Borris-Ileigh GAA Match Report
Under 21 North A Championship Final
December 18th 2022
Borris-Ileigh Starting Lineup
Paudie Stapleton
Harry Gould Cathal Hogan Johnny McGrath
Mikey Kennedy Kevin Maher Colm Boyle (1pt)
Adam Galvin Dan Ryan (1pt)
Sam Patton (1pt) Eddie Ryan (1-13 (9fs) James “JD”Devaney (4pts)
Paddy McCormack Fintan Holland Jack Fitzgerald
Patrick Brett for Adam Galvin
Bryan Murray for Fintan Holland
Adam Galvin for Patrick Brett (Extra Time)
Fintan Holland for Dan Ryan (Extra Time)
Borris-Ileigh’s U21 squad made the short trip to Templederry for a showdown against Kiladangan with the North A U21 championship at stake on Sunday, the 18th of December 2022. The latter stages of the competition have been delayed due to various circumstances including a postponement from the day before, the group game between the two sides (Borris-Ileigh by two point margin) a distant enough memory but interesting to see what changes both teams would make in game. The aforementioned group game was played in extreme conditions so little takeaway to bring into this game with Borris remaining unchanged from that toughly contested affair with Fintan Holland returning in place of Patrick Brett the only change from the semi final victory over Toomevara. Kiladangan are renowned competitors at the grade whilst Borris were looking for a first A grade north win in 25 years, both teams high on confidence as the game began. Both teams looked even in the opening moments before Kiladangan opened the scoring with a well taken score, Borris opening their shooting attempts with consecutive wides. Eddie Ryan settled nerves when he stepped up with his first free of the game before captain JD went on a fantastic run towards goal which was stopped by the goalkeeper with the ensuing 65 going just wide. Colm Boyle had started the game on the front foot in the half back line and maximised his efforts with a long range point soon after before both teams traded possession, the result a draw game after 9 minutes with 2 points each. The following period was a real purple patch for Borris which started with forward Sam Patton hustling a lost cause to the goalkeeper, forcing a turnover and free number 2 for Eddie, a real indicator to Kiladangan that Borris were up for the fight with high work rate. Colm Boyle then caused another turnover which dropped to the grateful clutches of JD who scored his first of the game as Borris were beating Kiladangan in the tackling department with hard but fair contact as opposed ill-discipline from their opponents. Eddie took advantage of this again with free number 3 with the centre forward looking unnerved behind the placed ball, the confidence from his shooting transferring over to a pivotal moment when he showed quick turn of foot and excellent composure to finish on his right hand side to the corner of the net for a key goal for Borris, an exclamation point on a dominant period that garnered 1-4 without reply and Kiladangan looked shell shocked by the intensity of the opposition. Kevin Maher was marshalling the backline during the second quarter which was shutting down any scoring threat before Eddie finished free 4, Kiladangan’s discipline continuing to go over the line. Borris refused to let their foot off the pedal as Sam Patton generated a point from nothing which was just reward for a workhorse type performance in the first half. Eddie finished the team’s scoring in the half with free number 5 and the game looking like it was slipping away from Kiladangan, a response was needed and generated to their credit with two late points in the half to reduce the deficit. The last moments of the 1st half were fascinating to watch as great battles in Borris’ inside line took centre stage with Johnny McGrath having a great tussle with Sean Hayes and fellow backs Harry Gould and Cathal Hogan matching their markers across the ground before the half time whistle arrived with Borris leading 1-8 to 5 points. The opening 10 minutes of the game were nip and tuck with both teams looking incredibly even, the ensuing 16 minutes were dominated by Borris who used their sweeper well and backs Colm Boyle and Johnny McGrath in particular standing out offensively and defensively. Forwards Sam Patton and Eddie Ryan stood out for their work rate and scoring efficiency whilst captain JD was deployed in more a roaming role which seemed to trouble Kiladangan throughout the half.
The second half began well for Borris when JD scored with a decisive strike but before the crowd even settled, Kiladangan responded in the best way possible with a green flag and a push back into the contest courtesy of Sean Haye’s quality finish. Kiladangan then came into the ascendancy which was expected of perennial underage winners and looked confident in the short game aswell as the ruck game in the defensive lines, all a launchpad for negating the large half time deficit. Eddie then stepped up with a well taken point near the stand to stop the stagnation but Borris looked devoid of threat up front as Kiladangan showed a higher intensity in the third quarter. Kiladangan continued to be the better team throughout the 3rd quarter without troubling the scoreboard massively but Borris were hitting multiple wides, a sign of a desperation to regain a commanding lead and the pressure coming from their opponents. Kiladangan had deployed their danger man Conor Gleeson out to wing forward and this led to link up play and scoring before Borris made a positional change that proved vital, Colm Boyle being redeployed to negate the threat and take his marker the other way aswell which the wing back proved to do in an all round fantastic performance. Eddie settled the tension slightly with free number 6 as Borris came back into the game in the 4th quarter and regained a more positive outlook on the scoreboard when JD and Eddie scored points from play, a scarcity in the half but much needed. The scoreline was 1-14 to 1-11 in favour of Borris after 57 minutes before Kiladangan generated a goal chance that was duly slotted by Hayes again and a draw game leading into the final minutes. Both teams looked out on their feet after a pulsating affair but Eddie stepped up for free number 7 in the clutch after Mikey Kennedy did well to cause a turnover, the game not over however as Kiladangan had one final chance with a tough sideline cut that went over the bar and a draw game as the full time whistle was blown on a scoreline of 1-15 to 2-12, extra time to follow.
Kiladangan looked favourites going into extra time after their performance in the second half and proved it with the first point of extra time with points looking to be minimal due to the intensity of the previous 65 or so minutes. Borris refused to give up however and returned fire when Colm Boyle worked hard to garner a free that was brought forward due to complaining against the ref, the free taker showing no nerves despite the occasion and a draw game again. Borris finished the 1st period of extra time looking the more threatening and generated a close range free which led to a lead as half time arrived. Cramp was beginning to show in both teams as the second half arrived and every possession vital, Kiladangan drawing the game with a free before a redeployed Dan Ryan responded quickest to a Kevin Maher long range free with a flick over the bar, Borris as a team looking stronger as the final minutes arrived, Eddie stepping up with another point from play, his 4th of the game and part of a 1-13 haul overall before the scoring ended for Borris fittingly with team captain JD running down the line and shooting over the final point as the final seconds arrived. Having already had victory snatched by a goal and a sideline, Borris’ players and fan’s nerves were heightened when Kiladangan garnered a free outside the 21 and three points of a deficit. Gleeson stepped up but was blocked over the bar by Paudie Stapleton, déjà vu from the group game when the keeper kept Kiladangan at bay and the result of a final whistle on a scoreline of 1-20 to 2-15 and first North A championship for Borris-Ileigh in 25 years.
Borris-Ileighs U21 squad are deserving winners of this year’s competition having travelled to Ballina and putting on a top class performance, overcoming terrible conditions and a rough challenge against Kiladangan in the group and a physical tussle against rivals Toomevara before today’s game which required all that experience to be brought to the fore as Kiladangan pushed the team to the end. Borris showed their skill and scoring ability in the first half by outscoring their opponents 1-8 to 5 points but had to dig deep in the second half on the back foot against a team who knows how to win, the hammer blows of the late goal and sideline refusing to deter the team in extra time as they were the stronger outfit. The team achieved history as the club’s first U21 A champions in 25 years, congratulations to players and management on a fantastic achievement.
