Result: Borris-Ileigh (Tipperary) 1-21 St Thomas (Galway) 1-14
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Afternoon all and welcome along to our coverage of the day’s second AIB All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-final.
It’s Tipperary against Galway, Borris-Ileigh against St Thomas and throw-in is 4pm from LIT Gaelic Grounds.
Borris-Ileigh back in a semi-final for the first time since 1987. It’s been a memorable year for them in claiming the Tipperary and Munster title in November with Paddy Stapleton, Dan McCormack and Brendan Maher some of the stars in their ranks.
St Thomas have been a familiar presence at this stage. All-Ireland champions in 2013, they lost a semi-final to Clare’s Ballyea in 2016, defeated Antrim’s Cushendall at the last four stage twelve months ago before they lost out to Ballyhale Shamrocks in the decider. David Burke and Conor Cooney are the Galway stars that will spearhead their challenge.
Here are the starting teams:
Borris-Ileigh
1. James McCormack
2. Séamus Burke
3. Paddy Stapleton
4. Liam Ryan
5. Seán McCormack
6. Brendan Maher
7. Ray McCormack
8. Tommy Ryan
9. Dan McCormack
10. Kieran Maher
11. Niall Kenny
12. Conor Kenny
13. Kevin Maher
14. Jerry Kelly
15. James Devaney
St Thomas
1. James Barrett
2. Cian Mahoney
3. Sean Skehill
4. Cathal Burke
5. Donal Cooney
6. Shane Cooney
7. David Sherry
8. James Regan
9. David Burke
10. Fintan Burke
11. Darragh Burke
12. Bernard Burke
13. Eanna Burke
14. Conor Cooney
15. Oisin Flannery
All set to go, who’ll advance to face Ballyhale?
Game on between St Thomas and Borris-Ileigh.
St Thomas 0-1 Borris-Ileigh 0-0
Bernard Burke pops over the point that gets St Thomas on the board.
Kevin Maher off target at the other end for the Tipperary champions, JD Devaney showing up well in attack for them so far.
St Thomas 0-2 Borris-Ileigh 0-0
Conor Cooney on target at one end, Conor Kenny inaccurate at the other and there’s two points in it.
Captain Cooney charged through then for St Thomas, he seemed in two minds as to whether tap over a point or try to work a goal and ultimately the Borris-Ileigh cover got back to clear.
St Thomas 0-2 Borris-Ileigh 0-2
Borris-Ileigh needed something to get them going and typically it’s Brendan Maher who supplied it. Inspirational point over his shoulder from the left wing and then Jerry Kelly follows it up by bringing them level.
Have a look at that score from Maher. Super stuff.
Scór íontach ansin ag Brendan Maher ! @Borris_GAA @TipperaryGAA pic.twitter.com/83cY8GAHtf
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 5, 2020
Borris-Ileigh 0-3 St Thomas 0-2
Conor Kenny pops one over and Borris-Ileigh lead for the first time.
Goal for St Thomas from Eanna Burke!
St Thomas 1-2 Borris-Ileigh 0-5
Marvellous strike to the net from Eanna Burke after being fed by Fintan Burke but Borris-Ileigh counter well with Brendan Maher’s free there bringing them level.
Borris-Ileigh 0-6 St Thomas 1-3
Both free-takers on target with Brendan Maher and Darragh Burke swapping points.
St Thomas 1-4 Borris-Ileigh 0-6
Lovely score by Conor Cooney to nudge St Thomas ahead before Devaney sees his shot tail wide for Borris-Ileigh.
Borris-Ileigh 0-7 St Thomas 1-4
No mistake this time from Devaney. He showcases his lightning speed and taps over.
Borris-Ileigh 0-8 St Thomas 1-4
Kieran Maher steps in to win a break for Borris-Ileigh and booms over a super score from the middle.
Borris-Ileigh 0-9 St Thomas 1-4
And another inspirational score arrives, this time it’s Conor Kenny who fires over a brilliant effort from the right wing for Borris-Ileigh. They’re two to the good now.
Borris-Ileigh 0-9 St Thomas 1-5
St Thomas counter and Oisin Flanney nips in to find a bit of space and bang over a point.
Here’s that cracking early goal by Eanna Burke for St Thomas.
Outstanding goal here by Eanna Burke for @StThomassHC pic.twitter.com/rp4FXyWlp2
— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 5, 2020
Yellow card for Borris-Ileigh’s Sean McCormack for a foul on Conor Cooney. Difficult free from distance for Darragh Burke and he can’t land a point from it.
Borris-Ileigh 0-10 St Thomas 1-6
Brendan Maher comes forward and is fouled before converting the resultant free. James Regan swiftly replies for St Thomas.
Half-Time: Borris-Ileigh 0-11 St Thomas 1-6
Okay second-half about to get underway in Limerick. Borris-Ileigh have a two-point advantage, Ballyhale await in the decider on 19 January.
Borris-Ileigh have an early scoring chance in the second half but Brendan Maher cannot capitalise from the free as he shoots wide.
Borris-Ileigh 0-11 St Thomas 1-8
All square now as Darragh Burke lashes over a ’65 and then Bernard Burke contributes from play for St Thomas. Borris-Ileigh have just won a free in a good position as Conor Kenny is fouled.
Borris-Ileigh 0-12 St Thomas 1-8
And it’s Kevin Maher who assumes the responsibility on this occasion, nailing the free for the Tipp champions.
Borris-Ileigh 0-13 St Thomas 1-9
Points traded as Borris convert a ’65 and then Shane Cooney responds for St Thomas. It’s frenetic stuff now.
Brendan Maher had slotted that ’65 for Borris-Ileigh.
Borris-Ileigh 0-13 St Thomas 1-10
And now it’s level. Darragh Burke finds his range for the Galway kingpins.
St Thomas 1-11 Borris-Ileigh 0-13
And now St Thomas are in front, Darragh Burke shooting over a free after Fintan Burke is fouled.
St Thomas 1-11 Borris-Ileigh 0-14
Back come Borris courtesy of a pointed free from Brendan Maher.
Borris-Ileigh 0-15 St Thomas 1-11
Stylish score from Kieran Maher and Borris are back in front.
Borris-Ileigh 0-16 St Thomas 1-11
This is a good spell for Borris-Ileigh. Devaney’s trickery sees him win a free and his attacking colleague Kevin Maher taps over the free.
St Thomas can’t find their range now. Wides in quick succession from Fintan and Eanna Burke.
Borris-Ileigh 0-17 St Thomas 1-11
Big moment. Borris turn over James Regan and Kieran Maher fires over the point that puts them three clear.
Borris-Ileigh 0-18 St Thomas 1-12
More brilliant work-rate from the Borris-Ileigh attack. This time they dispossess David Sherry and Conor Kenny pounces for a point. Conor Cooney pulls one back for St Thomas.
Borris-Ileigh 0-19 St Thomas 1-12
Four in it now again as Brendan Maher bangs over a point from a free.
Borris-Ileigh 0-19 St Thomas 1-13
St Thomas hanging in there, Darragh Burke converts a free.
Wide from Oisin Flannery for St Thomas as we move into injury-time.
Borris-Ileigh 0-19 St Thomas 1-14
Nice effort by David Burke, the gap is down to two.
We’ve one minute played of the three in injury-time.
Free in to Borris-Ileigh, substitute Ciaran Cowan wins a crucial free.
Borris-Ileigh 0-20 St Thomas 1-14
Brendan Maher comes forward to land the free, broken hurley and all!
Borris-Ileigh 0-21 St Thomas 1-14
And another from Brendan Maher from play, still with that broken hurley!
Goal for James Devaney for Borris-Ileigh!
Full-Time: Borris-Ileigh 1-21 St Thomas 1-14
Seven points in it in the end in favour of Borris-Ileigh as their magical campaign continues. St Thomas bow out, disappointment for them in the All-Ireland series for the second year running.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon, we’ll be back later with reaction to the weekend’s club action.
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