Brackens hold on to reach first senior semi-final

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

JK Brackens 2-23

Holycross/Ballycahill 0-28

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens)

SCORERS – JK Brackens: Lyndon Fairbrother 1-8 (0-7 frees); Jamie Ormond 1-4; Andrew Ormond, Dean McEnroe 0-3 each; Ned Walsh 0-2; Conor Cadell, James Corcoran, Shane Doyle 0-1 each.

Holycross/Ballycahill: Darragh Woods 0-12 (10 frees); Tiarnan Ryan, Eoin Craddock 0-3 each; Robbie Ryan, Bryan O’Mara, Tadhg Gould, Joe Caesar 0-2 each; Mikey Nally, Jimmie Lahart 0-1 each.

A week after they toppled champions Loughmore/Castleiney in the preliminary quarter-final, Holycross/Ballycahill are themselves consigned to the exit door, an unfancied JK Brackens edging them out in a thrilling County Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final on Sunday.

Holycross looked the team to beat after their success over Loughmore and were promptly installed as favourites for the Dan Breen Cup, but JK Brackens have twice lowered their colours in championship hurling in recent years and made it a hat-trick of successes with their best display of the year to earn a semi-final spot for the first time in their history.

Bear in mind that Brackens are unbeaten in this championship and the confidence that run of success generates was clearly evident as they carried the fight to their more fancied opponents from the word go.

Holycross were without former county man and captain Cathal Barrett, his absence offset by the return of Jim Ryan who occupied the fullback position, while Brackens were happy to have Lyndon Fairbrother back in action after injury and what an addition he was with his accuracy from placed balls.

The opening twelve minutes saw the sides share ten points as the contest began to warm up. Then Brackens went on a five point unanswered spree, Fairbrother (3), Andrew & Jamie Ormond, the marksmen. Holycross hit back for three of their own from Darragh Woods (2) and Tiernan Ryan but Jamie Ormond’s goal after 24 minutes put his side 1-11 to 0-8 ahead and looking good.

Holycross responded in style. Six unanswered points in as many minute from Woods (3), Bryan O’Mara (2), and Tiernan Ryan drawing them level by the interval, 0-14 to 1-11, after an opening half that gave the gathering plenty to cheer about with the prospect of more to come to whet their appetites during the break.

And the fans were not disappointed. Eight points in the opening ten minutes of the second half, five to Holycross and three to Brackens, saw the Suir-siders go ahead for the first time (0-19 to 1-14).

Advantage Holycross it seemed, but Brackens’ response was of the first order. Sub Dean McEnroe made his presence felt with two points before Andrew Ormond set up Lyndon Fairbrother for Brackens’ second goal and a 2-17 to 0-19 lead after 46 minutes.

With five minutes of the hour left, Brackens were 2-23 to 0-22 ahead and looking winners all over. Holycross were by no means finished, however. In a pulsating closing period, they had points from Woods, Robbie Ryan, Jimmy Lahart, Joe Caesar, O’Mara and Woods again to be just one point adrift four minutes into added time.

Four minutes added time had been indicated and referee Alan Tierney got plenty of encouragement to call a halt from the Templemore following before he blew the final whistle to the delight of the JK Brackens supporters who poured on to the field to acclaim their heroes, leaving Holycross to ponder what might have been, their championship aspirations gone for another year.

This was a huge win for JK Brackens who have been going close in recent years without making the break-through. With a football assignment next weekend against Loughmore/Castleiney, they will be anxious to keep players fit and fresh ahead of their joust with Moycarkey/Borris so there is no time for self-congratulations.

They will draw great encouragement from this success and in particular the manner in which they responded when twice threatened by a Holycross stampede.

In this regard, their big players stood up and were counted. Jamie Ormond gave a man of the match performance; brother Andrew was not far behind. The Cadell brothers, Conor & Paddy, Lyndon Fairbrother, Ned Walsh, and Shane Doyle all contributed handsomely to this win.

Holycross/Ballycahill dismay was obvious and understandable at the finish. Perhaps the effort against Loughmore still lingered in the legs as they did not look as sharp physically or mentally as a week previously but they showed admirable spirit and real quality in the manner in which they strove to make up the ground lost.

Cathal Barrett’s absence did not help; his steadying influence badly missed in defence. Darragh Woods’ free-taking was a big factor in their game. Robbie Ryan was always a threat and Tiarnan Ryan and Eoin Craddock also did their bit. Bryan O’Mara was strong at the heart of the defence with Tadhg Gould and Evan Morris also having big games.

TEAMS - JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (6); Luke Ormond (7), Cathal Scully (6), Padraic O’Shea (6); Michael Cahill (6), Paddy Cadell (7), James Corcoran (6); Eanna McBride (6), Conor Cadell (Capt 7); Lyndon Fairbrother (7), Ned Delaney (6), Jamie Ormond (9); Ned Walsh (7), Andrew Ormond (7), Shane Doyle (6).

Subs: Dean McEnroe (7) for O’Shea (HT); Tom Murphy (6) for Corcoran (56); Ciaran O’Shea (6) for Doyle (57); Sean Walsh (NR) for Fairbrother (60+1).

Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (6); Cathal O’Reilly (6), Jim Ryan (6), Evan Morris (7); Jack Ryan (6), Bryan O’Mara (7), Joe Caesar (6); Tadhg Gould (7), Tiarnan Ryan (7); Jamie Lee Dwan (6), Eoin Craddock (7), Ben Hennessy (6); Robbie Ryan (7), Mikey Nally (6), Darragh Woods (7).

Subs: David Fogarty (6) for Hennessy (42); Seanie McGrath (6) for Jim Ryan (46); Cathal Barrett (Capt 6) for Jack Ryan (54), Jimmie Lahart (7) for Nally (54).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).