JK Brackens finish the year in style with Mid Intermediate title win over Loughmore

AIB Thurles Mid Tipperary Intermediate Football Championship Final

JK Brackens 3-7

Loughmore Castleiney 0-11

JK Brackens rounded off a brilliant 2023 in footballing terms as they clinched the AIB Thurles Mid Intermediate Football Championship title as they outscored neighbours Loughmore Castleiney in Templemore last Saturday afternoon.

The hero on the day for Brackens came in the form of the remarkable Brian Quinn who made himself a hat-trick hero on the day, with smart finishes for all his goals as he finished the game with a big total of 3-1 in a fantastic personal performance.

The first half of the game was a tightly fought contest, with both sides keeping the bodies packed at the back early on, but Quinn's first of his three goals in the 16th minute was the big difference between the sides by half-time as the Templemore men led by 1-3 to 0-2.

Loughmore started the second half well and had the deficit back to two points by the 38th minute of the game, with the scoreboard reading 1-4 to 0-5, but a second Brian Quinn goal in the 42nd minute once again put daylight between the teams with the final quarter coming.

However, Loughmore were not going to wilt and they staged a brilliant fightback in the next ten minutes, led by Michael McGrath and by the 56th minute they had the game back to a single point at 2-6 to 0-11 with the game in the melting pot in Templemore.

JK Brackens though, found another burst of scores in the final seven or eight minutes with Brian Quinn completing his hat-trick late on to secure victory for the Templemore club and claim the Intermediate Mid Football title for 2023.

JK Brackens: James Farrelly; Tadhg Nolan, Jamie Bergin, Cian McDonnell; Eddie Bergin, David Ryan, Mikey Delaney (0-1); Tom Murphy, Ned Delaney (0-3); Martin Bergin (0-1), Jack Bergin, Ned Walsh (0-1); Jack Fogarty, Brian Quinn (3-1), Michael Cahill.

Subs used: Aidan Fogarty; Sean Collier; Dylan Moloney.

Loughmore Castleiney: Ciaran Breen; Jay Shorley, Henry Maher (0-1), Michael Connolly; Niall Molony, Denis Brereton, Padraic Hennessy; Loughlin Campion, Ciaran McCormack (0-2); Brian McGrath, Ciaran Connolly (0-1), Dara Nolan; Michael McGrath (0-5, 0-3f), Padraig Egan, Joseph Hayden.

Subs used: Peter Nyland (0-1); Johnny Campion (0-1).

Referee: Derek O'Mahony (Ardfinnan)