Borris-Ileigh 1-21 1-14 St Thomas’

That man should be canonised.

He should be held aloft as an example for the whole country to follow. He should be granted the freedom not just of Borris-Ileigh or of Tipperary, but of this island from tip to toe. Brendan Maher is a one-man phenomenon, and he’s having the year of his life.

No-one else has come close, and we should all just sit back and admire.

Borris-Ileigh are back in an All-Ireland club final, their first since they won it in 1986/1987 and Brendan Maher is taking them there. The inspirational half back, heck, it’s nearly an injustice to pigeon-hole that man to one line at this stage such is the length and breadth of his influence, has hurled the field yet again to inspire the north Tipperary men to another famous victory.

Now, it’s just Ballyhale Shamrocks between them and the promised land.

This was another great club game on a great Sunday for club hurling. Borris-Ileigh started well, Brendan Maher and Jerry Kelly notching early wonderscores but St Thomas’ were at the races too.

Eanna Burke scored a goal worthy of winning any game on ten minutes.

What a day of club hurling

Mother of God, what a goal by Eanna Burke of @StThomassHC to set this All-Ireland club semi-final alightpic.twitter.com/p0H7VnsaSy

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 5, 2020

But this wasn’t just any game.

Without really catching fire, Borris-Ileigh did enough to be leading heading down the stretch. St Thomas’ will rue some inaccurate shooting late on that really cost them but with Kevin and Kieran Maher and Dan McCormack all having great days out, Borris-Ileigh were the better team.

Then there’s Brendan.

With the game drawing to a close, Maher broke his hurl having pointed a 21 yard free. You could literally see him wagging his shattered shinty style stick to the bench as the ball was pucked out.

But the Maor Camán didn’t make it in on time and Brendan Maher waits for no man. As the ball made its way to the St Thomas’ keeper, Maher chased him down and somehow managed to block him, perhaps breaking his hurl a bit more just for good measure.

Then, when you were praying that the ball wouldn’t come to a man with a broken hurl, Maher took it on and scored a ridiculous point from the sideline. Most players wouldn’t even score with a healthy hurl.

The man should be canonised

Brendan Maher blocks a man down, and scores a point from the sideline

ALL WITH A BROKEN HURL

Christ on a bikepic.twitter.com/ErM44C0w3y

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 5, 2020

From the next play, James Devaney rattled in a goal and Borris-Ileigh bounded home to win by seven on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-14.

Club hurling, by God.

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