Slick Brackens thump exposed Templederry

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

JK Brackens 6-26

Templederry Kenyons 3-20

Report: Noel Dundon in Borrisoleigh

JK Brackens scored an emphatic victory over Templederry Kenyons in the first round of group 4 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday when their pace and scoring prowess was far superior.

The result was never in doubt from within five minutes as Brackens showed real flair, creating chance after chance, building from the defence with Paddy Cadell their main protagonist.

The Mid side were flying in the first half and they racked up the scores which such regularity that it was sometimes difficult to keep pace with their tallies. They were 0-5 to 0-3 in front thanks to scores from Lyndon Fairbrother (2), Jamie Ormonde (2) and Eanna McBride, when Fairbrother goalled in the ninth minute after a Paddy Cadell shot had been saved.

From this juncture, Brackens took over the game and they were to hit a further 1-11 in the half against 0-7 for Templederry who could not keep pace with the Mid men. Brackens second goal came in the nineteenth minute through Jamie Ormonde and a flurry of scores from Shane Doyle (2), Paddy Cadell, Michael Cahill and Lyndon Fairbrother left Brackens with a commanding 2-16 to 0-10 interval lead.

Templederry’s scoring had been steady, but not sufficient considering how much they were leaking, with Colm Murray, Padraic O’Leary, Mikey Ryan, Darragh Casey, Brian Stapleton and Liam McCutcheon all getting on the scoresheet.

But, they could not keep up with the free flowing machine from Templemore/Clonmore and the interval deficit did not deceive in terms of the distance between the sides. Templederry did manage two points immediately after resumption through Mikey Ryan and O’Leary, but a third Brackens goal from Michael Cahill rocked them back on their heels again. A boost though in the form of a Sean Ryan goal immediately was soon cancelled again by a flurry of Brackens points.

And, when Ned Walsh goaled in the 44th minute followed by Eanna McBride in the 53rd, there was little hope of a happy ending for Templederry. Indeed, their goal was to be breached again at the very end by Ned Walsh once more, and though they had a second Sean Ryan goal in the 53rd minute and a Brian Stapleton goal in the 55th, these were simply consolation scores and there was no way back for the Kenyons.

It was a sobering defeat for Templederry who were stoutly thumped and looked well off the pace. But, they can still pick themselves up and must put this game behind them quickly and ready themselves for the all-important second round.

By contrast, JK Brackens will relish the next challenge and having played so well, showed so much pace and creativity, and really driving home their skill right the way through, they have marked their credentials as championship contenders and will want to emphasise that with a follow-up performance.

Bringing consistency will be key for them and with the scoring power they possess – Eanna McBride, Jamie Ormonde, Shane Doyle, Ned Walsh, Michael Cahill and Lyndon Fairbrother, not to mention the absent Andrew Ormonde - they will be a force to be reckoned with if they can continue this blistering form.

Player of the Match: Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (7); Conor Cadell (8), Cathal Scully (7), Luke Ormonde (7); Ned Delaney (6), Paddy Cadell (0-1, 9), Jordon Moloney (8); Eanna McBride (1-4, 8), Dean McEnroe (7); Jamie Ormonde (1-5, 9), Shane Doyle (0-5, 9), Lyndon Fairbrother (1-9, 0-7f, 8); Ned Walsh (2-1, 8), Michael Cahill (1-1, 7), Stephen Cahill (7).

Subs: James Corcoran (7) for Walsh (50); Ned Walsh for Fairbrother (55).

Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon (8); Padraic Hogan (0-1, 6), Christy Coughlan (7), Dale Donnelly (6); Darragh Carey (0-1, 7), Brian Stapleton (1-2, 7), Tom Stapleton (6); Gearoid Ryan (0-2, 6), Liam McCutcheon (0-1, 6); Colm Murray (0-4, 3f, 6), Padriac O’Leary (0-2, 6), Eanna Murray (6); Paidi Ryan (6), Sean Ryan (2-5, 9), Mikey Ryan (0-2, 6).

Subs: Pio Kennedy (6) for P Ryan (HT); Conor Looby (6) for O’Leary (36); Sean Collins (NR) for M Ryan (57).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).