Ormond brothers to the fore in Brackens win over Mullinahone

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

JK Brackens 3-23

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 0-26

Report: Michael Heverin

at Leahy Park, Cashel

Outstanding displays from brothers Jamie & Andrew Ormond propelled JK Brackens into the quarter finals with a final group game victory over CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday.

Jamie hit 2-6, 2-3 from play, and Andrew chipped in with seven as the Mid side’s attack proved hot to handle for the over-worked Mullinahone defence.

Brackens now march on in the race for the Dan Breen Cup as Mullinahone face a relegation battle.

There was initial confusion about the final score, and its implications for who would be involved in the relegation battle.

But what there were no doubts about was the quality of JK Brackens performance, following up on earlier wins against Nenagh Eire Og and Toomevara.

The Ormond brothers may have taken the scoring plaudits, but Paddy Cadell, Luke Ormond, and Michael Cahill were strong in defence; captain Conor Cadell impressed in the middle third, with Eanna McBride, Ned Walsh and Ned Delaney also chipping in with vital scores.

Battling for survival in senior ranks, Mullinahone started like a team on a mission, and led 0-4 to 0-3 after eleven minutes, with two points each from captain Micheál Dunne and Enda Keane to Brackens replies from Jamie Ormond, Paddy Cadell and Eanna McBride.

However, Jamie Ormond’s first goal in the 12th minute reflected a significant difference between the sides – Brackens’ clinical finishing for goals.

By the 15th minute, Brackens led 1-5 to 0-5 but then Mullinahone threatened a significant upset when they hit seven points without reply during a purple patch. Brackens kept in touch but the South side were having the better of exchanges and looked well in control when they led by six approaching half time. But that margin was halved before the interval when Jamie Ormond struck for his second goal.

It was an encouraging first half for the Kickham Country men, but they couldn’t shake off the Brackens challenge and the sides were level again by the 40th minute, 0-21 to 2-15 – the Mullinahone scores from Sam Rowan with two from play and two Dunne frees; the Brackens scores from Padraic O’Shea, Andrew Ormond (2), Ned Walsh, Eanna McBride, Jamie Ormond, and Paddy Cadell.

Then when a point from Andrew Ormond put Brackens ahead, they were never to trail again. A superb team score involving Conor Cadell and sub Dean McEnroe ended with a Ned Walsh point, and the side’s third goal from Eanna McBride midway through the half was a cruel blow for Mullinahone, making it 3-17 to 0-21.

But Mullinahone were not going to submit to a relegation battle without a fight, and two superb scores from Martin Kehoe, either side of points from Keane and Jack Shelly, brought it back to a one point game again, 3-17 to 0-25, with just under ten minutes to play.

But Brackens turned on the after-burners in those closing minutes to hit six points to a solitary Mullinahone reply. With three of those points, Andrew Ormond showed the class that set him apart as one of Tipperary’s outstanding performers on the way to last year’s All Ireland success, with brother Jamie pointing two frees and Ned Delaney adding the sixth, to a Mullinahone reply from a Micheál Dunne free.

Player of the Match: Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens)

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (7); Luke Ormond (7), Cathal Scully (8), Ciaran O’Shea (7); Michael Cahill (0-1, 7), Paddy Cadell (0-2, 8), James Corcoran (7); Eanna McBride (1-1, 8), Conor Cadell (8); Padraic O’Shea (0-1, 7), Ned Delaney (0-2, 8), Jamie Ormond (2-6, 0-3f, 9); Ned Walsh (0-2, 8), Andrew Ormond (0-7, 9), Shane Doyle (0-1, 7).

Subs: Dean McEnroe (7) for C O’Shea (38); Sean Walsh (7) for Corcoran (38).

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney (7); Daire O’Brien (7), Paul Curran (8), Eoin Treacy (7); Eoin Fennelly (7), Darragh Linnane (7), Martin Kehoe (0-5, 8); Colin Shelly (7), Sam Rowan (0-2, 8); Eanna Ryan (7), Sean Curran (0-1, 7), Enda Keane (0-5, 1x sideline, 8); Eoin O’Dwyer (6), Jack Shelly (0-2, 7), Micheál Dunne (0-11, 7f, 8).

Subs: Graham Horan (7) for O’Dwyer (13 inj), Darragh Walsh (7) for Horan (50), Matthew Direen (6) for Keane (56); Ned O’Meara (NR) for Fennelly (59).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Father Sheehy’s).