Borris-Ileigh GAA Match Report
Under 19 North A Championship Vs Roscrea
August 16th 2023
Borris-Ileigh Starting Lineup
Archie Devaney
Conor Murray Harry Gould Eamon Groome
Lar Stapleton Tom Delaney Killian O’Brien
Mikey Kennedy (0-1) Evan Ryan
Eoin Boyle (0-5) Sam Patton Paddy McCormack (1-11(10fs))
Razuk Atik Patrick Brett (1-0) Patrick Ryan (0-2)
Subs Used
Pierce Ivors for Lar Stapleton
Donnacha Ryan for Razuk Atik
Luke Ryan for Patrick Brett
Borris-Ileigh’s U19 squad returned to Roscrea for a déjà vu contest with the hosts in the North A Quarter Final on Wednesday, the 16th of August. The aforementioned contest happened one week prior but with vastly different lineups and a Roscrea win. Borris rejigged their lineup for this affair as Cian Murphy and Darragh Chute were ruled out through injury with Evan Ryan and Killian O’Brien deputising in their place. Borris started with a real go forward approach emphasised by Eoin Boyle and Patrick Ryan, the result free taker Paddy McCormack’s first placed ball of the contest. Eoin Boyle then went on a signature solo run through the Roscrea defence before finishing well off balance for the team’s first open play score before full forward Paddy Brett showed high work rate to cause a turnover that resulted in a shot hitting the crossbar but fortunately a positive result in the form of a Patrick Ryan point. Borris started the game with a high intensity that was eliminating space for their opponents and allowing a launchpad to their dangerous forward line with Patrick Ryan showing no fear of attack which led to Paddy Mc’s second free, the scoreboard reading 4-2 in favour of Borris after 13 minutes. The previously mentioned Pa Ryan was terrorising his markers and used some excellent footwork to generate space to first score his second point of the game and then follow it up with an assist for fellow forward Boyle who completed his brace as the dynamic duo were a constant threat. Roscrea refused to wilt however and scored a goal in the 16th minute to bring the team’s level at 1-3 to 0-6. A brilliant defence/attack combo then ensued when fullback Harry Gould did well to block down his attacker before engaging in drive forward ball to set up Boyle for a quality long range point, the Borris boys following it up with Paddy Mc’s third free after Pa Ryan got fouled. Eoin Boyle was Borris’ forward of the half and scored his 4th from play before a key goal for the team was started by a Tom Delaney rocket from the sideline was caught by Boyle who drove towards the Roscrea goal forcing a good save but quick reactions from Paddy Brett who brought about the team’s first green flag of the game. The final moments of the half were even with Paddy scoring his 4th free to finish the half well with Borris leading 1-11 to 1-9 at the interval.
Borris started the second half sluggishly as a team second best to most contests and compounding it with frees, Roscrea gaining territory but not punishing on the scoreboard. Paddy Mc then scored his 5th free to stop the scoring slump and followed it soon after with another placed ball success but Borris were struggling to initiate free flowing attacking hurling seen in the first half, Roscrea deserving credit for matchup changes. The score read 1-13 to 1-12 in favour of Borris after 43 minutes as scores were hard to come by, Lar Stapleton requiring substitution in the form of Pierce Ivors due to injury. Roscrea then gained the ascendency in the game and went three points up by the 52nd minute, the team well backed by a home support and good score taking near the stand side. Paddy stepped up for free number 6 to stop the surge from Roscrea but the hosts looked the stronger team coming into the final stretch with Borris relying on Paddy Mc placed ball efforts to generate scores. Eoin Boyle had been kept quiet in the second half but resumed his earlier efforts with a great solo effort, the team’s first open play success of the half indicating a struggle up front. Roscrea were leading 1-17 to 1-15 as the 57th minute arrived but Borris were to score a crucial goal when Paddy Mc reacted quickest to a poor puckout and linked up with his fellow forward Eoin Boyle who had a shot rebounded and Paddy pounced for a green flag and a huge boost to Borris. Tom Delaney deserves a special mention for his performance in the second half even when Roscrea were on top, he was making life very difficult through the spine of the team and was able get on multiple possessions, his sidelines a huge territory gainer in the final moments. Donnacha Ryan and Luke Ryan replaced Razuk Atik and Patrick Brett respectively in the last few minutes with Borris regaining the ascendency of the game through a Paddy free, his 9th and a Mikey Kennedy point after good vision from Pa Ryan. The game went deep into injury time with the final minutes from 55 to 67 see sawing between 2 points and 1 point in favour of Borris before the point of the game courtesy of Paddy Mc who scored whilst hugging the sideline at a very acute angle before the forward delivered the final score for Borris with free 10 and a 3 point victory as the full time whistle arrived with Borris running out victors 2-19 to 1-19.
Borris looked incredibly threatening in the forward line throughout the first half with young players Pa Ryan and Eoin Boyle dominating aerially, along the ground and through their direct running game. Mikey Kennedy, Evan Ryan and Tom Delaney were very active in the second half with high work rate and multiple possessions but Roscrea performed better in the third quarter, the goal from Paddy Mc appeared to have the dual effect of galvanising Borris and shattering Roscrea as Borris outplayed their opponents in the final moments. Borris-Ileigh now play Ballina in the North Semi Final.
