1977 County Senior Hurling Semi Final

Borris-Ileigh 1-11

Moyne/Templetuohy 1-8

Stapleton's goal boosts Borris for second half take over

Borris-Ileigh line out: Gerry Stapleton, Dessie Kennedy, Tim Stapleton. Pat Maher. Joseph Kenny, Noel O'Dwyer, Timmy Delaney, Pat Ryan. Timmy Ryan, Liam Carroll, Mick Cowan, Pat Kavanagh, Brendan Kenny, Tommy O'Dwyer, Matt Stapleton

A goal from Matt Stapleton just on half time, and coming at a crucial part of the game, when Borris-ileigh were six points in arrears, was a great morale booster for the North runners-up and coupled with some judicious interval switches, it paved the way for a reversal of trends in the second half which saw Borris allow their opponents but one point, while they went on to their first County Final since 1972.

In their past two games Borris have had to come from behind and in the end had only three points to spare. They are obviously making their supporters sweat it out and in the first half on Sunday, the Moyne/Templetuohy lads were worth every point of their interval lead because they had showed more aggression, more willingness to fight for the ball. It took Borris only seven minutes to get on terms in the second half and a scoreless nine minutes elapsed before Pat Kavanagh put them ahead with a fine point from the wing.

The Mid champions managed to get back on level terms again but only briefly and while Borris nosed ahead again, they were stopped in their tracks by a fine defence which kept Moyne in the game as it progressed to an exciting conclusion as the Mid men sought the goal that would have given them a second bite of the cherry. They did receive two chances, with close-in frees but attempts at goals by Tom Quinlan failed and it was a somewhat relieved Borris side that heard the final whistle.

MOYNE'S APPROACH

Some very good hurling was featured in the first half of this game especially and Moyne showed their worth with good approach work and some well taken scores. Like Treacy's in the first game, they lacked nothing by way of confidence and a rather fortunate goal after ten minutes, when Borris keeper dropped a 'safe' ball and allowed Tom Quinlan to push it over the line gave them great heart. From there on they dominated the half and Borris were not at all happy as instanced on one occasion when left full forward, Matt Stapleton, came all the way from his position to the dugout to say something to team mentors.

Much pressure was placed on the Borris defence and the accuracy of Willie Fogarty from frees told in a big way when he punished a number of indiscretions with well taken points. Moyne were cruising along well until Matt Stapleton's goal just on the Interval.

As in the game against Davins Borris brought Noelie Maher into the side for the 2nd half. Noel O'Dwyer went to midfield. Pat Ryan was at left half back with Timmy Delaney in the centre and Michael Cowan taking over the right wing in place of the demoted Joseph Kenny. Pat Kavangah was in the corner forward berth.

Within six minutes of the resumption, Borris had drawn level and Noelie Maher was proving quite a handful for the Moyne defence by the way in which he led the attack. Moyne still soldiered on but one got the impression that they had shot their bolt and while they stayed with Borris, they were not scoring and a Willie Fogarty point after 48 minutes was the only score they could manage in the half.

MORE CONFIDENT

A reorganised Borris defence was now in more confident mood and Timmy Ryan at Midfield was coming more into the game. Yet for all their superiority, Borris found it difficult to ease ahead and the Moyne defence with Jim Fogarty now at centre back proved to be a major stumbling block to the onward march of the North representatives. With six minutes remaining, and only two points between the the sides Moyne went all out for a goal and had the misfortune of seeing a shot come back off the upright. In the scramble, a penalty was awarded but Tom Quinlan's low shot was saved at the expense of a 70 which was sent wide. Liam Carroll put a clear goal between the sides with a point four minutes later, and Moyne's final chance came with a close-in free just on full time which Quinlan again failed to convert.

In a Borris team that still does not have a settled look about it, Timmy Delaney hurled very strongly at centre back in the second half. Pat Ryan was also more at home in the half back line while Noel O'Dwyer hurled well without exerting the authority usually associated with him. Timmy Ryan was always going strong and Liam Carroll in the attack placed colleagues with some good balls - but Brendan Kenny for all the possession he received, overplayed the ball on a number of occasions. Matt Stapleton, always good for a goal, again showed his flair. Noelie Maher's introduction was perhaps the winning stroke again.

Moyne's stars were in the defence with Jim and Tom Fogarty, Martin Esmonde all very prominent and goalie Martin Kelly also playing his part in keeping the Borris raids at bay. Liam Everard and Murty Troy had good moments at midfleld and in the attack the severest threat came from Billy Grady, Eamonn Kelly and Willie Fogarty.

THE SCORING

Within the twenty seconds of the throw in Pat Kavanagh had whipped over the first Borris point and in the 5th minute Willie Fogarty had levelled up with a point from a free. Kavanagh put Borris ahead again with a point from a free, after seven minutes and Eamonn Kelly had the equaliser two minutes later.

A Willie Fogarty point from a free in the 10th minute put Moyne ahead for the first time and straight away came the Moyne goal when a long ball from mid field was caught by Gerry Stapleton in the Borris goal. He dropped it however and Tom Quinlan was there for the finishing touch. Liam Carroll got a point back for Borris after twelve minutes after Martin O'Grady and Matt Stapleton had swopped points.

Tommy O'Dwyer was brought down going through on 20 minutes and from the penalty Pat Kavanagh's shot was saved and cleared away at the expense of a 70, Noel O'Dwyer failing with the long shot.

Willie Fogarty sent over three Moyne points, the third one from the wing was a fine effort and Moyne had now gone into a six point lead. Then came Matt Stapleton's goal, a score that greatly boosted Borris and cushioned them for the second half.

SIDES LEVEL

Points from Tommy O'Dwyer, Noeiie Maher and Brendan Kenny saw the sides level six minutes into the second half. As the last quarter began Pat Kavanagh put Borris ahead with a great point from a difficult angle and while Willie Fogarty levelled up again two minutes later Kavanagh's accuracy told when he pointed a 70.

Noelie Maher put two points between the sides with a point after 54 minutes and while Moyne strove hard to get back into the game, they couldn't score. Liam Carroll showed them how by sending over a Borris point two minutes from time and apart from Moyne's final fling, that was that.

Scorers for Borris: Matt Stapleton 1-1, P. Kavanagh 0-4,  N. Maher and L. Carroll 0-2 each; B. Kenny and T. O' Dwyer 0-1 each

Moyne's scorers: W. Fogarty 0-6 (0-4 frees);  T. Quinlan 1-0; E. Kelly and M. O'Grady 0-1 each.

**Borris had twelve wides in the hour, seven in the second half. Moyne's total came to nine, of which seven were in the first half. Only 18 frees in all were awarded and Moyne got ten of them, six in the first half with Borris getting six of their eight in the first half. Borris forced two seventies in each half to Moyne's one in the first half.

Borris-Ileigh: 1.Gerry Stapleton; 2 Dessie Kennedy, 3 Tim Stapleton; 4 Pat Maher; 5 Joseph Kenny, 6 Noel O'Dwyer, 7 Timmy Delaney, 8 Pat Ryan; 9 Timmy Ryan; 10 Liam Carroll, 11 Mick Cowan, 12 Pat Kavanagh, 13 Brendan Kenny, 14 Tommy O'Dwyer, 15 Matt Stapleton;

Sub. N. Maher for Joe Kenny

Moyne/Templetuohy: Martin Kelly, Jim Fogarty, Dinny Kelly, Tom Fogarty, Jody Sweeney, Martin Esmonde, Michael McCormack, Murty Troy, Liam Everard, Eamonn Kelly, Martin O'Grady, Willie Fogarty, Tom Quinlan, Paddy Sweeney, Billy O'Grady

Subs: Seamus Kelly for McCormack.

Referee: Jimmy Collins. St Mary's, Clonmel.