Manager Johnny Kelly hailed Brendan Maher as “one of the greatest
hurlers” he’s ever seen after the Tipp star led Borris-Ileigh to the All-Ireland final.
The three-time All Star fired over 10 points in a virtuous display that proved too much for Galway champions St Thomas’ at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.
James ‘JD’ Devaney put the game to bed with a late goal after a fine solo run, in a game where Conor Kenny also shone with three fine points.
The majesty of Maher’s performance was summed in the final minutes, however, when he firstly broke his hurley knocking over a key free, then made a blockdown with the splintered ash, before using the remains to fire over a point from an angle.
“To be honest Brendan is one of the greatest hurlers I’ve ever seen anyway,” says Kelly (inset). “He’s a pleasure to coach.
“There’s no airs or graces about Brendan, he’s a Borris-Ileigh man first, a Tipperary man second, and he doesn’t need any words of mine to recognise how great a player he is.”
St Thomas’ drew first and second blood in the game through Bernard Burke and Conor Cooney but it wasn’t long until Borris’ settled.
With Dan McCormack anchoring the defence as a spare man, Brendan Maher could push up on his man and attack from deep.
Kenny impersonated a cherry-picker throughout the first half under the puckouts, and hit a couple of classy points.
Kevin Maher, Devaney and Jerry Kelly all raised white flags, but it was Tipp star Maher whose 0-5 in this spell put his side up by 0-11 to 1-6 at the half.
An exceptional goal from Eanna Burke on 10 minutes might have rattled lesser sides, and indeed its quality should have spurred on Thomas’. Fintan Burke snapped a high delivery around the ’21, allowing namesake Eanna to hit the top corner from distance.
Borris’ started the second half a little slowly as Darragh and Bernard Burke found their range — the latter again thanks to good work from James Regan.
Shane Cooney was Thomas’ best player by some distance, and he provided a platform for his team to push in front via Davy and Darragh Burke scores.
Would the inexperienced Tipp club respond? Without doubt, as Brendan and Kieran Maher did the needful, before namesake Kevin added 0-2.
Having been a point ahead on 42 minutes – 1-11 to 0-13 – the Galway champions would score just three times more as the wides piled up.
All the while, the Munster victors turned the screw. Kenny, Maher with two frees and one from play with the shattered stick, all scored, before JD’s late solo effort.
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