Stapleton brace the difference for Borris-Ileigh in narrow semi-final win over Toomevara

North Tipperary U21 A Hurling Championship Semi-Final 

Borris-Ileigh 2-17

Toomevara 0-22

Borris-Ileigh took one more step to back-to-back North U21A Hurling titles after yet another titanic battle with neighbours Toomevara unfolded in the fog in Borris-Ileigh on Sunday afternoon.

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Eventually, Borris-Ileigh just managed to hold out with goals in either half proving the be the crucial scores for the reigning champions, who have had many a battle with the Greyhounds throughout the age grades in the last few years, and will be delighted to have exacted some revenge for last year’s U19A North final defeat to the same opposition.

In the end, Lar Stapleton was the main man for Borris-Ileigh, with the converted attacker providing brilliant finishes for the two goals, the first coming early in the game to settle his team, while the second completely swung the momentum in his team’s favour in the middle of the second half.

Borris led by a single point at half-time, with the hosts holding a 1-10 to 0-12 advantage. Both sides had their moments in the opening half as Toome took a 0-6 to 1-2 lead thanks to brilliant scores from Darragh McCarthy, Adam Hall (2), Tim Flaherty, and Patrick Hackett, giving them a strong opening salvo.

That Stapleton goal came in scrappy fashion during that time, with the corner forward finishing well after a goalmouth scramble, and it was Toome in the ascendancy at that point, but Borris edged their way into the contest in scoring terms in what was a scrappy game as Paddy McCormack was the main source of scores from frees.

Still, it was Borris who held on for a slender advantage at the break despite a brace of Tim Flaherty points levelling the game in added time, with McCormack again punishing poor Toome indiscipline to fire over a long-range free. All to play for with just a point in it.

Again, the Toome start mimicked the first half with the Greyhounds out of the traps early by scoring the first three points through Jack Hogan (free), Patrick Hackett and Adam Hall to put them into the lead.

However, despite Toome getting into a two-point lead by the 40th minute after another Darragh McCarthy free, Borris struck a crucial goal three minutes later when Jack Bevans’ strong run set Lar Stapleton in on goal at the angle, where he made no mistake to slot under the onrushing Darragh Hayes. A huge score as Borris now led 2-12 to 0-16.

Thereafter, Borris began to squeeze their opponents in the scraps and with more Toome illegality on show in the next ten minutes, and Paddy McCormack in punishing mood from placed balls, Borris managed to push out into a 2-18 to 0-20 lead with just three minutes of time to play.

However, Toome were in no mood to go out quietly and slowly edged back the deficit with two Darragh McCarthy frees making it a two-point game, and very nearly rattled a goal when a classy stick pass from Jack Doran had Jake Hackett in the sights of Archie Devaney in the Borris goal, but the first touch from the Tipperary U20 hurler let him down and allowed the Borris defence to scramble the ball out for 65.

With time nearly up, Ger Fitzpatrick seemingly indicated time for Toome to score the 65 and allow one last play for an equaliser as Darragh McCarthy provided the score, but the full-time whistle blew soon after as Borris went one step closer to defending their 2024 title.

Scorers: Borris-Ileigh: Paddy McCormack (0-12, 0-11), Lar Stapleton 2-1, Eoin Ryan, Razuk Atik, Cathal Kennedy, Jack Bevans all 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy (0-10, 0-8, 0-1 65); Patrick Hackett, Tim Flaherty, Adam Hall all 0-3 each, Liam Hackett, Jack Doran 0-1 each, Jack Hogan 0-1f.

Borris-Ileigh: Archie Devaney; Harry Gould, Patrick Ryan, David Rabbitte; Mikey Kennedy, Tom Delaney, Mikey Ryan; Jack Bevans, Razuk Atik; Eoin Boyle, Paddy McCormack, Eoin Ryan; Darragh Chute, Cathal Kennedy, Lar Stapleton.

Subs used: Eamon Groome for Gould (51); Patrick Brett for Boyle (58).

Toomevara: Darragh Hayes; Cathal Frend, Jack Ryan, Cormac Frend; Oisin Troy, Dan Farrell, Brian Farrell; Liam Hackett, Jake Hackett; Adam Hall, Darragh McCarthy, Patrick Hackett; Tim Flaherty, Austin Duff, Jack Hogan.

Subs used: Cody Quirke for Hogan (36); Jack Doran for L Hackett (43); David O’Brien for Troy (57); Tony Dunne for B Farrell (60).

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea)

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