Brackens exit in disappointing fashion to Kilsheelan

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-9

JK Brackens 0-7

Report: Michael Dundon at Leahy Park, Cashel

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jamie Roche (Kilsheelan/Kilcash).

SCORERS – Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Jamie Roche (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-2ptf); Daire Brennan 1-0; Billy O’Connor, Micheal Freaney (2pt) 0-2 each; Barry Kehoe, Shane Garland 0-1 each.

JK Brackens: Paddy Cadell 0-3; Jamie Ormond 0-2; Dean McEnroe, Jack Kennedy (free) 0-1 each.

A disappointing end to a disappointing campaign for JK Brackens as they bowed out of the County Senior Football Championship, shipping an eight point defeat by Kilsheelan/Kilcash in the quarter-final on Sunday.

Despite some absentees, Brackens went into this game with well-founded aspirations of securing a semi-final spot but a below par performance, particularly in the first half, cost them dearly and their exit from the championship race brings the curtain down on a season that promised much but which dipped in devastating fashion in the latter stages.

The Templemore team showed five changes from that listed on the official programme and they found themselves on the back-foot after only two minutes when Kilsheelan’s Shane Garland was grounded and Jamie Roche made no mistake with a green flag from the penalty.

For Kilsheelan it was the ideal start, particularly as they were facing a fresh breeze, and it took Brackens ten minutes to catch up, points from Paddy Cadell (2) and Jamie Ormond bringing them level.

Brackens needed to build a cushion for the second half but it was Kilsheelan who were the more threatening, points by Billy O’Connor, Shane Garland and a two pointer from Micheal Freaney putting them 1-4 to 0-3 clear by the end of the first quarter.

It wasn’t happening for Brackens and they were dealt another blow on 22 minutes when Daire Brennan’s pile-driver was parried by Shane Scully in the Templemore goal but somehow squirted across the line for a second Kilsheelan goal and at the break they led 2-5 to 0-5 and were on course for a semi-final spot.

A big effort was needed from JK Brackens to retrieve the situation in the second half and while they did much better after the break, they never really threatened to bridge the gap between the sides.

A Jack Kennedy pointed free after 34 minutes raised hopes but by the end of the third quarter they had made no progress, Kilsheelan still six points ahead, 2-7 to 0-7.

In the last quarter, knowing a goal was imperative to save their year, JK Brackens threw everything into attack but Kilsheelan stood firm, a two-pointer from Jamie Roche consolidating their position as the contest grew scrappy and developed a niggle which fortunately petered out as the final whistle neared with Kilsheelan comfortably progressing to the semi-final for the second in a row and are next in line to try and de-rail the Loughmore/Castleiney machine.

While pleased with the win, Kilsheelan/Kilcash will know that better will be required if further progress is to be made. That said, they did what they had to do to get the desired result.

Fringe challengers to the so-called big three in the county, this win will fire their ambitions and they will again look to the leadership of such as Daire Brennan, Eoin Kehoe, Mark Stokes, Micheal Freaney, Tommy O’Connor and particularly Jamie Roche to get them over the next hurdle.

JK Brackens form has dipped considerably in recent weeks and they were always struggling to get a foothold in the game after conceding the early goal. The second goal left them with a mountain to climb and without the necessary firepower to recover.

Paddy Cadell did trojan work for them as did Jamie Ormond, Conor Cadell, Stephen Cahill and Cathal Scully, but overall, it was a day and performance they will be anxious to forget.

TEAMS - Kilsheelan-Kilcash: Evan Comerford (6); Kian Quinn (6), Eoin Kehoe (7), Jason Madigan (6); Emmet Butler (6), Daire Brennan (7), Billy O’Connor (6); Mark Stokes (7), Billy Murphy (6); Tommy O’Connor (7), Micheal Freaney (7), Shane Garland (6); Barry Kehoe (6), Jamie Roche (8), Senan Butler (6).

Subs: Conor Neville (6) for E Butler (25 inj); Liam Freaney (6) for B Kehoe (35); Ru Kelly (6) for Murphy (48); Billy O’Gorman (6) for Madigan (54).

JK Brackens: Shane Scully (6); Luke Ormond (6), Jamie Bergin (6), Jordan Moloney (6); Stephen Cahill (7), Eanna McBride (6), Conor Cadell (7); Paddy Cadell (7), Martin Delaney (6); Jamie Ormond (7), Andrew Ormond (6), Jack Nevin (6); Cathal Scully (7), Dean McEnroe (6), Jack Kennedy (6).

Subs: Lyndon Fairbrother (6) for Cahill (49); Adrian Bourke (6) for Moloney (54); Michael Cahill (6) for A Ormond (55); James Corcoran (NR) for Delaney (57).

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).