Green flags key for Loughmore in dethroning Brackens
GAA: Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Loughmore/Castleiney 3-23
JK Brackens 0-24
Report: Michael Dundon in Templetuohy
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney).
SCORERS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Ciaran Connolly 1-6; John McGrath 0-7 (6 frees); Joey Quinn, Tomas McGrath 1-0 each; Ciaran McGrath, Ed Connolly, Tommy Maher 0-2 each; Willie Eviston, Eoin O’Connell, Ciaran McCormack, Liam McGrath 0-1 each.
JK Brackens: Lyndon Fairbrother 0-8 (4 frees); Andrew Ormond 0-5; Eanna McBride 0-3; Ned Walsh, Shane Doyle 0-2 each; Jamie Ormond, Padraic O’Shea, Conor Cadell, Luke Ormond 0-1 each.
In search of a third county senior hurling title in a row, Loughmore/Castleiney kick-started their 2026 championship campaign with a comfortable win over JK Brackens on Sunday evening in Mid semi-final.
Defending Mid champions JK Brackens, who get their change out of most opposition, invariably struggle against their neighbours, and such was the case again in this latest episode in a rivalry that is as keen as any at club level. The champions were never headed and cushioned their passage to the final with a hat-trick of goals, one in the first half and two later.
Loughmore/Castleiney don’t spring surprises in terms of approach or personnel. They go about their business without fuss or blather and they consistently deliver on the club stage at the highest level. Despite a brave effort by the Templemore/Clonmore lads, this was a routine win for the champions, and their clash with a much talked about young Holycross-Ballycahill side in this year’s final should be a cracker.
In a lively start to this contest played in ideal conditions, Loughmore were quickly into their stride going 0-7 to 0-5 clear by the end of the first quarter. Ciaran Connolly was on fire at midfield but Lyndon Fairbrother’s accuracy from frees and play kept Brackens on their tail.
However, Loughmore struck a significant blow after eighteen minutes when Ciaran McGrath set up Tomas McGrath for their first goal. Brackens did not falter. Ned Walsh was unlucky with a goal effort but at the break Loughmore were still in front, 1-11 to 0-11, and coping with the JK Brackens’ challenge.
It was still all to play for facing into the second half but inside thirty seconds Jack Kennedy was again picking the ball out of the Brackens net as Ciaran Connolly picked up where he left off before half-time, with a Loughmore goal off an Ed Connolly feed. Recovering from that set-back was a tall order for the Brackens but, to their credit, they again showed commendable fight. They traded points with their rivals through the third quarter, six each, with Loughmore doing just enough to keep them at arm’s length.
Brackens mounted a late surge that yielded unanswered points from Padraic O’Shea, Andrew Ormond, Conor Cadell, and Lyndon Fairbrother to narrow the deficit to 0-21 to 2-19.
Loughmore did not buckle under the pressure and after John McGrath and Ciaran Connolly had pointed, Joey Quinn put the game to bed with Loughmore’s third goal two minutes from time. Still, Brackens kept going at them but it was a lost cause now, Loughmore easing through the added minutes sure of their spot in the final.
Loughmore/Castleiney are on a path that is very familiar to them. Their only concern after this win is a collar-bone injury to defender Ed Meagher which sidelined him after only seven minutes and he is unlikely to be ready for the final against Holycross/Ballycahill next weekend.
Otherwise, it was business as usual for them. While county men Noel & John McGrath were less prominent than normally, Ciaran Connolly was the star of the show with a dominant display from midfield. Tommy Maher did an amount of work in defence where Brian McGrath was his customary reliable self. Further up field, Ed Connolly was lively and productive with Willie Eviston and Ciaran McGrath also prominent.
Despite the setback, JK Brackens can take encouragement from this outing. An eight point defeat did not do them justice. They have a lively attack with Lyndon Fairbrother, Andrew Ormond and Ned Walsh to the fore. Paddy Cadell again anchored the defence confidently. Eanna McBride and Conor Cadell were others to work hard to further the Brackens cause.
TEAMS – Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Willie Eviston (6), Ed Meagher (NR); Tommy Maher (7), Brian McGrath (7), John Ryan (6); Noel McGrath (6), Ciaran Connolly (9); Ciaran McCormack (6), Tomas McGrath (6), Ciaran McGrath (6); Liam McGrath (6), John McGrath (6), Ed Connolly (7).
Subs: Eoin O’Connell (6) for Meagher (7 inj), Joey Quinn (6) for McCormack (47); Liam Treacy (NR) for T McGrath (56).
JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (6); Luke Ormond (7), Cathal Scully (7), Niall Delaney (6); Mikey Delaney (6), Paddy Cadell (7), Michael Cahill (6); Conor Cadell (6), Eanna McBride (7); Lyndon Fairbrother (7), Ned Delaney (7), Jamie Ormond (6); Ned Walsh (6), Shane Doyle (6), Andrew Ormond (7).
Subs: Padraic O’Shea (6) for Walsh (48); Ciaran O’Shea (6) for Delaney (55).
Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).