Patrick Ryan; Cian Murphy, Mikey Kennedy; Darragh Chute, Eddie Ryan, Eoin Boyle; Patrick Brett, Paddy McCormack, Razuk Atik.

Subs used: Donnacha Ryan for E Boyle (40); Conor Murray for Brett (58); Aaron Ryan for Chute (61).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess)