Jack Leamy on fire as Golden Kilfeacle marches past leaky Borrisokane

FBD Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final 

Golden Kilfeacle 3-22

Borrisokane 0-21 

By Liam Hogan 

Golden Kilfeacle’s saved the best for the second half as their greater scoring power helped them gain a place in the last four following their quarter final win over Borrisokane played at sunny Borrisoleigh last Sunday evening. 

In an entertaining game, the second-half improvement came after a slow first half when Borrisokane took a 0-7 to 0-3 lead and had the West men in bother during the opening ten minutes. 

But bit by bit Golden got back into the game to come level 0-8 to 1-5 after sixteen minutes. They had to survive a scare or two in the process before gradually taking hold of the rein and taking a half-time lead of 2-11 to 0-14. 

Golden maintained their momentum in the second half where their backline looked much more cohesive and they limited the Borris attack to just three points from play in the second moiety while upfront they picked up the scores with Jack Leamy and Ben Currivan leading the way for this very young side which had six U21 players on their starting line up.  

Fresh from their win over Drom Inch in the preliminary quarter-final, Borrisokane came strong at Golden in the opening ten minutes when taking a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with Oisin Larkin scoring five points including two frees and a sideline ball while Michael Heenan picked up two points from play.

But with Jack Leamy leading the way at full forward it didn’t take long for Golden to regain lost ground and between the 12th and 16th minute, he scored 1-2 including an equalising goal in the 16th minute when his effort for a point dropped short and was deflected to the net of Barry Ryan’s out-stretched hand.

Michael Heenan’s third point had Borrisokane in front but after Seanie O’Halloran levelled in the 17th minute the Borris defence was outsmarted when Sam Hall reached a high ball for another Leamy delivery before the corner forward steered the ball to the net for goal number two.

Despite the setback, Borrisokane continued to take on the West men, and approaching half time they outscored Golden 0-5 to 0-2 thanks to three pointed frees by Oisin Larkin while the ever-present Bryan Davis and the hard-working Dylan Power each scored from play to see scores level 0-14 to 2-8.

It was end to end as the scores continued to come thick and fast and with the game in added time Golden finished the half on a high as Padraig Dalton, Ben Currivan, and another Leamy free extended the lead to three before the teams swapped ends at the break.   

The opening twelve minutes of the second half belonged to Golden in terms of scores as they outscored Borris 0-6 to 0-1 with Leamy picking off three frees aided by further scores from play by Sam Hall, Ben Currivan, and wing-back Eoin Marnane after the latter needed assistance by Hall and Leamy. Golden were well on top now.

Try as they might, Borrisokane fought back but the Golden defence had their number as they continued to limit the scoring chances from play as Borris had to depend on three Oisin Larkin who secured three more points including two frees and a 65 which had the margin back to two clear goals. 

However, that margin would soon become three when the resulting puckout reached Sam Hall who turned provider for Jack Leamy to fire home his second goal. 

Borris replied with Oisin Larkin increasing his tally with two more frees leaving the deficit at seven but the all-confident Golden side had the answers when required and two points by Jack Leamy plus one from the very accurate Ben Currivan had the margin out to ten. 

Dylan Powers’s second point was Borrisokane’s final say before a Leamy 65 and a Sam Hall score from play brought the final curtain down. 

This was a good display by Golden. Scoring 3-16 from play, including 3-5 by the inside full forward line of Sam Hall, Jack Bergin and Jack Leamy. In addition, Ben Currivan picked up four points from play while midfielder Cian Ryan is another U21 player led the way at midfield along with his illustrious partner Seanie O’Halloran who also scored four points from play. 

The entire backline played their part too with Eoin Marnane and Niall Heffernan and Cian O’Connell prominent at half back while Shane O’Connell was solid at three. 

Borrisokane had to depend on Oisin Larkin for leadership up front while Michael Heenan, Dylan Power, Bryan Davis, Stephen Gavin and Shane Nevin did best for a disappointing Borrisokane team

Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan; Aidan O’Connell, Shane O’Connell, Daithi Barbary; Eoin Marnane (0-1), Niall Heffernan, Cian O’Connell; Seanie O’Halloran (0-4), Cian Ryan; Padraig Dalton (0-2), Ben Currivan (0-4), Eanna Ormond; Sam Hall (1-1), Jack Leamy (1-10, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Jack Bergin (1-2).

Subs used: Ciaran Byrnes for Barbary (56); Jack Dalton for Marnane (58). 

Borrisokane: Barry Ryan; Shane Nevin, Stephen Gavin, James Hough; Liam Cleary, Roan Murphy, Bryan Davis (0-2); Dylan Power (0-2), Kevin Cleary; Mike Heenan (0-3), Peter Collins, Philip Austin; Conor Ryan, Oisin Larkin (0-14, 0-10f, 0-1 65, 0-1 sl-cut), Gary Ryan. 

Subs used: Eanna Dooley for G Ryan (49); Joey Cleary for K Cleary (50). 

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)