Borris VS 0-13, Enniscorthy VS 1-9

THERE may have been drama in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday, but there was no shortage of it in Dr. Cullen Park the previous day either. If Ronan O’Gara hit the rugby injury-time winner, it was Tom Moloney who was the Borris hero, his free off the 20m line two minutes into lost time winning his school the Leinster VS SHC B title for a magnificent third consecutive year, writes Leo McGough.
 

Friday’s final was a cracking game and while Enniscorthy opened with the benefit of the wind it was Borris, inside 10 minutes, who registered the first three points, courtesy of Tom Moloney, Kevin Foley and Niall Kennedy.
 

The Wexford boys, through a James Carty point, opened their account in the 11th minute and hit the front when left full forward Christy O’Connor pounced for a well-taken 20th minute goal.
 

With mid-fielder Pat Doran a hugely influential figure Enniscorthy proceeded to retire at the break with a 1-4 to 0-3 advantage, Doran, son of the legendary purple and gold hero Tony, stroking over two good points from placed balls.
 

The Borris mentors made a crucial positional switch during the interval, bringing Mark Lillis from left corner forward to mid-field. The Barrow Rangers club man completely transformed the game, not only curbing the Enniscorthy dominance in this sector, but taking, along with Alan Doyle, a strong grip on the centre-field exchanges.
 

After Niall Kennedy and Christy O’Connor had traded points, and Mark Lillis and Pat Doran like-wise, the Carlow school put together a vital scoring sequence. Five fine points on the trot from the sticks of Kevin Foley, Mark Lillis and Tom Moloney (placed balls) inched Borris into a 0-10 to 1-6 lead.
 

With five minutes to go Pat Doran brought Enniscorthy back level when pointing a free, then he (frees) and Niall Kennedy bartered a brace of points and extra-time was looming.
 

However, two minutes into ‘lost-time’ a strong Borris attack brought about a free on the 20m line and Tom Moloney of the Black and Whites remained ice-cool to slot over the winner.
 

Three-in-a-row, then, for Cyril Hughes’ Borris and their fifth title in all in this competition. As mentioned, bringing out Mark Lillis to mid-field was a big factor in this latest Borris success. Ballinkillen’s Damien O’Neill had a great game at left full back while Myles Doyle in the No. 6 jersey was a very steady operator. Alan Doyle and David Phelan, until the arrival of Lillis to the area, kept Borris ticking along at mid-field while up front the scoring heroes were Kevin Foley, Niall Kennedy and Tom Moloney, the first two both scoring three points from play, Moloney contributing a fistful, compiled from play and placed balls.
 

Johnny Flynn was heroic at centre-half-back for Enniscorthy, clearing a huge amount of ball, Pat Doran proved himself a first-class hurler at mid-field as well as contributing 0-6, while in attack James Carthy (0-2) and Christy O’Connor (1-1) did most to try and dethrone Borris.
 

BORRIS VS - John Murphy (Black & Whites); Charlie Ryan (Black & Whites), John Doran (St. Mullins), Damien O’Neill (Ballinkillen); Shane Doyle (Young Ireland’s), Myles Doyle (Black & Whites), Colm O’Byrne (Mount Leinster Rangers); Alan Doyle (Young Irelands), David Phelan (Mount Leinster Rangers); Tom Moloney (Black & Whites) 0-5, Kevin Foley (Naomh Eoin) 0-3, Colin Smyth (Naomh Bríd); Edward Kennedy (St. Mullins), Niall Kennedy (Black & Whites) 0-3, Mark Lillis (Barrow Rangers) 0-2. Subs - Kevin Freeman (Ballinkillen) for Kennedy, Denis Brennan (Graiguenamanagh) for Ryan
 

ENNISCORTHY VS - Gavin Fludds; Darren Davitt, Noel Flynn, Dermot Reddy; Paddy Kennedy, Johnny Flynn, David Kenny; Pat Doran 0-6, Kevin Codd; Ray Kenny, James Carthy 0-2, David Redmond; Richard Redmond, John Thorpe, Christy O’Connor 1-1.
 

REFEREE John Direen (Kilkenny).