St Brogan’s beat off Borrisokane challenge
They now qualify for the final of this year’s Munster vocational schools SAHC at Cahir.
In a magnificent contest, spiced by the Cork-Tipperary rivalry, the Bandon school, already winners of the football title, looked well on their way to the hurling decider when they led by nine points with 10 minutes to go.
However, the defending champions refused to surrender their titles easily and in a hectic finish scored 1-3 without reply before the clock beat them.
The winners had many heroes, particularly in defence where Fionn Keane, David Lynch and Michael Deasy were majestic in the face of the late Borrisokane onslaught. Midfielders Gavin O’Riordan and Niall O’Sullivan won that vital area for Brogans, while up front the North Tipperary school had no answer to the silken skills of Darren Crowley who helped himself to five points from play.
Borrisokane had their stars also, and none shone brighter than centre back Eoin Hogan. His tussle with Cork minor Danny O’Callaghan was a joy to watch, and with Hogan a current Tipperary minor there is every chance these two players will cross camáns again later in the season.
Hogan was a colossus for his side. His ball control, pace and power marked him out as a player of exceptional ability and he was ably assisted by Mark O’Meara, Eoin Gleeson, Darren O’Meara and Darren Darcy, who scored 1-4.
The champions served notice from the start that they were not going to give up their titles easily and stormed into a 1-2 to nil lead after five minutes.
Brogans settled well after the early Borrisokane onslaught and, with Darren Crowley giving his marker a torrid time at full forward, the scores began to flow. A succession of points left just the minimum between the sides after 20 minutes, but Brogans were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and an opportunist goal by Eoin O’Donovan gave his side a lead they never lost.
The dominance of Keane and Lynch in defence meant the scores had dried up on Borrisokane and they went 15 minutes without a score before the skilful Darren Darcy pointed to leave the West Cork school 1-7 to 1-5 in front at the interval.
The second half developed into a tremendous tussle with the hurling of the highest order. Darren Darcy won a penalty for the Tipp boys two minutes after the resumption but Eoin Gleeson’s effort went over the bar, and from that let-off Brogans, with Niall O’Sullivan outstanding at midfield, took complete control.
Four unanswered points were followed by a superb goal by Eoin O’Donovan whose first time pull from the air rocketed into the back of the Borrisokane net to give his side a 2-13 to 1-7 lead.
However champions die hard and in those last 10 minutes, Borrisokane threw everything at Brogans but time ran out on them and Brogans were through to the final where they will meet Roscrea VS.
: St Brogans: E. O’Donovan 2-1; D. Crowley 0-5; D. O’Callaghan 0-4 (0-2 frees); G. O’Riordan 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65); N. O’Sullivan 0-1. Borrisokane: E. Gleeson 1-4 (0-2 frees); M. Costello 1-0; D. Darcy 0-3 (0-1 free); E. Hogan (free), S. Quinlan, D. Markan 0-1 each.
: N. O’Donovan; F. Keane, D. Lynch, C. Walsh; M. Deasy, D. Ryan, M. Sexton; G. O’Riordan, N. O’Sullivan; C. Lordan, D. O’Callaghan, R. Payne; T. Harrington, D. Crowley, E. O’Donovan.
: L. Long for Payne; R. Payne for Harrington.
: G. Corcoran; M. Harding, D. Carroll, B. Cahalan; C. Dooley, E. Hogan, J. Hayes; J. Burke, M. O’Meara; E. Gleeson, D. O’Meara, D. Bevans; S. Quinlan, D. Darcy, M. Costello. Subs: J. Gallagher for Carroll; D. Markan for Burke.
: P. Coffey (Limerick).
