Brackens use two-pointers to down Arravale
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 3 Round 1
JK Brackens 2-4-5 (19)
Arravale Rovers 0-1-12 (14)
Report: Michael Dundon at Leahy Park, Cashel
JK Brackens justified their inclusion among the potential winners of the County Senior Football Championship with a comfortable if unspectacular five point win over Arravale Rovers on Sunday in the first round of group 3.
Qualifying from this six team group will not be simple with two of the favourites for the title, Loughmore/Castleiney and Moyle Rovers, also in the mix so it was important that there be no hitches getting the campaign underway. There wasn’t.
From the off, JK Brackens were in control and by half-time had established a six-point advantage that the Tipp town boys never seriously threatened subsequently.
With a crucial hurling tie against Loughmore-Castleiney in the hurling championship this weekend, Brackens were managing players’ workloads with Jordan Moloney, Andrew Ormond, and Jamie Ormond not in the starting 15 but all three figured before the finish. However, an injury to Shane Doyle after just twelve minutes which forced his withdrawal a little later, will be a concern in the days leading up to the hurling clash.
A goal early in both halves tipped the balance heavily in favour of the Templemore/Clonmore lads. Arravale had shot two wides in early pressure but in their first attack Brackens had a green flag from Stephen Cahill who shrugged off a couple of tackles before tucking the ball neatly in the Rovers’ net.
Ciaran Kelly was causing problems for the Brackens’ defence, and he shot two points with another from Orrin Jones as the Rovers got into stride. However, two two-pointers from Jack Kennedy and another on the stroke of half-time from Dean McEnroe saw the Mid lads push 1-10 to 0-7 clear by the break.
It wasn’t to be quite as simple as that though; goalkeeper Evan Ryan pointed a free and Orrin Jones added another as Rovers set about reining in their rivals.
In the 40th minute Jack Kennedy landed his third two-pointer before, a minute later, Michael Cahill barged through for Bracken’ second goal and a 2-12 to 0-9 lead.
It looked like game over for Arravale, but they registered the next four scores, a two-pointer from Evan Ryan, with other white flags from Johnny Ryan, Sean O’Mahoney, and Adam Ryan to bring it back to a four point match with seven minutes to play.
If they were good enough, Arravale had the time, but Brackens steadied the ship and were helped by some shooting lapses by the opposition who really needed a goal to help bridge the gap. Instead, it was Brackens, through Dean McEnroe, who had the final say, a 57th minute point, which was enough to get them over the line with a bit to spare.
Job done for JK Brackens with tougher challenges coming up but the right result to kick-start their campaign. Manager Shane Keegan will no doubt have areas to address that require attention if his side is to prosper but his immediate concern will be the fitness of Shane Doyle to line out next weekend.
Jack Kennedy’s two-pointers were very important in this win, in which Stephen Cahill had a big game at wing back, defending well at all times and also getting forward intelligently to supplement the attack. Ned Delaney, Dean McEnroe, Paddy Cadell and Eanna McBride also led by example.
Arravale Rovers are going to have to do much better if they are to figure in the shake-up for qualifying places. They will take heart from their second half, and particularly their last quarter showing but with players of the calibre of David Ryan, Johnny Ryan, Adam Ryan, Ciaran Kelly and Orrin Jones in their side they have every reason for optimism.
Player of the Match: Stephen Cahill (JK Brackens)
JK Brackens: Cian Sheedy (6); Luke Ormond (6), Ned Delaney (0-1, 7), Tommy Burke (6); Stephen Cahill (1-0, 8), Eanna McBride (7), Conor Cadell (6); Paddy Cadell (7), Adrian Bourke (6); Lyndon Fairbrother (6), Shane Doyle (6), Dean McEnroe (0-3, 1x2pt, 7); Martin Delaney (6), Michael Cahill (1-0, 6), Jack Kennedy (0-9, 3x2pt, 3f, 7).
Subs: Andrew Ormond (6) for Doyle (17 inj); Jordan Moloney (6) for Burke (37); Jamie Ormond (6) for Fairbrother (45); James Corcoran (6) for Bourke (45).
Arravale Rovers: Evan Ryan (0-3, 1x2ptf, 1’ 45) 6); Tommy Lowry (6), Darren Lowry (6), Raymond Kelly (6); David Ryan (7), Johnny Ryan (0-1, 7), Eoin Doocey (6); Adam Ryan (0-1, 7), Mathew Moroney (6); Shane Maher (0-1, 6), Shane Leahy (0-1, 6), Niall Sharpe (6); Ciaran Kelly (0-4, 1f, 7), Orrin Jones (0-4, 2f, 7), Donough Leahy (6).
Subs: Johnny Lowry (6) for T Lowry (45); John Paul Lohan (NR) for Maher (57).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).