Fethard reach Tipperary Under 19 A football championship final with convincing victory

Fethard 5-12 JK Brackens 1-13

Fethard set their stall out in the first quarter of Sunday’s FBD Insurance County Under 19 A Football Championship semi-final in Gortnahoe, scoring 2-4 to JK Brackens’ 0-2.

The Templemore team’s best quarter was the third, when they scored 0-4 to Fethard’s 0-3.

When Brackens needed goals the Fethard defence and goalie Jack Davey came to the rescue, restricting them to only four points in the opening half while Fethard had four goals before the interval to lead by 11 points.

On a lovely day for football and in a game played in front of a large attendance, supporters complained about the size of the pitch, while the main pitch at the venue remained unsued.

In the first six minutes Fethard sored 1-2, including a contribution from Matt Coen 0-2 (1 free) and the goal, a great result of attacking movement finished by the player who started it, Charlie Hackett.

Brackens responded with a point from play by Jamie Ormonde in the seventh minute.

Brian Quinn added a point from a free, with Fethard taking over to the end of the quarter, adding 1-2, thanks to Matt Coen with a point from a free, Mark Neville a point from play and again a goal from Liam Kiely, who started the counter attack from corner back, giving Tom Bourke no chance in the Brackens goal and leaving the score 2-4 to 0-2 at the end of 15 minutes.

That was followed by an exchange of points for Brackens from Ned Delaney, their best player on the day, and Conor Neville.

In the 21st minute Brackens added two points from play, the first from Brian Quinn and the second from Joe Bourke.

In the 24th minute Fethard were awarded a penalty, with Charlie Walsh making no mistake in scoring a goal. A minute later Brackens added a point from a mark by Ciaran O’Shea.

Fethard scored the best goal of the day four minutes before half time when Mark Neville fielded from a free by Charlie Walsh, and before the Brackens defence knew where the ball was he blasted to the back of the net.

Before the short whistle sounded Brackens had one attack that was blasted wide, leaving the score Fethard 4-5 JK Brackens 0-4 at the break.

On the resumption Brackens came out with all guns blazing. In the first five minutes they had two wides and two points, the first from Ned Delaney and the second a free by Brian Quinn.

Fethard scored the next two points, the first from play by Sean Moroney, the second a free from Matt Coen.

Brackens were fighting hard and bounced back with two points from the boot of Brian Quinn, the second from a free, before Fethard added a point from a free by Matt Coen.

In the 45th minute Brian Quinn missed a goal chance, with Jack Davey saving on the counter attack.

Fethard punished that miss with a great Sean Moroney goal, leaving them 5-9 to 0-10 ahead.

Missed chances was the story of the second half for Brackens, for whom Joe Bourke added a point before Jack Quinlan responded for Fethard.

With eight minutes remaining Brian Quinn’s goalward-bound shot hit the crossbar and went over for a point. Fethard immediately replied with a point from a free from Matt Coen.

Again in the 56th minute Jamie Ormonde’s goal-bound shot was deflected onto the crossbar and over for a point.

Brackens’ Brian Quinn added a point from a free in the 58th minute, with Fethard’s Matt Coen scoring the final point of the match from a free on the 30 metre mark.

Best for Fethard were Jack Davey, Liam Kiely, Dara O’Meara, Charlie Hackett, Andrew Connorton, Sean Moroney, Matt Coen, Charlie Walsh and Conor and Mark Neville.

Those who caught the eye for a gallant JK Brackens were Sean Collier, Ned Delaney, Mikey Delaney, Michael Cahill, Jamie Ormonde, Brian Quinn and Joe Bourke.

Fethard: Jack Davey, MJ Phelan, Dara O’Meara, Liam Kiely 1-0, Charlie Hackett 1-0, Gavin Neville, Noah Flynn, Jack Quinlan 0-1, Darragh Spillane (captain), Andrew Connorton 0-1, Sean Moroney 1-1, Matt Coen 0-7 (5 frees), Charlie Walsh 1-0, Conor Neville 0-1, Mark Neville 1-1.

Subs used: Michael O’Meara, Shane Lawrence, James Barry and Rory O’ Mahony.

JK Brackens: Tom Bourke, Aiden Prout, Jamie Bergin, Shaun Jordan, Ned Walsh, Sean Collier, James Ryan, Ned Delaney 0-2, Mikey Delaney (captain), Tom Corcoran, Michael Cahill, Jamie Ormonde 0-2, Brian Quinn 1-6 (4 frees), Ciaran O’ Shea 0-1, Joe Bourke 0-2.

Sub used: Jack Marnell.

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty).