Tipperary to be represented on All-Ireland final day after St Joseph's Borrisoleigh victory

All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Hurling semi-final

St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh 2-18

Clonfert College, Ballinasloe 2-13

By Kevin Egan 

What St. Joseph’s lacked in experience and heft, they made up for in style and craft in Banagher last Saturday as they set up an All-Ireland final tilt against Coláiste Naomh Cormac (Offaly) with their five-point win over Clonfert College, known around the country as Garbally College until a merger with Mercy College in 2025.

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Cathal Kennedy’s heroics after coming onto the field were one obvious difference between the sides. The bustling centre forward didn’t start the game due to an injury sustained in the Munster final, but he came into the fray early in the second half and turned six possessions into five points with an immaculate display of shooting. 

Even at that stage, however, St. Joseph’s were in the driving seat. They hurled with more cohesiveness and thought in the first half while playing into a strong breeze, yet turned around with a 2-7 to 1-9 lead. 

Cody Quirke’s goal, set up by a gorgeous long pass from Ciarán Troy and a quick, clever layoff from Eoghan Anderson, was the type of score that Clonfert College couldn’t create. Cormac Frend and Adam Whyte were in control in the corners, Shane Ryan was very sharp up front but above all it was St. Joseph’s captain Micheál Collins who set the team apart with a display that was full of energy and purpose. 

Three points came from the stick of the Templederry Kenyons player, with Anderson adding the second goal. 

Clonfert captain Odhran Sheanon poached a goal early in the second half, and two frees from Ross Glynn, one of seven starters from the Pádraig Pearses club on the Roscommon side of the border, meant the contest was still in the balance midway through the second half, deadlocked at 2-11 apiece. 

Enter Kennedy, who transformed the game with his ruthless ability to pick a spot and whip the sliotar over the bar time and again. 

Two in three minutes from the Borris-Ileigh club man nudged the lead out to four points approaching the 55-minute mark, enabling St. Joseph’s to pack their defence and prevent any clean shots on goal, which was all they needed to be sure of progression to an All-Ireland final, most likely on Saturday week. 

Scorers: St. Joseph’s: Shane Ryan (0-7, 0-5f), Cathal Kennedy 0-5, Cody Quirke 1-1, Eoghan Anderson 1-0, Michael Collins 0-3, Liam Hackett, Michael Ryan 0-1 each. 

Clonfert College: Ross Glynn (0-6, 0-5f), Cillian Ó Tuairisg 1-2, Odhran Sheanon 1-0, Louis Markham 0-2, Cillian McPhillips, Cillian Greene, Jason Carty all 0-1 each.  

St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh: Oisín Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Cormac Frend (Toomevara), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Adam Whyte (Toomevara); Ciarán Troy (Toomevara), David Rabbitte (Borris-Ileigh), Mark Hoare (Silvermines); Micheál Collins (Templederry Kenyons), Liam Hackett (Toomevara); Eoin Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Michael Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Jack Gould (Borris-Ileigh); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Eoghan Anderson (Borris-Ileigh), Cody Quirke (Toomevara).   

Subs: Cathal Kennedy (Borris-Ileigh) for Hoare (32), Tadhg Kelly (Borris-Ileigh) for Anderson (43), Billy O’Brien (Toomevara) for Hackett (52), Paul Kinane (Borris-Ileigh) for S Ryan (57).

Clonfert College, Ballinasloe: Donnacha Monaghan; Quinn Clancy, Niall Doran, Kealan Doran; Cillian Greene, Daniel Mooney, Conor Jennings; Jason Carty, Odhran Sheanon; Louis Markham, Cillian Ó Tuairisg, Ross Glynn; Joey O’Byrne, Cillian McPhillips, Rian Clancy.   

Subs used: Tadhg Casey for O’Byrne (27); Keelan Kelly for Markham (44); Micheál for R Clancy (57), Kieran Cunningham for Carty (60).

Referee: Kieran Dooley (Offaly)