REPORTS: Mid U13 football finals throw up high standard contests

Hanafins Mid U13 Group 1 Final

Despite the concession of two early goals J.K. Brackens recovered to easily dispose of a disappointing Boherlahan Dualla challenge.

These two have had some great battles in recent years and much was anticipated of this clash. Brackens claimed the spoils in the round-robin series but with Boherlahan missing some key players that evening, this was predicted to be a real 50/50 clash.

A beautifully prepared Kickham Park was blessed with glorious evening sunshine and the defending county champions Boherlahan got a dream start when first David Crosse and then Aidan Kennedy rattled the Brackens net to put them six up inside four minutes.

Boherlahan could have been even further ahead only for some good Brackens defending, but Dylan Fennell’s seventh-minute point settled them. The impressive Ross Dorrity quickly followed with another before finding the net a minute later. Brackens had come to life and Danny McGuinness buried a penalty in the 10th minute.

They swarmed all over the Boherlahan kick out and further points followed from Rory Ryan (2), McGuinness (2), Dorrity and Isaac Owens to leave Brackens 2-8 to 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes. Another McGuinness penalty coupled with a goal from Ryan left Brackens 4-9 to 2-0 ahead at the short whistle.

In truth, there was no way back for Boherlahan but to their credit they battled gamely to the end. They are a fine side and worthy county champions from 2023 but this simply wasn’t their night. Brackens mopped all that was thrown at them with Dorrity and the ever-willing Eoin O’Connell adding further majors.

Brackens will be delighted with how they coped with the early setback in an excellent team performance. While Dorrity, Ryan and McGuinness grabbed the scoring headlines they had strong performers all over the field with Shane Cahill, Luke Duggan, Robert Myles, Dara Naughton, Dylan Fennell, and Eoin O’Connell always to the fore.

Boherlahan will be disappointed with their own performance, particularly after a flying start. Dara Crosse, Albert Maher, Aidan Kennedy, and Cian Fogarty fared best on the night.

JK Brackens: Daniel Mason; Luke Duggan, Makenzie Quinlan, Shane Cahill; Pierce Deegan, Dara Naughton, Robert Myles; Danny McGuinness (2-4, 2-0 pen, 0-2f), Dylan Fennell (0-3); Ross Dorrity (2-3), Rory Ryan (1-2, 0-1f), Eoin O’Connell (1-0); Issac Owens (0-1), Charlie Doyle (0-1), Karl O’Mara.

Boherlahan Dualla: Sam Bell; James Carthy, AJ Power, Ben Maher; Niall Quirke, Jamie Maher, Jack Maher; Albert Maher (0-1f), Cian Fogarty (0-1f); Dara Crosse (1-4, 0-3f), Dunnacha Harrington, Gearoid Horgan; Luke Keane, Tom Purcell, Aidan Kennedy (1-0).

Referee: Johnny Butler (Upperchurch Drombane)