Shannon Rovers best near neighbours with an impressive performance to claim North title!

Kellys of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Shannon Rovers 3-15   

Borrisokane 1-16

By James Hayden 

A ravenous Shannon Rovers side displayed true hunger and desire in order to overcome a determined Borrisokane challenge following a hugely absorbing North Tipperary Intermediate hurling decider at a baking hot Cloughjordan on Saturday evening last.

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With the mercury hitting 28 degrees on what was the hottest day of the year so far both sides went into this clash determined to bring the Fr. Hewitt Cup back to their respective parishes. Borrisokane were vying for their ninth title having last landed the spoils in 2018 while Shannon Rovers were seeking to bridge a fifteen-year gap since their last title in 2010.

This final embodied the "style versus steel" narrative but on this occasion it was Shannon Rovers who brought the steel element to their game. Rovers' greater experience, defensive nous, and ability to rattle the back of the Borrisokane net at opportune times proved one of the defining factors in this clash.

Throughout this Lower Ormond battle there was a distinct feeling that Borris’ were always chasing the game. In a tie which saw them hold the lead for just a little over a minute in the early stages but play catch-up for the entire remainder of the game, they threatened at all times but just couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard.

Crucial goals at opportune times served to provide timely fillips to a Rovers side who were at all times pushed hard by John Egan’s charges but realistically Borrisokane will rue a disappointing total of eleven first-half wides, a number of which were from scorable positions.

Their inability to convert these opportunities ensured they trailed by two at the half-time interval whilst the Rovers maintained the lead thanks in the main to a 13th minute Austin Tierney goal after he seized upon a mis-directed Borris' puckout  before unleashing an unstoppable drive past the advancing Luke Gleeson in the Borrisokane goal.

Borrisokane upped their tempo noticeably in the second-half but a second Austin Tierney goal on 38 minutes served to rock them back on their heels before a third just prior to the water break on the 45-minute mark, consigned Borrisokane to a monumental final quarter battle.

Borris’ could have netted just after the water break but Vincent Mulvihill denied Gary Ryan what appeared like a certain goal in what proved a pivotal moment in the game. However, Borris’ did finally find the back of the Rovers net on 54 minutes after Conor Ryan finished with aplomb.

The 48th minute introduction of the experienced Seosamh Cleary undoubtedly added to Borrisokane’s ability to deliver ball to their forward line but it was in the closing stages where the Rovers really displayed their true mettle as Borrisokane went in search of badly needed goals.

Borris’ trailed by three following a 55th minute Oisin Larkin free, his sixth of the day from placed balls, before Shannon Rovers hit back with two hugely influential points, the first from the stick of Michael Tierney on 57 minutes and the second a sublimely hit long-range Conal Moran free two minutes later.

Now down by five, Borrisokane had no other option but to find the back of the Shannon Rovers net. Substitute Josh Chadwick almost flicked Conor Ryan’s crossfield ball to the back of the night right on the cusp of full-time only for the sliotar to ricochet off the frame of the goal and away to safety.

Had the sliotar nestled in back of the Rovers net it would certainly have made matters very interesting in time added on.

Such is the nature of clashes between these two near neighbours and fierce rivals, regardless of how either side plays in the end it nearly always comes down to a puck or two of a ball between the sides.

The opening half bore testament to this fact with the impressive Mike Heenan and Conal Moran trading early points before a second Moran point from close to the bank sideline on eight minutes edged the Rovers in front.

Mike Heenan replied with a second for Borris’ as both sides battled for supremacy in a tight, tense opening ten-minute period.

Borris’, although playing with a breeze, were struggling to find their range in front of goals with two wides on the bounce before Rovers full-forward, Eamonn Hough edged his side into a lead they would never relinquish.

Less than sixty second slater Austin Tierney had the sliotar in the back of the Borris’ net before Conal Moran flighted over his first free of the day on 14 minutes.

Mike Heenan, who was Borrisokane’s stand-out player in the opening half, cut the deficit to four before Conal Moran volleyed the sliotar one-handed over the bar with a forehand Novak Djokovic would have been proud off to see the Rovers lead 1-5 to 0-3 at the water break.

The break in play coincided with a break in momentum for the Rovers as Borrisokane edged closer thanks to successive Oisin Larkin frees. A third free on the bounce in the 21st minute narrowed the gap to two before Conal Moran (free) and Eamonn Hough retaliated for the Rovers.

The ebb and flow of the contest continued with Mike Kelly and Gary Ryan flighting over impressive points for Borrisokane before Jack Larkin added a third on the trot for the men in green and white right on the 30-minute mark.

The Rovers cut the deficit deep in time added on though with Andy Byrne popping up for a sweet effort to ensure the Rovers to a deserved 1-8 to 0-9 lead to the dressing room.

Borrisokane narrowed the gap to just a solitary point straight from the re-start thanks to another Oisin Larkin free before a decisive 38th minute George Hannigan clearance ricochet off the ‘pole’ of a Borrisokane defenders hurley and into the grateful clutches of the lurking Austin Tierney. Tierney turned and rattled the back of the Borrisokane net for his second goal of the game.

Oisin Larkin (free) responded for Borris’ but Eamonn Hough popped up again to keep the scoreboard ticking for Rovers. Borrisokane can feel hard done by less than minute later when they hit the posts not once but twice in the space of sixty seconds after efforts from Gary Ryan and Jack Larkin failed to bisect the uprights.

Two minutes later Mike Heenan made no mistake with a 42nd minute effort before Conal Moran and Ciaran Foley both found their range for their respective sides.

Shannon Rovers struck for their third goal just before the water break following impressive approach play from Matt Tierney. Conal Moran gathered well along the stand side sideline and tore through on goal and flicked the sliotar to the back of the Borrisokane net for a hugely influential third Rovers goal, 3-12 to 0-15.

The final quarter proved a fiercely hard-fought affair with Conor Ryan’s 54th minute goal affording Borrisokane the opportunity to reel in a resilient Rovers side but try as they might they just couldn’t bridge the gap despite cutting the deficit to just three by the 55th minute.

Shannon Rovers finished the stronger side in the closing minutes and determinedly held off a late Borrisokane surge to be deservedly crowned North Tipperary Intermediate hurling champions for the tenth occasion.

Shannon Rovers were worthy champions with the Hannigan brothers providing a fulcrum around which their defence revolved. Wing-back Matt Tierney played a captain’s role to perfection while Marcus Esmonde and Cathal Hogan battled hard in the middle of the field.

In attack Conal Moran was scorer-in-chief with 1-4 from play while Austin Tierney fired 2-1. Eamonn Hough, Michael Tierney and Andy Byrne all chipped in too with vital points in an attack which saw five of the six forwards score from play.

For Borrisokane, Mike Heenan was their stand-out man while Ciaran Foley, Mike Kelly, Brian Davis, Peter Collins, Conor Ryan and Gary Ryan also caught the eye.

Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill, Oisin McMahon, Alan Hannigan, Jack O’Sullivan; George Hannigan, Conor Ryan, Matt Tierney (C); Marcus Esmonde, Cathal Hogan; John O’Meara, Conal Moran (1-7 (0-3f), Michael Tierney (0-1); Austin Tierney (2-1), Eamonn Hough (0-3), Andy Byrne (0-3).

Subs used: Sean Hough for O’Meara (55); Aaron Hogan  for Byrne (62).

Borrisokane: Luke Gleeson; Luke Quigley, Shane Nevin, James Hough; Liam Cleary, Brian Davis, Peter Collins; Ciaran Foley (0-1), Michael Kelly (0-1); Conor Ryan (1-1), Mike Heenan (0-5), Gary Ryan (0-1); Oisin Larkin (0-6f), Philip Austin (C), Jack Larkin (0-1).

Subs used: Josh Chadwick for J. Larkin (46); Seosamh Cleary for Quigley (48); Daire Madden for Kelly (55).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe)

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