JK Brackens retain the U17A Mid title with narrow win over battling Upperchurch Drombane

Mid Tipperary U17A Football Championship Final

JK Brackens 1-12

Upperchurch Drombane 0-12

By Ronan Loughnane

Defending Mid and County champions JK Brackens were put to the pin of their collar in Littleton on Sunday afternoon last as a very game Upperchurch Drombane side pushed them all the way. 

Ultimately it was Padraic O’Shea’s first-half goal that proved decisive in a contest that was always close on the scoreboard.  

Upperchurch began brightly with an excellent point from full-forward Sean Griffin after 18 seconds but somewhat disappointingly retreated into defensive mode which prevented any flow to the game. Sean Burke opened Brackens' account with a point from play in the third minute with Tom Corcoran adding another in the eighth minute following a very patient build-up. 

An excellent point from Upperchurch captain Tomas Ryan brought the sides level in the 10th minute but Brackens hit back quickly with a point from Dayle Hogan before wing forward Padraic O’Shea buried the only goal of the game in the 12th minute following an excellent team move. 

The standard of point-taking on both sides was quite good with Philip O’Dwyer (U/D) and Cian Broderick (JKB) adding to that in the 14th minute with two lovely kicks from open play. The scoring dried up completely in the second quarter as the game hit a lull. 

Tom Corcoran extended Brackens' lead to five (1-5 to 0-3) in the 16th minute, their final score of the half, while Upperchurch had to wait until the 30th minute for their next flag, a white one thanks to another excellent point from O’Dwyer.

Brackens suffered a blow just before the break as they lost centre-back Jack Marnell to injury while O’Dwyer added a pointed free for Upperchurch in additional time to leave Brackens 1-5 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.

A game that had opened very brightly now needed a boost and Upperchurch certainly provided that on the restart. They started the second half the same as the first, a point after 18 seconds, this time from Tomas Ryan. 

Wing-back David Griffin added another a minute later before Sean Griffin levelled the tie with another from play in the 34th minute. Brackens briefly regained the lead through Billy Collier’s fine point but it was all the ‘Church now and the hit the front thanks to further points from Ryan and O’Dwyer in the 39th and 41st minutes to lead 0-10 to 1-6. 

But just as they did in the second quarter Upperchurch hit a scoring lull and Brackens rallied to play their best football when it mattered most. They levelled through the excellent Cian Broderick in the 44th minute, went ahead through Tom Corcoran a minute later before Dayle Hogan put them two up from a free in the 47th minute. 

Brackens received a blow in the 48th minute when midfielder Tommy Burke was black-carded but the Black and Amber failed to take advantage and by the time Burke returned their lead was out to five thanks to points from O’Shea, Collier and Sean Burke. 

Injury time points from substitute Shane Lee and Philip O’Dwyer closed the gap to a single score but time ran out for the ‘Church as Brackens held on for a deserved win. They will be happy with their final quarter response when it looked like the ‘Church would kick and in Cian Broderick, Tom Corcoran, Sean Burke, Kieran Martin, and Dan Coffey, they had their best performers. 

Upperchurch certainly played their part in a well-fought contest and one wonders what might have been had they been a little more adventurous with the wind behind them in the opening half. 

They had excellent displays from Tomas Ryan, Philip O’Dwyer, David Griffin, Sean Griffin, and Michael Quinlan and they should prove quite a handful in the county series.

JK Brackens: James Leahy; Kinnian O’Brien, Niall Delaney, Kieran Martin; Cian Broderick (0-2), Jack Marnell, Tom Corcoran (0-3, 0-2f); Tommy Burke, Dayle Hogan (0-2, 0-1f); Padraic O’Shea (1-1, 0-1f), Billy Collier (0-2, 0-1f), Jack Burke; Dan Coffey, Sean Burke (0-2), Joe Foy. 

Subs used: Sean Walsh for Marnell (25, inj); Cian Cahill for Jack Burke (60); JR Corpez for Foy (60). 

Upperchurch Drombane: Paddy Ryan; James Woodlock, Michael Quinlan, Paidi Ryan; David Griffin (0-1), Toby Corbett, Huey Purcell; Rian Treacy, Tomas Ryan (0-3); Jamesie Gildea, Philip O’Dwyer (0-3, 0-2f), Richard Ryan; Liam Ryan, Sean Griffin (0-4, 0-3f), Jack Harrington.

Subs used: Shane Lee (0-1) for Gildea (36); Paidi Harty for Harrington (58).

Referee: Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe Glengoole)