Borrisoleigh Bridge 20 Year Gap with New Hero’s now.
The good times keep coming for Tipperary GAA as St Joseph’s College Borrisoleigh claimed the first Munster title of 2026 for the Premier County with a hard fought but ultimately well deserved victory over an excellent CBS Dungarvan side.
It was very much a game of two halves. Borrisoleigh started tentatively and looked slightly off their usual rhythm, while Dungarvan were flying, striking superb long range scores with slick movement and sharp interlinking play. The Waterford side looked full value early on, but St Joseph’s were handed a crucial lifeline when a defensive clearance was intercepted by the excellent Cody Quirke. His powerful run ended with a low shot brilliantly saved, but Cathal Kennedy was quickest to react, flicking the rebound to the net.
Despite the goal levelling the scoreboard at 1-02 to 0-05, Borrisoleigh still struggled to gain a foothold. Matters worsened when an ankle injury to Toomevara’s Billy O’Brien robbed the maroon men of their main target inside. When Dungarvan stretched their lead to five points, the outlook was ominous, but this group has shown throughout the campaign that they thrive under pressure.
As half time approached, the momentum began to swing. First half substitute Eoghan Anderson made an immediate impact with superb link up play, setting up scores for brothers Michael and Shane Ryan. Captain Micheál Collins was flawless from placed balls, and although a harsh late free left it a two point game at the break, St Joseph’s went to the dressing room with belief surging.
The second half saw key positional changes that proved decisive. Eoin Ryan moved to number 11, while Liam Hackett’s switch to midfield added a physical edge that blunted Dungarvan’s dominance. At the back, full back Daniel Groome and corner backs Adam Whyte and Cormac Frend were immense, while centre back David Rabbitte surged forward repeatedly to lift a vocal Tipp crowd.
With confidence flowing, St Joseph’s seized control. Eoghan Anderson crowned a superb performance by weaving through the defence and crashing the ball to the net, a score that felt decisive. Another substitute, Tadgh Kelly, added two sublime points to push Borrisoleigh four clear as the clock ticked into the final stages.
Dungarvan, to their credit, battled to the end, but the accuracy that defined their first half deserted them. Wing backs Jack Gould and Ciarán Troy were outstanding during this period, repeatedly turning over possession. When goalkeeper Oisín Ryan delivered another pinpoint puck out to young minor star Shane Ryan for the score of the day, it seemed done and dusted.
There was late drama as a 21 metre free was buried to the net deep into added time to reduce the margin to the bare minimum, but there was time for no more. The final whistle brought relief and ecstasy in equal measure as St Joseph’s finally got their hands on a first Munster Senior title since 2006.
Next up is a trip into the All Ireland series, with hopes high that more success lies ahead. On a bumper weekend of hurling action for the Premier County, Borrisoleigh have set the tone, and now all eyes turn to Nenagh CBS to keep the good times rolling.