Borris-Ileigh hold off late Kilruane fightback to claim U17A North title

North Tipperary U17A Hurling Championship Final

Borris-Ileigh 0-23

Kilruane MacDonaghs 3-10

A thrilling final quarter in which Kilruane MacDonaghsvery nearly snatched an unlikely victory enthralled all in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on this evening Monday night as Borris-Ileigh hit late points to ensure that the men in maroon took the title in an overcast and rainy evening in Nenagh.

Borris-Ileigh were by far the better team throughout this game, and had taken control of the game going into the final quarter of the game as they led their north rivals on a comfortable 0-19 to 1-7 scoreline and were doing all the hurling.

However, Kilruane were like a team possessed in the final 15 minutes and a brilliant Brian O’Meara goal in the 44th minute set in motion an absolutely frantic finale to the game, as the Cloughjordan men scored 2-3 without reply to level the game by the 57th minute with Borris-Ileigh in panic mode with their nervy shooting giving their opponents oxygen.

Leadership was needed and up stepped Tom Delaney to show his class a minute from time when he sauntered up the field and sent over a fantastic solo effort to settle his side down, and from here Borris saw out the game with a further three points to claim a richly deserved North title.

The first half belonged to Borris-Ileigh as they started the stronger of the teams in Nenagh, taking an early 0-8 to 0-2 lead with Darragh Chute, Eoin Boyle, Cathal Kennedy, Shane Ryan, and Patrick Ryan all on target, with Kilruane’s scores coming from Tom O’Meara and Cian Moyles scores from play.

Indeed, only for a fantastic save from Eoin Ryan in the Borris-Ileigh goal from a rocket of an effort from Tom O’Meara after two minutes, the MacDonagh men might have settled faster, but they did eventually hit their first purple patch of the game, first with a second of the day from the lively O’Meara, before they were awarded a dubious looking penalty in the 17th minute which was converted with aplomb by Michael Cleary; the ball cannoning off the back stanchion. 

Cian Moyles pointed his second of the game directly after that goal to level the game, but the Borris-Ileigh defence got back on top again soon after, with Tom Delaney outstanding at centre back all day, setting up so many attacks for Borris forwards to do damage.

And damage they did inflict as they hit five points in a row up to the 26th minute and were looking commanding but two late scores from Tom O’Meara and a first Michael Cleary converted free had the game close at the break with Borris leading 0-11 to 1-6.

The break didn’t do anyone any favours as the teams ran out from the dressing room to a deluge of rain and it made the hurling that bit harder, but again, Borris were the more fluid team as Eoin Boyle ad Darragh Chute continued to cause huge problems and hit a point each inside five minutes along with a Cathal Kennedy free to open a five point lead.

Kilruane just couldn’t live with the pace and scoring prowess of the Borris forwards and they continued to find the target afterward with Chute hitting his fourth from play, as well as a second for Shane Ryan putting Borris-Ileigh in a seemingly pole position as they led 0-19 to 1-7 with a quarter of an hour left to play.

However, Kilruane weren’t reading from that particular script and tried to write an ending of their own, and from the moment Michael Cleary ended a scoring drought of nearly ten minutes from a free in the 44th minute, they took control with Brian O’Meara’s well-taken goal setting them off after a class crossfield ball from substitute Charlie Kennedy. 

And the diminutive substitute continued to make an impact by scoring a goal a few moments later, picking up a rebound from a Brian O’Meara shot which was well saved by Eoin Ryan again by somehow firing low from an impossible angle to bring Kilruane back from the brink as they trailed by just two points.

This salvo of concession really rattled Borris and even though they continued to carve out chances, their shooting was appalling and kept Kilruane in touch and it was eventually a level game as two Michael Cleary points had the sides level with just three minutes of normal time to play (0-19 to 3-10).

Borris continued to hit some very poor wides and it was only when the impressive Tom Delaney took hold of the panic that they settled, soloing some 40-metres upfield before cutting back past a few defenders and rifle over a massive score to regain the lead for his team.

That score was massive as it settled the Borris nerves somewhat and with the Kilruane energy sapping as they tried to get back on level terms, as the men in maroon finished the game well with further points from Evan Ryan, Cathal Kennedy (free), and a fifth of the day from the excellent Darragh Chute to ensure a well-deserved win for Borris who edged a gripping contest to claim the North U17 title for 2023.

Borris-Ileigh: Eoin Ryan; Conor Murray, Eamon Groome, Pierce Ivors; Lar Stapleton, Tom Delaney (0-2), Michael Ryan; Evan Ryan (0-1), David Rabbitte (0-1); Razuk Atik, Patrick Ryan (0-2, 0-1f), Eoin Boyle (0-3); Shane Ryan (0-2), Cathal Kennedy (0-7f), Darragh Chute (0-5).

Subs used: Jack Bevans for M Ryan (39); Daniel Groome for Ivors (55).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin; Cian Hayes, Cathal England, Simon Austin; Paul Molloy, Eamonn Coonan, Cormack Kennedy; Shane Cleary, Cillian Healy; Tommy O’Meara (0-3), Cian Moyles (0-2), John Hannon; Michael Cleary (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5f), Ray Quinlivan, Brian O’Meara (1-0).

Subs used: Charlie Kennedy (1-0) for Hannon (38); Hugo Healy for Quinlivan (50).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)