Borris-Ileigh GAA Match Report 2023
FBD County Senior Hurling League-Round 3 vs Upperchurch Drombane
Borris-Ileigh Starting Lineup
Jody Harkin
Cian Murphy Liam Ryan Colm Boyle
Bill O’Connell Kevin Maher Brendan Maher (5pts (4fs) (165’))
Tomas Ryan (1pt) Mikey Kennedy
James “JD” Devaney (1-3) Conor Kenny (3pts (1f)) Shane Kenny (1pt)
Shane McCormack (2pts) Dan Ryan Jack Hogan (1 goal)
Maurice Ryan for Bill O’Connell
Miksie Carey for Shane McCormack
Borris-Ileigh’s Senior Panel made the trip to Drombane for a contest with Upperchurch Drombane in round 3 of the FBD County Senior League on Sunday, the 16th of April. With both teams undefeated and fantastic weather conditions, a good game was expected. Borris were without a number of their first team players which led to experimentation and opportunity with a first time senior start for Cian Murphy at corner back, Bill O’Connell and Shane McCormack other inclusions after the Moycarkey game. The game started at a good pace with both teams looking sharp enough in the middle third, Borris’ first point coming courtesy of JD who finished well. Upperchurch responded in kind and went 2-1 up after 5 minutes, Conor Kenny shooting the equaliser after persistent Borris hustling in the forward areas refusing Upperchurch exit from their defensive lines. Borris were very unlucky in the first 10 minutes as they acquired the unfortunate dual whammy of hitting the crossbar and post in quick succession but looking threatening. Brendan Maher stepped up to slot 2 frees as the sides were level 4-4 after 13 minutes but unfortunately for Borris, parity was soon deleted with Upperchurch taking control of the game with sharp passing into danger zones and putting together a 3 point block to take a 7-4 lead with Borris looking second best. Upperchurch then generated a sharp move that opened a goal chance but Jody Harkin pulled off a great save to his left to keep Borris within striking distance and despite a corresponding 65’, the visitors were soon right back in the game when a long ball fell nicely to Jack Hogan who showed a cool head to bring about Borris’ first green flag of the game and a chiselling away of the deficit, another huge opportunity mere moments later when JD repeated Concie’s actions from another long ball and a second green flag and significant momentum for the Borris boy’s who finished the half on the ascendancy with a Brendan 65’ laying out a 3 point advantage as the half time whistle arrived with Borris 2-5 to Upperchurch’s 8 points.
The second half was a case of roles reversal as Upperchurch came out far sharper and this led to a speedy 2-2 within 5 minutes of the restart, two classy finishes and 2 well taken points as Borris looked shell shocked. Upperchurch refused to let up their lead and despite points from JD and a free from Brendan, Upperchurch led by 6 points after 45 minutes with sharp free taking from Paudie Greene the main catapult. The game then swayed from a 5 point game to a 3 point game with Tom Foot, Shane Kenny and another JD point increasing Borris’ presence on the scoreboard but still a 5 point deficit on the 52nd minute with Upperchurch leading 2-15 to 2-10. Shane McCormack then hit a purple patch with back to back scores but Upperchurch were still able to generate scoring opportunities, mainly from placed ball to keep a distance from their opponents. Maurice Ryan and Miksie Carey replaced Bill O’Connell and Shane McCormack late in the 3rd quarter but Borris were unable to open up their opponents for easy scoring opportunities with late frees from Brendan and Conor who also put forward one more point from play consolations as Upperchurch walked out deserving victors on a scoreline of 2-18 to 2-15.
As mentioned before, the absences of some first team players was a blow but the result was opportunities for some fringe players aswell as some younger players who will be better off after this game today. JD and Conor looked threatening up front with Shane Kenny also getting multiple possessions with good decision making, Colm Boyle continues to show a confidence beyond his experience in the full back line whilst Cian Murphy applied himself well in his first game out at the level. Borris have it all to play for still in the group and the next game is against Mullinahone in two weeks’ time, stay tuned to the social media pages for fixture details.
