Clonoulty Rossmore edge thrilling champions' clash with late injury-time surge

FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 1

Clonoulty Rossmore 3-20

Borris-Ileigh 2-21

In the clash of champions in Group 2 of the FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship, West kingpins Clonoulty Rossmore pounced late to claim the spoils at the expense of North standard bearers Borris-Ileigh at The Ragg on Sunday.

A cracking encounter could have gone either way, and Borris were left to bemoan chances wasted, but three second-half goals proved the key as Clonoulty got their campaign off to the best possible start.

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Borris might have had a goal inside a minute, but Jason O'Dwyer turned James Devaney's effort out for a 65. It was the kind of start that got the fans worked up and, three minutes later, Kieran Maher powered through from his own half for Borris' opening goal.

Their joy was short-lived as, in the 11th minute, Robert Doyle, playing much further forward than his number three jersey suggested, did the groundwork to give Jack Ryan the chance to net for Clonoulty, putting them 1-4 to 1-3 ahead.

Clonoulty were 1-6 to 1-4 clear when Borris struck a rich vein, yielding five unanswered points from Eddie Ryan (three), Paddy McCormack and Tommy Ryan to move three points in front. By the interval they had extended that advantage to four, leading 1-14 to 1-10, but it was still very much anybody's game. A lively encounter on a lively pitch was giving the fans value for money.

James Devaney made it five up for Borris within 30 seconds of the restart, but then Robert Doyle, fed by Cathal Bourke, banged home a Clonoulty goal before following up with a point as the tempo intensified.

At the three-quarter stage, Borris still held a 1-18 to 2-13 advantage when Stephen Quinn benefitted from a slip by Borris goalkeeper James McCormack to tuck home Clonoulty's third goal and edge them 3-13 to 1-18 in front.

With the breeze in their favour, the game looked Clonoulty's for the taking but, before they had time to appreciate it, Paddy McCormack had the ball in the net for Borris' second goal to restore their lead.

By the 56th minute Clonoulty were level once more at 3-16 to 2-19 before two Stephen Ferncombe points edged the West men back in front. Borris responded through Conor Kenny and Eddie Ryan to tie the game entering injury time.

A share of the spoils seemed the most likely outcome, but there was another twist as Cathal Bourke and Jack Ryan fired over injury-time points to secure victory for Clonoulty Rossmore in what promises to be a fiercely competitive group featuring three divisional champions.

This result means Borris-Ileigh must now face county champions Loughmore Castleiney in round two with no wriggle room left for the losers. Clonoulty Rossmore, meanwhile, take on Moycarkey Borris, who lowered the colours of Loughmore Castleiney in the opening round.

This was a huge win for Clonoulty Rossmore, who went into the encounter without the services of Enda Heffernan, Tommy Ryan and Kieran Quirke. In county defender Robert Doyle, they had an inspirational figure who really drove them on, his surging runs into the Borris half causing all sorts of problems.

He did not want for support either, with Jack Ryan, Jamie Davern, Nathan Slattery, Ronan Heffernan, Stephen Quirke and Danny Slattery all having fine games.

Like Clonoulty Rossmore, Borris-Ileigh have the safety net of a guaranteed county preliminary quarter-final place thanks to their divisional success, and they may yet have to rely on that with Loughmore Castleiney next up.

They played well enough to take something from this contest, but the couple of goal chances they failed to convert proved costly. In games so finely balanced, such lapses are invariably punished.

Borris started without the influential Tom Delaney, although he came on at half-time. Kevin Maher was also an absentee, and having both available will be crucial against Loughmore Castleiney. They also lost Jack Hogan to injury after 25 minutes, another blow to their shape. Dan McCormack and Liam Ryan were solid in defence.

James Devaney posed the biggest threat in attack, with Paddy McCormack also impressing. Jerry Kelly was kept on a tight rein, while Eddie Ryan's free-taking was, as always, impeccable, and he added three excellent points from play.

Scorers: Clonoulty Rossmore: Stephen Ferncombe (0-9, 0-7f), Robert Doyle, Jack Ryan 1-2 each, Stephen Quinn 1-0, Jamie Davern 0-3, Jimmy Maher, Michael Ryan, John O'Keeffe, Cathal Bourke all 0-1 each.

Borris-Ileigh: Eddie Ryan (0-10, 0-7f), Paddy McCormack 1-2, Kieran Maher 1-0, James Devaney 0-3, Tommy Ryan, Conor Kenny 0-2 each, Jack Hogan, Jack Bevans 0-1 each.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Jason O'Dwyer; Danny Slattery, Robert Doyle, Jimmy Ryan; John O'Keeffe, Ronan Heffernan, Jamie Davern; Nathan Slattery, Donncha Quirke; Jimmy Maher, Cathal Bourke, Michael Ryan; Stephen Ferncombe, Jack Ryan, Stephen Quinn.

Subs used: Sean O'Connor for Jimmy Ryan (32); Thomas Butler for Quinn (50); Philip Kelleher for Michael Ryan (57).

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack; Kieran Maher, Liam Ryan, Colm Boyle; Tommy Ryan, Dan McCormack, Sean McCormack; Jack Bevans, Patrick Ryan; Jerry Kelly, Eddie Ryan, Paddy McCormack; Jack Hogan, James Devaney, Conor Kenny.

Subs used: Cathal Hogan for Jack Hogan (25); Tom Delaney for Kieran Maher (HT).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)

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