Borris-Ileigh hold off late Toome fight back to claim precious two points

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Group 1 - Round 1

Borris-Ileigh 1-17

Toomevara 0-18

By Liam Hogan

It was the proverbial game of two halves. Boris-Ileigh looked the best in the first half and Toomevara in the second and it was the latter that might feel the more disappointed as they squandered three goal chances in the late stages at a time when they had the upper hand.

Then again, it might not have come to that had Borris-Ileigh made most of their excellent first-half dominance when they had Toomevara well and truly beaten with their speed and hurling prowess with Toomevara unable to make head or tail of what was going on.

The opening eleven minutes was ample proof when Borris-Ileigh took a commanding 1-7 to 0-1 lead. Opening points from play by Eddie Ryan and Paddy McCormack had Borris 0-2 to 0-1 in front after six minutes before the leaders increased their lead with five unanswered points by Dan McCormack, James Devaney, Kieran Maher and Kevin Maher plus another Eddie Ryan free in the tenth minute.

One minute later James Devaney had the game’s only goal when he took an assist from the raiding Eddie Ryan. Toomevara were in real trouble but Darragh McCarthy would come to their rescue 2ith two pointed frees before Borris-Ileigh hit three unanswered scores beginning with a 95-metre free by Eddie Ryan quickly followed by one from Kieran Maher before corner back Colm Boyle made it 1-10 to 0-3 after 24 minutes.

Two minutes later Darragh McCarthy replied with a free but Tom Delaney scored a brace to enhance Borris-Ileigh’s dominance Toome had enough air to come back to the surface with Darragh McCarthy (free) and Darren Delaney reducing the margin to ten.

Yet there was one last score left in Borris-Ileigh as Eddie Ryan brought his total to four with his third free before Adam Hall stepped forward with a well-taken point leaving the half-time scoreline at Borris-Ileigh 1-13 Toomevara 0-7.

Toomevara now had the breeze for the second half and within the opening five minutes, they had two points on the scoreboard commencing with another Darragh McCarthy free followed by a Mark McCarthy point from play as the half-time substitute proved that he was badly missed in the first half.

Borris-Ileigh had Brendan Maher back in attack for the second half.

He had earlier started the game at full forward before drifting back to help out the defence for the last 20 minutes of the first half. His influence began to tell as he won a close in free which Eddie Ryan scored and Ryan added another free in the 38th minute.

Incredibly, Borris-Ileigh didn’t score for the next seventeen minutes as Toomevara took command Darragh McCarthy pointed twice (the first from a free) either side of a Kevin McCarthy score form play.

Borris-Ileigh might have had two possible goal chances in the first half but Eddie Ryan had one in the 50th minute but was unable to complete the act.

The Toome response was immediate and Darragh McCarthy spurned one when taking his chance but substitute Jake Hackett didn’t waste time in scoring a quick point but Eddie Ryan replied with a much-needed score for Borris.

Another Hackett point soon followed as Toome within three of the leaders (1-16 to 0-16) and four minutes remaining.

The excitement levels continued to grow and Toome came in search of more scores and should have levelled but Jack Delaney rushed his effort when he kicked the ball wide from close in.

Not too disappointed Toome came once more and two minutes later, Mark McCarthy blazed wide from close in and Borris were relieved.

Eddie Ryan missed an ideal chance to relieve the pressure with a free while Darragh McCarthy (free) and Josh McCarthy from play brought Toome within a point of the leaders as play was deep into added time.

Borris-Ileigh then lost James Devaney to a straight red card for a reckless foul but the Maroon clad stepped up to the pressure and Eddie Ryan went forward only to be fouled 68 metres out with Borris ace converting the free to seal a good win.

Borris-Ileigh were certainly light years better than the performance produced in their North quarter-final loss to Kiladangan. Their defence rarely put a foot wrong in the first half with Colm Boyle, John McGrath, Ray McCormack Dan McCormack and Brendan Maher very prominent with Kevin Maher, Tommy Ryan, Paddy McCormack, Eddie Ryan, James Devaney, Kieran Maher plus Tom Delaney catching the eye.

Toomevara for their part can thank Darragh McCarthy for keeping them in the game when all else was going wrong. Rory Brislane, Andrew Ryan, Liam Ryan, Robbie Quirke and Conor O’Farrell with Kevin McCarthy and young Jake Hackett coming good when needed in the second half as Borris-Ileigh’s dominance in defence began to fade especially when Brendan Maher left the scene injured in the 45th minute.

This group is now finely balanced, even at this early stage, as Toomevara and Drom & Inch will face off in round two in a close to ‘must win’ game while Kilruane MacDonaghs and Borris-Ileigh will look to continue their winning start to the group when they clash too.

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack; Colm Boyle (0-1), Liam Ryan, John McGrath; Ray McCormack, Dan McCormack (0-1), Tommy Ryan; Kevin Maher (0-1), Kieran Maher (0-2); Paddy McCormack (0-1), Eddie Ryan (0-8, 0-7f), Conor Kenny; James Devaney (1-2), Brendan Maher, Tom Delaney (0-1).

Subs used: Seamus Burke for B Maher (blood 45 - 60); Shane McCormack for T Ryan (55); Tommy Ryan for Kevin Maher (57); Shane Ryan for Kieran Maher (57); Sean McCormack for Kenny (58).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Jake Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O’Farrell; Barry O’Connell, Liam Ryan, Josh McCarthy (0-1); Robbie Quirke, Conor O’Farrell; Jack Delaney, Kevin McCarthy (0-1), Darren Delaney (0-1); Darragh McCarthy (0-10, 0-8f, 0-1 65), Colm Canning, Adam Hall (0-1).

Subs used: Jack Ryan for Jake Ryan (19, inj); Mark McCarthy (0-2) for Canning (HT); Josh Powell for S O’Farrell (42); Jake Hackett (0-2) for C O’Farrell (44); Shane Nolan for B O’Connell (58); David Nolan for L Ryan (blood).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)