Borris-Ileigh GAA Club Match Report
Borris-Ileigh vs Drom and Inch (FBD Insurance Senior County Hurling League- Semi Final)
28th May 2022
Borris-Ileigh starting lineup
James McCormack
Colm Boyle Ciaran Cowan Paddy Stapleton
Bill O’Connell Sean McCormack Ray McCormack
Mikey Kennedy Liam Ryan (1pt
Shane Kenny (1pt) Brendan Maher (11pts(5fs (1 65’)) Tomas Foot
Conor Kenny (1pt) Thomas Fahy (1pt) Jack Fitzgerald
Dan McCormack (1pt) for Mikey Kennedy
Jack Hogan for Jack Fitzgerald
Jody Harkin for Thomas Fahy
Shane McCormack for Liam Ryan
David O’Connor for Shane Kenny
Borris-Ileigh contested their second consecutive County League semi final on Saturday, the 28th of May with home advantage against near rivals, Drom and Inch. Borris made some changes for the game with a key goal of squad rotation and building game time ahead of a hectic schedule upcoming with the North Championship due to begin on the weekend of the 25th of June. Drom started by far the quickest from throw in both in the tackle and with their shooting, this resulting in a speedy 3 point advantage on the scoreboard. Borris’ positional changes both pre game and in game seemed to have affected the cohesion going from back to front with delivery whilst Drom looked the sharper with possession. Borris were able to increase the work rate after this surge and cause a turnover that resulted in a 65’ for Brendan Maher to begin the presence on the scoreboard for the home team. Drom, led by Seamie Callanan were starting to make inroads in the Borris defence and this led to a goal chance that Borris were able to rush the decision making and snuff out but the Drom forward line posed a constant threat. Borris were able to reduce the deficit when Shane Kenny reacted quickest to a breaking ball for a well finished point before Liam Ryan showed a good forward momentum to generate a free that was quickly moved from Brendan to Conor Kenny who took advantage of a flat footed defence to pump some life into the attack. The increased work rate didn’t manufacture into increased scoreboard presence however, with back to back wides maintaining a 3 point gap in Drom’s favour before the visitors dealt a big blow with a well worked goal taking advantage of space with good team work and a cool finish to double the lead but Borris responded instantly with full back Ciaran Cowan finding Brendan who finished well from midfield on his left hand side. The game had just eclipsed the 20 minute mark with Drom leading 1-7 to 4 points when Brendan stepped up again with 2 quick points, one from play and one from placed ball but unfortunately scores were coming at the other end to keep the gap consistent as the half time break arrived with Drom leading 1-10 to Borris’ 7 points. Borris were slow out of the blocks which can be attested to a change of personnel and positional switches aswell as a Drom team up for the game. Dan McCormack made his return to the team at half time replacing Mikey Kennedy, Borris starting the second half with a much higher tempo and an urgency required to overturn the deficit from the half. Conor Kenny made a good catch, found Liam Ryan who was fouled which allowed a second free by Brendan. Brendan again showed excellent efficiency soon after with another point from open play aswell as free number 3 as the deficit came within a solitary goal. Borris’ higher intensity was emphasised by an excellent turnover which set up Brendan for a third point from play as Drom appeared to be reeling from the change in momentum, Borris starting a 4 point surge within 7 minutes of the second half. Drom then generated a free taking opportunity to stop the drought but Borris refused to take their foot off the pedal, a sharp team play was finished by Dan near the middle of the park as the home team were generating a lot of go forward gameplay and asking questions of the Drom defence through middle third running and dangerous aerial threats in a versatile approach. Borris’ comeback was halted when a mistake in the backline allowed Drom to score a second goal which they soon followed with a point from play and a real swing in momentum. Jack Hogan replaced Jack Fitz after 45 minutes but Borris were trailing 2-12 to 12 points and a real mountain to climb both points and time wise. Borris’ early second half attacking threat had halted with Drom rising in confidence but an overall lull from a scoring point of view had descended on the game with perhaps the physical output by Drom and the output in quick bursts by Borris taking the toll. Jody Harkin replaced Thomas Fahy in the middle third but Borris’ attempt at the short game was getting deflected by Drom defenders and the long game was being snuffed out by numbers in defence, the ever running Liam Ryan stopping the drought with a hard earned point but Borris struggling to generate the required goal threat to overcome a substantial deficit. Shane McCormack replaced Liam near the end but Borris were relying on points from a distance out with Brendan scoring his 4th free before Drom finished the game with a 3rd goal, a well worked run by Seamie Callanan who had threatened earlier but showed a more clinical decision this time hand passing to an open team mate who raised a green flag. Borris ended the game with another 2 points from Brendan (1 free and a point from play), part of an individual haul of 11 points which included 5 from play. Drom ran out worthy winners on a scoreline of 3-16 to 16 points and advanced to the County League Final.
Borris will point to a number of first team regulars missing for this contest but struggled to start the game well and were in chase mode from the first quarter. The team introduced a very high work rate in the 3rd quarter which resulted in a number of turnovers and well-orchestrated points but the second Drom goal was a gut punch to the recovery and Drom played well in large portions of the game. Borris will hope to have used the league to test out some new positions for players aswell as using the league as a proving ground for places leading into the North Championship which will begin for the team on the weekend of the 25th of June with another rival game against Toomevara
