Stalement sends Roscrea into relegation

 

JK Brackens 1-17

Roscrea 0-20

 

Report: Noel Cahill in Nenagh

 

Newly promoted JK Brackens retained their top flight status while Roscrea face the relegation play offs following a lack lustre stalemate on Saturday afternoon.

There really was little to shout about until the final quarter as both sides failed to reach the necessary heights to secure a win.

With 35 frees conceded over the hour, the game never ignited and a draw was probably the fairest result in the end.

The Cadell brothers, Shane Doyle, Andrew Ormond and Lyndon Fairbrother did most to help the Brackens cause while Alan Tynan, Luke Cashin, Darren O’Connor and Conor Sheedy were the pick of the Roscrea bunch

Roscrea were quickest out of the traps and led 0-3 to 0-1 within three minutes. Some quick thinking from Lyndon Fairbrother caught Ros napping in the fifth when he spurned the easy point from a 20m free crossing to the loose Andrew Ormond who smashed home the only goal of the game.

Roscrea responded well, however, and Darren O’Connor, Conor Sheedy and Aidan Booth edged their team in front by the 14^th minute.

A Lyndon Fairbrother free drew the sides level at the first water break 1-3 to 0-6 and Brackens picked up immediately on the resumption with Shane Doyle enjoying his best period scoring three points from play before the interval. In all Brackens added 0-6 to Roscrea’s 0-4 but two half decent goal chances in the 22^nd & 29^th minutes smothered by Russell could have left the scoreboard looking much different at the break.

Two Cashin frees and an Evan Fitzpatrick point had the sides level again by the 40^th minute and on four further occasions by the 50^th. Two massive frees from substitute Jason Fitzpatrick propelled Roscrea into a two point lead with eight minutes remaining and Daryl Ryan had to be quick to force Jordan Moloney’s shot out for a 65 tapped over by Fairbrother.

Lorcan Egan stormed out of defence to level proceedings with a smashing point on the run but less decisive action in the Brackens defence a minute later allowed Alan Tynan to capitalise with what looked to be the winning added time point.

This was not to be, however, and a somewhat debatable free gave Brackens the opportunity to level the game and Fairbrother duly obliged from halfway.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens).

JK Brackens: Darren Russell (7); Keith Kennedy (6), Michael Egan (6), Éanna McBride (6); Conor Cadell (7), Neil Quinlan (6), Adrian Bourke (6); Lorcan Egan (0-1, 6), Paddy Cadell (7); Dean McEnroe (6), Jordan Moloney (6), Shane Scully (6); Shane Doyle (0-3, 7), Andrew Ormond (1-3, 8), Lyndon Fairbrother (0-10, 9F, 1 65) 8).

Sub: Jack Fogarty (6) for Scully (45).

Roscrea: Daryl Ryan (7); Glenn Loughnane (6), Shane Davis (6) Brian Davis (6); Dan Ryan (6), Michael Campion (6), Darragh Tynan (6); Brian Davis (6); Darren O’Connor (0-2, 7) Aidan Booth (0-1, 6); Conor Sheedy (0-2, 7), Shane Fletcher (6), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-1, 6); Luke Cashin (0-9, 5f, 1 65) 7), Conor Booth (6), Alan Tynan (0-1, 7).

Subs: Keith McMahon (0-1, 6) for Campion (18), Luke Seacy (6) for O’Connor (43), Jason Fitzpatrick (0-2f, 6) for A Booth (45), Fearghus Hannon (NR) for C Booth (59).

Referee: Mark Jordan (Golden Kilfeacle).