Cadell influential as Brackens stay motoring

A strong first half showing against a stiff breeze laid the foundation for JK Brackens second win in the County Senior Football Championship as they saw off a determined Ardfinnan challenge on Sunday.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

JK Brackens 2-12

Ardfinnan 1-11

Report: Ronan Loughnane in Cashel

The South boys won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the wind, but the Brackens were well set defensively and turned them over on a number of occasions.

Dean McEnroe was in fine form, and he opened the scoring in the third minute with a point from play. Ardfinnan captain Michael Barlow fisted the equaliser in the sixth minute, but they squandered four excellent chances after that.

Paddy Cadell was very influential for the Brackens and time and again he burst through the Ardfinnan rearguard. He put them ahead with a point in the thirteenth minute before orchestrating the move that led to the opening goal from Dean McEnroe with Adrian Bourke heavily involved too.

Oisin Ryan finally landed Ardfinnan’s second point with a good kick on the quarter hour, and Barlow kicked a free a minute later, but another Cadell burst led to a free which Jack Kennedy converted in the eighteenth minute to leave Brackens 1-3 to 0-3 ahead.

Cian Sheedy made his senior debut in the Brackens goal in the opening round victory over Grangemockler/Ballyneale, and he added to his stock in the 20th minute with a fine stop from Shane Rya,n following a fast Ardfinnan move. Brackens broke from the rebound and Conor Cadell opened his account with a nice point.

A cracking run from Sean Nagle set up Billy Hewitt for an Ardfinnan point in the 23rd minute with Shane Ryan closing the gap to two in the 25th minute. The older Cadell got away again to land his second point in the 26th minute before corner-back Michael O’Sullivan blazed over a great Ardfinnan goal chance in the 30th minute.

Brackens landed two crucial points in first half injury time thanks to Shane Doyle, who was having a growing influence on the game to go in 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

JK Brackens were well fancied now as they turned to play with the breeze, but Ardfinnan opened the scoring with a fine point from Luke O’Brien. Dean McEnroe added his second point from play in the 35th minute before Conor Cadell wasted a glorious goal chance.

But Brackens would not be denied as they poured forward again in the 37th minute with McEnroe once again on the end of a flowing move for Brackens second goal and a seven-point lead.

Billy Hewitt pointed a free in the 38th minute before Brackens Jordan Moloney was black-carded in the 40th minute to give Ardfinnan hope. But they failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, landing only two points during his absence through Oisin Ryan and O’Brien to reduce the lead to four.

JK Brackens never really looked in danger, but the scoring had dried up and when Michael Barlow kicked a good point in the 52nd minute it was a one-score game.

Jack Kennedy had struggled on the frees but he responded in great style, kicking three great dead balls in four minutes to push Brackens six clear once more.

Gerry Cronin’s late goal grabbed Brackens attention before substitute Lyndon Fairbrother settled any late nerves with the insurance point.

JK Brackens certainly improved on their opening round showing against Grangemockler/Ballyneale and had excellent performances from Eanna McBride, Paddy Cadell, Dean McEnroe, and Shane Doyle. Cian Sheedy was solid in goals while Tom Murphy, Luke Ormond, Adrian Bourke, and Conor Cadell were always busy.

Ardfinnan brought plenty to the table and will rue those first half misses when playing with the elements. Luke O’Brien, Sean Nagle, Oisin Ryan, Billy Hewitt and Michael Barlow were best.

Player of the Match: Eanna McBride (JK Brackens)

JK Brackens: Cian Sheedy (6); Luke Ormond (6), Tom Murphy (7), Jamie Bergin (6); Stephen Cahill (6), Eanna McBride (8), Martin Delaney (6); Adrian Bourke (6), Paddy Cadell (0-2, 8); Dean McEnroe (2-2, 8), Cathal Scully (6), Conor Cadell (0-1, 6); Jordan Moloney (6), Jack Kennedy (0-5, 3f, 0-2 ’45) 6), Shane Doyle (0-2, 7).

Subs: James Corcoran (6) for P Cadell (40); Lyndon Fairbrother (0-1, 6) for Scully (51).

Ardfinnan: Cian O’Mahoney (6); Shane Keating (6), Jonathan Ryan (6), Michael O’Sullivan (0-1, 6); Aaron Lonergan (6), Colm O’Shaughnessy (6), Luke O’Brien (0-2, 7); Sean Nagle (7), Gerry Cronin (1-0, 6); Oisin Ryan (0-2f, 7), Billy Hewitt (0-2, 1f, 6), Jack O’Neill (6); Jason Coffey (6), Michael Barlow (0-3, 1f, 6), Shane Ryan (0-1, 6).

Subs: James O’Mahoney (6) for O’Sullivan (36), Andrew Browne for O Ryan (54); Darragh O’Brien (NR) for Keating (57); Mike Hogan (NR) for Coffey (60+1).

Referee: David Grogan (Aherlow).