Borris-Ileigh GAA Club Match Report
Borris-Ileigh vs Kilruane MacDonaghs (Junior A North Championship- Round 4)
15th July 2022
Borris-Ileigh starting lineup
Cathal Bourke
Damien Dunne Matthew Stapleton Johnny McGrath
Mikey Kennedy Jody Harkin (3pts (3fs)) Cathal Hogan
Bill O’Connell Shane McCormack (2pts)
David O’Connor (1pt) Shane Kenny (1-2) Jack Hogan (2pts)
Miksie Carey (1pt) Danny Ryan Jack Fitzgerald (1-6 (3fs)
Fintan Holland (1 goal) for Jack Hogan
Dan Ryan for Miksie Carey
Seamus Ryan for Damien Dunne
Bryan Murray for David O’Connor
Borris-Ileigh’s Junior A squad travelled to Toomevara for a game against Kilruane MacDonaghs in round 4 of the North Championship on Friday, the 15th of July. Borris have remained undefeated during the group stages of the competition and knew a victory would guarantee a top seed heading into the semi final stages. Borris welcomed back Mikey Kennedy and Jody Harkin to the half back line with Adam Galvin and Dan Ryan making way, Borris looking for a stronger start this game than the Toome game. The game began with two identical long range frees, Kilruane proving more successful to open the scoring, Borris needing to wait for Jack Hogan to open their account with a finish to a well worked team set up, an indicator of more sharp play in the early stages. The game was up and down for the first 10 minutes with only three scores, Kilruane leading by a solitary point before Borris front man Jack Fitz reacted quickest to a long ball to drive towards goal and force a good save but Shane Kenny responded instantly to score the rebound to the back of the net to give Borris a confidence boost. This boost was instantly cancelled out however when a mistake in the back line led to a rocket shot by Kilruane to return advantage on the scoreboard. Kilruane were starting to find pockets of space in the middle third and use this freedom to challenge the posts but with mixed results. Miksie Carey then worked hard to garner a free which was the beginning of Jack Fitz’ free account for the game but Kilruane continued to find space and improve their efficiency with two points to open a gap. Jody Harkin then showed no rust from placed ball to score from long range to stop the scoring slump before Jack Fitz took over individually with two plays, the first a point from a well targeted pass courtesy of Mikey Kennedy and the second a great goal where Fitz reacted from a free hitting the post and the corner forward finishing from an angle to the bottom right corner. Borris would be delighted with the scoreboard of 2-4 to 1-6 after the aforementioned Kilruane scoring opportunities and showed a gear change when they started to eliminate the space and start their own attacks with the ever threatening Fitz continuing his impressive half with free number 2 after being fouled and a solo point as Kilruane were struggling with his pace and turn of foot. Jody then slotted his second long range free before Doc O’Connor stepped up with a well taken point as Borris were threatening through both lines of the attacking half. Miksie Carey who had taken up a roaming role then got himself on the scoreboard as Borris opened up a healthy gap at 2-9 to 1-6 as the half drew to a close, a water break and some injury stoppages extending the half for over 4 minutes which was advantageous for Kilruane as they took advantage of a lull in concentration to reduce the gap with two quick points but still trailing at half time on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-8
The second half began well for the league champions as Shane Kenny continued his fine form of aerial ability with a catch and setup for Shane Mc who converted the point. Jody then generated another point from his 3rd long range free of the game, real bonuses on top of a threatening forward line. Fitz then showed his eagerness to continue his first half performance with another individual point, part of a 1-3 from play display to that point by the corner forward. Shane Kenny then came to the fore as the link man when he won more aerial ball and set up Concie who finished the play well, Borris dominating the Kilruane defence who couldn’t come to grips with the versatile and dual threat of aerial play and one on one attacks. This passage of play led to an increase in lead for Borris on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-9 with only one team looking at increasing the scoreboard. Fitz then converted free number 3 and Concie set up his own score with a catch and shoot finish as Kilruane were struggling to stop delivery and in turn stop scoring from a Borris forward line full of confidence. Fintan Holland replaced Jack Hogan as the 4th quarter arrived before Shane Kenny was the benefactor of savage team work rate out the pitch when he converted the score for the result of high work rate. Shane K continued his fine second half with another score before Borris brought about the substitutions after a game in tough conditions, Dan Ryan for Miksie Carey and Seamus Ryan for Damien Dunne among them. The game was entering its final moments when Borris generated a goal scoring opportunity which was saved initially but Fintan was quickest to react and showed an excellent goal poaching instinct to put a real stamp of emphasis on the teams forward play for the game with the final whistle arriving and Borris running out victors on a scoreline of 3-17 to 1-11.
Borris will be delighted with the performances of their forward line through this game and previous with Shane Kenny, Jack Hogan and Jack Fitz really standing out with aerial ability, ability to take a man on and excellent shooting. The team will look to periods in the first half where they left Kilruane players free and lucky not to be punished but a trait of this team has emerged where they are very comfortable brushing aside rough periods and putting together scoring surges which has led to a league title and an undefeated run in the group stages which sets up a semi final as a top seed in the coming weeks, stay tuned to the club’s social medias accounts for further details.
