Borris-Ileigh always in control to claim Division 1 league title in final victory over Brackens

FBD Insurance County Hurling League - Division 1 Final

Borris-Ileigh 1-17

JK Brackens 1-12

By Michael Dundon

Borris-Ileigh lifted the Johnny Ryan (Cusack) cup for the first time as they saw off the challenge of JK Brackens in the FBD Insurance County Hurling League, Division 1 final at The Ragg on Wednesday night.

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Borris fully deserved their success, but a JK Brackens side, who were possibly feeling the effects of a testing semi-final three days previously, squandered a lot of scoring chances in the first half in particular, and these came back to haunt them at the finish.

Both sides were missing key players, and as a pointer to the upcoming county championship, this encounter is not relevant, but that said, Borris will be justifiably delighted to have secured silverware this early in the campaign, and it will do them no harm as they look ahead.

While always closely fought and entertaining, this encounter lacked intensity. Borris’ Patrick Ryan was “on song” from placed balls as his side forged a 0-10 to 0-6 interval lead, Brackens shooting eight wides in the period, three of their points coming from Shane Doyle frees and 3 from play from Lyndon Fairbrother.

In that period, Patrick Ryan pointed seven frees for Borris with Conor Kenny, Jerry Kelly, and Mikey Kennedy also on the scoresheet. Borris will be happy to have Jerry Kelly back in the fold after a period abroad, and he was a threat all through operating from full forward. 

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Brackens set about reeling in their opponents in the third quarter. Four Shane Doyle frees and another point from Lyndon Fairbrother, to which Conor Kenny responded for Borris, saw the sides level at 0-11 each after 42 minutes.

At this stage, the momentum was with the Templemore lads, but Borris rose to the challenge and hit the next 5 points without reply through Patrick Ryan(3), Tom Delaney, and Jerry Kelly for a 0-16 to 0-11 lead after 52 minutes.

Brackens needed a goal, but a Lyndon Fairbrother blast was saved by James McCormack in the Borris goal. In the 54th minute, the game was put beyond Brackens’ reach when Patrick Ryan netted for Borris. 

Ned Walsh had a goal effort for Brackens saved by James McCormack, his second vital block. Brackens did get a goal in the 64th minute when Ned Walsh finished a quickly taken Shane Doyle free to the net, but it was too late to spark a comeback.

A welcome win for Borris, who will hope to build on it as they shape up for the north championship, when they will also be expecting some absent regulars to be available again. It’s early days to be making predictions, but Borris certainly looks intent on business and will be a force to be reckoned with.

Jerry Kelly’s return is a big boost, and he looked sharp and keen, but Tom Delaney at number six was their star on the night. James Devaney, Liam Ryan, Conor Kenny, and the very accurate Patrick Ryan also had big games.

A second game in three days was a big ask for JK Brackens, but their dismay when they reflect on this game will be the chances they missed. The two goal chances denied them by Borris keeper James McCormack also had a big bearing on the outcome. However, few of their squad reached the levels shown in the semi-final win over Holycross-Ballycahill. Eight of their 13 scores came from Shane Doyle frees, the 1-4 from play a poor return by any standard.

Their key men were Tom Murphy, Lyndon Fairbrother, Martin Delaney, Ned Delaney, and Paddy Cadell. Next up is the Mid championship, when they will be hoping to have a full complement to challenge for honours.

Scorers: Borris-Ileigh: P Ryan (1-11, 0-10f), Jerry Kelly, Conor Kenny 0-2 each, Mikey Kennedy, Tom Delaney 0-1 each.

JK Brackens: Shane Doyle (0-8f), Lyndon Fairbrother 0-4, Ned Walsh 1-0.

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack; Shane Kenny, Liam Ryan, Cathal Hogan; Dan McCormack, Tom Delaney, Mikey Kennedy; Kevin Maher, Kieran Maher; James Devaney, Sean McCormack, Conor Kenny; Jack Fitzgerald, Jerry Kelly, Patrick Ryan.

Subs used: Tommy Ryan for Jack Fitzgerald (48). 

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy; Luke Ormond, Cathal Scully, Ned Delaney; Martin Delaney, Paddy Cadell, Sean Walsh; Eanna McBride, Jordan Moloney; Shane Doyle, Stephen Cahill, Tom Murphy; Lyndon Fairbrother, Michael Cahill, Ned Walsh.

Subs used: Joe Bourke for N Delaney (51); Tom Corcoran for Scully (59).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams)