St Joseph's Borrisoleigh crowned All-Ireland champions after epic final against Naomh Cormac

Masita All-Ireland PPS Senior (C) Michael Cusack Hurling Final

St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh 2-17

Colaiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac 2-12

St Joseph's College Borrisoleigh completed their year of years with a tighter than required victory over a battling Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac team in a sun-soaked Borrisokane on Friday afternoon.

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Leading 2-13 to 0-9 halfway through the second half, Naomh Cormac managed to resurrect their efforts with two quick goal, and despite trailing by a big margin for much of the game, even managed to pull the game back to a single point with Aaron Screeney - younger brother of Adam - proving to be a magnificent impact sub.

Borris had dominated the game to that point with first half goals from Cody Quirke and the boundless Michael Ryan putting the Tipperary school in an incredible position to go on and win an historic national title.

However, it would be closer than was necessary given the flow of the contest and letting the foot off the gas left an opening for Naomh Cormac to battle back. Still, Borris - led by captain Micheal Collins - found another gear when required in the final ten minutes with frees the main currency for them with Shane Ryan, Michael Collins (65) and a fantastic score from play by Michael Ryan giving them the breathing room to hold on for a deserved and famous win.

Scorers: St Joseph’s: Shane Ryan (0-6, 0-4f), Micheál Collins (0-6, 0-4f, 0-1 65), Michael Ryan 1-2, Cody Quirke 1-1, Liam Hackett, Eoin Ryan 0-1 each.

Naomh Cormac: Jack Dunican (0-4, 0-2f), Aaron Screeney (0-4, 0-2f, 0-1 65), James Hennessy, Mairtín Ryan 1-1 each, Fiachra Carroll 0-2.

St Joseph’s: Oisín Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Cormac Frend (Toomevara), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Adam Whyte (Toomevara); Ciarán Troy (Toomevara), David Rabbitte (Borris-Ileigh), Jack Gould (Borris-Ileigh); Micheál Collins (Templederry Kenyons), Cathal Kennedy (Borris-Ileigh); Michael Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Eoin Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Liam Hackett (Toomevara); Cody Quirke (Toomevara), Eoghan Anderson (Borris-Ileigh), Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs used: Billy O'Brien (Toomevara) for Anderson (39); Mark Hoare (Silvermines) for Rabbitte (45, inj); Tadhg Kelly (Borris-Ileigh) for Troy (52); David Rabbitte for Gould (61); Darragh Kelly (Toomevara) for Quirke (64).

Naomh Cormac: James McLoughlin (Kilcormac Killoughey); Sean Cleary (Kilcormac Killoughey), Tomas Carroll (Brosna Gaels), Niall Fitzgerald (Kilcormac Killoughey); AJ Bracken (Kilcormac Killoughey), Luke Bracken (Kilcormac Killoughey), James Dooley (Drumcullen); Joe Quinn (Kilcormac Killoughey), Fiachra Carroll (Kilcormac Killoughey); Sean Gill (Kilcormac Killoughey), James Hennessy (Drumcullen), Oisin McKeown (Kilcormac Killoughey); Lochlann Fletcher (Kilcormac Killoughey), Mairtin Ryan (Drumcullen), Jack Dunican (Kilcormac Killoughey).

Subs used: Aaron Screeney (Kilcormac Killoughey) for McKeown (HT); James Lynch (Kilcormac Killoughey) for Cleary (HT).

Referee: John Bugler (Clare)

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