Borris-Ileigh master conditions to retain their North U21A title with victory over Silvermines

North U21A Hurling Championship Final

Borris-Ileigh 1-15

Silvermines 1-8

Borris-Ileigh are back-to-back champions after they defeated Silvermines with a clinical second half display to win this year's North U21A Hurling Championship final in a blustery decider in Templederry on Sunday afternoon.

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As is always the case in Templederry at this time of the year, the wind had a big bearing on the nature of the contest and it was Borris-Ileigh who utilised it better both with it and against it.

Borris outscored their opponents by 1-10 to 1-3 in the second half, but the foundations for the victory came with a really professional first half performance, with Tom Delaney immense in shoring up the defence, and that along with some wasteful shooting from Silvermines made the second half an uphill task for the eventual losers.

Tied at 0-5 apiece at half-time, Borris would have been delighted with their lot and it transpired as many Silvermines supporters feared during half-time analysis in the stands, as Borris were more clinical through Paddy McCormack's free taking.

Indeed, the impact from the bench was important to come the final whistle, with Borris-Ileigh using three to none in the second half as Patrick Brett's 55th minute goal ended the contest after an initial good save from Luke O'Connor broke to the substitute to finish to the roof of the net.

The first half of this one was far from eventful as Silvermines set out their stall to make a strong impression on the scoreboard with the wind at their backs in the first period.

They started well on that trail initially, jumping into a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage after 12 minutes with two Dan McKelvey points from play, a single from Conor Ryan and a close range free by Sean Nolan putting them into that lead.

Darragh Treacy very nearly gave them a green flag in the 12th minute after a dropping ball broke his way but he was well repelled by Archie Devaney in the Borris goals to keep the net intact.

However, the game was suiting the Borris-Ileigh style with their defence extremely effective with any ball into them; Patrick Ryan and Tom Delaney excelling in that period to keep the scoring down and despite a third class effort from Daniel McKelvey in the 23rd minute restoring a two point lead for the Mines, Borris finished the half well with three Paddy McCormack frees taking the sides into the break at evens.

It was a big half from Borris-Ileigh who would now just need a little bit of a return from their forward players having registered no score from play in the first half, but that stat was soon put to bed with 30 seconds when Eoin Ryan popped over a score from close range to put his side in front.

MIchael Ryan added a fine long range effort to that a minute later and it was fair to say that the alarm bells were ringing for the Mines with the wind only gathering pace on the beaufort scale as the game went on.

However, Conor Ryan struck a big score in the 33rd minute, burying a goal chance with class after latching onto a sideline cut inside the 21 and sending the ball flying past Archie Devaney. Badly needed for the Mines in their efforts to avenge the 2024 final defeat to Borris.

Unfortunately, the scores simply wouldn't come thereafter for the Mines and slowly but surely, Borris began to pull away in the final quarter Paddy McCormack (2), Cathal Kennedy, MIchael Ryan, and Partick Brett's well finished goal all coming between the 33rd and 57th minute when Silvermines would register their next point through a Sean Nolan free.

The remainder was a case of playing out time as the Mines knew their race was up, with the North U21 title going back to the maroon and white for the second year in succession.

Scorers: Borris-Ileigh: Paddy McCormack (0-11, 0-9f, 0-1 65), Patrick Brett 1-0, Michael Ryan 0-2, Cathal Kennedy, Eoin Ryan 0-1 each.

Silvermines: Conor Ryan 1-1, Daniel McKelvey 0-3, Sean Nolan 0-3f, Patrick Steed 0-1.

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

Subs used: Eamon Groome for Gould (38); Patrick Brett for Kennedy (51); Donnacha Ryan for Chute (61).

Silvermines: Luke O'Connor; Sean Murphy, Sean Ryan Prendiville, Sean McGrath; Brehon O'Donnell, Luke O'Brien, Patrick Steed; Jack Quirke Jones, Cathal Treacy; Cynan Bailey, Sean Nolan, Daniel McKelvey; Darragh Treacy, Danny Quinn, Conor Ryan.

No subs used.

Referee: John Cleary (Knockshegowna)

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