Loughmore Castleiney best rivals JK Brackens to claim semi-final spot

County Tipperary Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Loughmore Castleiney 2-12

JK Brackens 0-11

By Ronan Loughnane

Loughmore Castleiney advanced to the last four of the County Senior Football Championship with a hard-fought but well-deserved victory over neighbours JK Brackens in Templetuohy last Sunday afternoon. 

A lightning start proved key to their success as they hit Brackens for 1-2 in the opening four minutes and that five-point cushion protected them for the rest of the day. 

A fine crowd turned out for this much anticipated local derby which had plenty of action throughout. Liam and John McGrath pointed inside the opening minute. Loughmore piled huge pressure on the Brackens' kick out, and a turnover in the fourth minute led to Eamonn Connolly grabbing the opening goal. 

A driving run from Paddy Cadell saw him land Brackens' opening point in the fifth minute while Brackens had goalkeeper Cian Sheedy to thank in the seventh minute when he tipped over a stinging drive from Eoin O’Connell. 

Brackens were slowly gaining a foothold in the middle third and two points from full-forward Jack Kennedy in the 11th and 14th minutes closed the gap to a goal. 

The same player should have levelled a minute later when a great Brackens move created a great goal chance but his palmed effort was blocked by Shane Hennessy when a green flag seemed certain. Liam McGrath clipped over his second free in the 16th minute before Kennedy grabbed his third with a nice point from play a minute later to leave Loughmore 1-4 to 0-4 ahead after 20 minutes. 

The game ticked along at a nice pace and was a notch above some recent fare. Five points followed in the next five minutes, three for Loughmore courtesy of Liam McGrath (2f) and an excellent kick from John McGrath in reply to one apiece from Paddy Cadell and Kennedy (f). Jordan Moloney picked up a black card just before the break but Loughmore failed to capitalise on the scoreboard and led by four at the short whistle, 1-7 to 0-6.

Considering their slow start Brackens were reasonably happy at the break and if they could batten down the hatches until Moloney’s return they were in with a great shout. That they managed with Jamie Ormond and Noel McGrath exchanging early second half points. 

Then came the major flashpoint as Eamonn Connolly received a straight red following an altercation with Andrew Ormond. Moloney returned, the numerical advantage reversed, Brackens had the wind. Still, 21 minutes to left to play. In hindsight it was arguably the worst thing that happened Brackens as they became ragged thereafter as Loughmore upped the ante. 

John McGrath stretched the lead to five from a free but back came Brackens with points from Shane Doyle and a Kennedy free to close the gap to a goal, 1-9 to 0-9 after 47 minutes. But the crucial score arrived a minute later when an excellent move involving Philip O’Connell, Daragh McCahey and John McGrath led to Tommy Maher side-footing to an empty net. Jack Kennedy replied with an excellent point but another Liam McGrath free restored their six-point advantage. 

And when Cathal Scully saw red for an off-the-ball incident numerical parity was restored and Loughmore comfortably saw out the closing stages to advance to the last four. 

They will be well pleased with most aspects of their performance, particularly when down to 14, although their shooting was somewhat wayward at times. John McGrath was the best player on the field and he was ably assisted by John Ryan, Tommy Maher and Eoin O’Connell, while Liam McGrath struck his frees well. 

Brackens were in great position with 20 minutes to go but some of the fluency they displayed in the opening half deserted them after the break. They failed to stretch Loughmore when a man up and will be disappointed with their return on the short kick out. Paddy Cadell was their best player, while Jack Kennedy, Jamie Ormond and Andrew Ormond played well. 

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, John Ryan; Aidan McGrath, Tomas McGrath, Eoin O’Connell (0-1); Noel McGrath (0-1), Liam Treacy; Brian McGrath, Tommy Maher (1-0), Eamon Connolly (1-0); Liam McGrath (0-5, 0-4f), Ciaran McGrath, John McGrath (0-4, 0-1f).

Subs used: Daragh McCahey (0-1) for Aidan McGrath (41), Philip O’Connell for Treacy (47), Conor Ryan for Tomas McGrath (56), Ciaran Connolly for John McGrath (62).

JK Brackens:  Cian Sheedy; Luke Ormond, Jack Nevin, Martin Delaney; Eanna McBride, Tom Murphy, Jordan Moloney; Paddy Cadell (0-2), Adrian Bourke; Shane Doyle (0-1), Cathal Scully, Conor Cadell; Andrew Ormond, Jack Kennedy (0-7, 0-4f), Jamie Ormond (0-1).

Subs used: James Corcoran for Bourke (50); Michael Cahill for Moloney (50); Lyndon Fairbrother for Doyle (57); Stephen Cahill for Nevin (58). 

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)