Borris-Ileigh GAA Club Match Report
Borris-Ileigh vs Roscrea (Junior A League-Semi Final)
13th May 2022
Borris-Ileigh starting lineup
Cathal Bourke
Damien Dunne Matthew Stapleton Johnny McGrath
Mikey Kennedy (2pts) Bill O’Connell (2pts) Colm Boyle
Jack Hogan Shane McCormack (1pt)
Jody Harkin (3fs) Shane Kenny (1-1) Danny Ryan (1pt)
Fintan Holland (1pt) Thomas Fahy (3pts) Jack Fitzgerald (1-9 (5fs)(3 65’s))
Paddy Stapleton for Damien Dunne
Miksie Carey(2pts) for Fintan Holland
Borris-Ileigh’s Junior A squad travelled to Toomevara for a North League semi final against Roscrea on Friday, the 13th of May. Having fallen in the opening group game and against the league toppers, a tough game was expected with Borris making changes to the team in the form of Cathal Bourke’s return in between the posts, Jody Harkin in at wing forward and Jack Hogan repositioning to middle of the field. Borris started the game with a quick tempo as a follow on from last week’s Nenagh performance, Shane Kenny reacting quickest to a goalkeeper mishandle for the team’s opening goal before Borris really maximised their control by adding further points with Jody and Jack Fitz sharing two frees to make it 1-2 to no score after 10 minutes. Borris were on top but Roscrea quickly turned this around with a control phase of play where they stopped good ball entering their back line whilst also popping over some well taken scores themselves, Borris struggling to garner white flags with shots for a period of play before Jack Fitz stopped the drought with free number 2 of the contest. Damien Dunne was doing well to gather possession and generate go forward play which led to Fintan Holland scoring the team’s first point from play with a well taken score on his left hand side but only the goal really separating the teams as the half drew on. Borris started to increase their intensity in the middle third again and this led to another Jody free before Jack Fitz converted a 65’ opportunity, the Borris men now leading 1-7 to 5 points. Both teams then had a period of possession before Roscrea reacted best to a breaking ball near the Borris goal and finished well with good footwork to bring about a green flag and a momentum boost for the current league champs. Jack Fitz continued the team’s efficiency from placed ball with another free before the half time whistle blew with Borris leading 1-9 to 1-6.
Borris struggled to come out of the starting blocks for the second half with Roscrea playing with a sense of urgency to eliminate the half time deficit, their urgency perhaps unbalanced with being overly physical and granting Borris free making opportunities, an opportunity grasped by Jack Fitz to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Jack then pumped huge momentum into Borris’ run when he retrieved ball near the sideline with an easy point to take, his ambition however driving him towards goal and a bullet to the top right corner to give Borris a further lead half way into the second half. Johnny McGrath was smothering Roscrea offence during the period and his play led to two Thomas Fahy points via Danny Ryan to extend Borris’ advantage before Roscrea were given a lifeline when a mixup in the Borris rearguard allowed a second Roscrea goal and a nervy final quarter with Borris gathering 2-12 and Roscrea 2-10. Paddy Stapleton replaced Damien Dunne in the half back line as the quarter began with Jack Fitz proving his attacking threat with two quick assists, one to Danny Ryan and one to Bill O’Connell as Borris kept the scoreboard ticking. Miksie Carey replaced Fintan Holland in the period before Jack Fitz went from assist man to scorer with another point to his tally as Borris maintained a 3 point advantage with 7 minutes to go. Roscrea then began a period of dominance with Borris struggling to gather possession, Roscrea putting together a 3 point phase to make it a draw game with mere minutes remaining. Both teams then swapped points with Miksie going on a penetrating run before Shane Mc was blocked by the goalkeeper with the consolation of a point before Jack Fitz showed calm under pressure to slot a 65’ which was unfortunately matched by Roscrea in the dying moments as the game finished level on a scoreline of Borris-Ileigh 2-16 to Roscrea’s 2-16 with extra time to follow
Roscrea came out for extra time with extra energy and went ahead by 1 on multiple occasions, Borris relying on scraps instead of primary possession but doing well to level with Jody scoring another placed ball and Shane Kenny making a great catch and pass to Bill who finished swiftly. Jack Fitz showed no signs of slowing down his scoring spree with another from his left hand side as the half time whistle of extra time arrived with teams still even at 2-19 apiece. Both teams swapped roles from the first period with Borris now clearly in the ascendancy and making it count on the scoreboard with Fitz earning his own free and finishing for number 5 of the game, Mikey Kennedy following up moments later to make it a 2 point game. Borris’ intensity was overwhelming all over the park as the half continued, emphasized by Toco causing a turnover and Miksie finishing for another point. Danny Ryan then set up Carey again to give the team a 3 point lead, a priceless lead with the energy emitted by both teams in a pulsating game. Borris didn’t rest on their laurels however and ploughed ahead to extend the lead to 5 with further points from Mikey Kennedy and Bill before the final whistle blew with Borris-Ileigh 2-25 to Roscrea’s 2-20, Borris into the league final.
As aforementioned, Borris were up against it with the opposition of Roscrea who have been very consistent in the last two years of the league. Borris appeared buoyed by the Nenagh performance, especially from an attacking point of view and bore great results early from the approach with the long ball. The team’s efficiency from placed balls by Jody and Jack Fitz deserves praise under pressure of scoreboard and time of game at different moments. Borris did really well to respond in extra time to falling behind on multiple occasions and finished the game extremely well from a physical and skill point of view. The team now contest a North Junior A League final against rivals Toomevara, scheduled for Friday the 20th of May in Templederry with throw in at 7pm.
