Brackens brave elements to down Killenaule

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

JK Brackens 2-10

Killenaule 3-3

Report: Ronan Loughnane in Cashel

JK Brackens advanced to the last four of the County Senior Football Championship for the third time in five years with a reasonably comfortable victory over a disappointing Killenaule side on Sunday afternoon.

Their four-point winning margin might indicate a tighter battle, but Brackens were never in any real danger of coming unstuck.

There wasn’t sight nor sign of the Rock of Cashel as supporters made their way to Leahy Park with the driving rain making visibility very poor. Thankfully, it ceased just as Ardfinnan’s Derek O’Mahony got proceedings underway.

The southerly wind howled across the pitch towards the ancient city, with Killenaule kicking into the dressing room end in the opening half. It didn’t take them long to find their way to goal with Oisin Shelly finding the net after just 22 seconds following some sloppy defending to give the South boys a tonic start.

Brackens have plenty of experience in their team and they knuckled down to draw level by the seventh minute thanks to a Cathal Scully point from play and two Jack Kennedy frees.

Paddy Cadell, Lorcan Egan and Tom Murphy were showing great leadership and when the latter was pulled to the ground in the eighth minute, Brackens were awarded a penalty which Kennedy converted.

Killenaule had plenty of possession with Paudie Feehan and Paddy Codd to the fore, but their attack broke down on numerous occasions. Brackens showed more patience and Conor Cadell pointed in the twelfth minute with Kennedy adding another free four minutes later.

Kuba Beben saved well in the Brackens goal in the 20th minute before Killenaule finally got their first point, a free from Joe O’Dwyer in the 24th minute. Their second quickly followed thanks to a good kick from Luke Ryan before Brackens got the score of the day. A flowing move began in defence with Martin Delaney and involved several Brackens players before Cathal Scully finished to the net to leave them 2-5 to 1-2 ahead after 25 minutes.

Kennedy closed out the half with another pointed free following a foul on the hard-running Paddy Cadell.

Unfortunately, the respite from the rain was all too brief and the heavens opened at the beginning of the second act. Seven points in the conditions was a big lead, and this was Bracken’s game to lose. But they seemed to have a lapse in concentration after the re-start and were lucky not to concede a goal to Tom Stakelum in the 32nd minute. Killenaule won the kickout, found another gap in the Brackens defence and this time Luke Ryan made no mistake to grab their second major. And when Paddy Codd kicked an excellent point from distance in the 35th minute the lead was suddenly down to three.

The Robins tails were up but Brackens dug deep and as the weather worsened the value of a good free-taker was paramount. Jack Kennedy’s three-in-a-row were worth their weight in gold and when Conor Cadell landed another from play in the 49th minute their half-time lead was restored.

The match fizzled out thereafter with both Conor Cadell and Joe O’Dwyer sent to the line in separate incidents following second yellow cards, the weather more at fault than any malicious intent. Paudie Feehan converted a late penalty for Killenaule to close the gap to four, but time ran out and Brackens finished four point winners.

It was hard to be critical of any player on such an awful day and JK Brackens will be happy to advance to the semi-finals where they face Upperchurch/Drombane in a repeat of last year’s quarter final. Having lost to the Black and Amber in that one it makes for an exciting game the weekend after next.

Tom Murphy was outstanding throughout and was ably assisted by Lorcan Egan, Paddy Cadell, Jack Nevin, Adrian Bourke, Conor Cadell, and Jack Kennedy.

Killenaule will be disappointed with their performance as an attacking unit. They had lots of endeavour and hard work which gave them plenty of possession but far too often their raids into Bracken’s territory proved fruitless. Paddy Codd, Paudie Feehan, Joe O’Dwyer and Luke Ryan were best on the day.

Player of the Match: Tom Murphy (JK Brackens)

JK Brackens: Kuba Beben (6); Luke Ormond (6), Lorcan Egan (7), Martin Delaney (6); Stephen Cahill (5), Tom Murphy (8), Jack Nevin (7); Adrian Bourke (6), Paddy Cadell (7); Eanna McBride (6), Cathal Scully (1-1, 6), Conor Cadell (0-2, 6), Lyndon Fairbrother (5), Jack Kennedy (1-7, 6f, 1-0 pen) 7), Dean McEnroe (5).

Subs: Jordan Moloney (6) for Cahill (38); David O’Shea (6) for Bourke (43); Andrew Ormond (6) for McEnroe (48 inj); Shane Doyle (nr) for Scully (60).

Killenaule: Michael Fitzgerald (6); Finn Nolan (6), Jimmy Feehan (6), Jack Hassett (5); Ciaran O’Dwyer (6), Paddy Codd (0-1, 7), Killian O’Dwyer (6); Tom Stakelum (6), Cian Johnson (6); Oisin Shelly (1-0, 6), Paudie Feehan (1-0 pen 7), Joe O’Dwyer (0-1f, 6), Luke Ryan (1-1, 7), Dean O’Connor (5), David McCormack (5).

Subs: Padraig O’Dwyer (6) for Hassett (HT); Thomas Keaveney (6) for Shelly (37); Dara Fitzgerald (5) for O’Connor (44); Ronan Desmond (6) for McCormack (50); Daniel Guinan (NR) for Ryan (55).

Referee: David O’Mahony (Ardfinnan).