Burgess claim quarter final berth

County Senior Hurling Preliminary Quarter Final

 

Burgess 0-21 Borris-ileigh 2-14

Any lingering doubts over the character of this Burgess team after the North final replay disappointment were emphatically put rest in Toomevara on Sunday last when our lads our lads fought hard and dug deep to earn a well-deserved win in this last 16 tie.

Borris were first away with a pointed free in the second minute of the game. Burgess though, responded well with the next three scores from play, two Eoin Leahy Hogan points and a long range peach from Brian Chopper Hogan to give us a 3 points to 1 lead with five minutes gone. Borris cut into the Burgess lead thanks to the referees whistle once again and reduced the Burgess advantage to the minimum on the 7^th minute.

Stephen Murray displayed his trademark electric pace as he burned his marker down the wing before firing over a point from 50 metres that was worth the entrance fee alone on the 11^th minute. Borris had their first two scores from play around the 15th minute mark as Burgess had re-access their shape after Daniel Ryan’s retirement due to injury.

Two Murray frees, the second an absolute monster, had the scoreboard looking more indicative of Burgess’s dominance to this point, Burgess 0-8 Borris 0-5. Murray had another point from play on the 20^th minute after a Borris short puckout went awry. Another long rang Murray free and Burgess seemed to be cruising but straight from the resulting puckout Conor Kenny found himself unmarked and crashed the ball passed Niall McGrath in the Burgess goals. Peter Gill edged Burgess further in front on the 27^th minute with a well taken point after a patient attacking build up but for the nest 6 minutes Borris were in the ascendancy hitting five points without reply. It has to be said though that the open two of their salvo were got from two very, very debateable frees. All was not lost however and Murray free on the 35^th minute had Burgess trailing by only a point at half time, Burgess 0-12 Borris 1-10. A half it has to be said that Burgess, for the most part dominated but bizarrely found themselves trailing in.

2^nd half

Borris were first on the score board after half time with a well taken point. The Burgess Response came by way of two Stephen Murray points, one from play the other a free. Borris had two frees themselves the first a  close range free moved in for dissent and crashed to the net by Brendan Maher the second gained them a point leaving the scoreboard reading Burgess 0-14 Borris 2-12.

The character of this Burgess team was now put to the test and they responded in fine fashion bagging the next five scores without reply. Two frees for Stephen Murray, an Eoin Hogan point from play that could easily have found the net and then within a minute two amazing long range scores from Mike O’Flaherty and Peter Gill which pushed Burgess into a one point lead. Burgess 0-19 Borris 2-12.

Borris responded with a point in 52^nd minute to level the game but two frees from the ever accurate Murray and point for Borris in the final minute of normal time was enough to see Burgess through as the victors by a single point and into the County quarter finals.

We now face yet another Northern team in the shape of Templederry on Sunday next at 2:30pm in Semple Stadium. Onwards and upwards as they say.

Team: Niall Mcgrath, Jack O’Flaherty, Johnny Mulqueen, John O’Dwyer, Shane Maher, Donagh Maher, Michael O’Flaherty, Daniel Ryan, Peter Gill, Damien O’Brien, Brian Hogan, Noel Gleeson, Eoin Hogan, Eoin Tossy Hogan, Stephen Murray. Subs used: Paddy Hogan, Bill O’Flaherty.

How it Played: