JK Brackens on the road to retaining their title after defeating Commercials in U17 semi

County U17A Football Championship Semi-Final

JK Brackens 2-8

Clonmel Commercials 1-8

By Ronan Loughnane

Defending County champions J.K. Brackens are just one game away from retaining their title following a landmark win over Clonmel Commercials at Cloneen on Saturday afternoon. 

Without doing a detailed analysis of results since Brackens' formation in 1992, there’s a fair chance that Saturday’s victory may well have been the first time they knocked out the South boys in A competition. 

The venue too was a first for many Brackens supporters who were glad of Google Maps. Brackens played with a very strong wind advantage in the opening half but it was Commercials who opened the scoring in the second minute with a fine point from captain David McSweeney. 

Brackens had plenty of possession but were laborious in the build-up and had to wait until the 10th minute for their opening score, a fine free from 50 yards from Tom Corcoran. Killian Smith replied quickly to restore Commercials’ lead in the 11th minute before Dayle Hogan restored parity a minute later. 

The slow pace of play suited Commercials in the opening quarter but Brackens increased the pace in the second quarter and landed four unanswered points through Hogan (2), Billy Collier and another good free from Corcoran to lead 0-6 to 0-2 after 24 minutes. 

Considering the strength of the wind Brackens' lead needed to be greater but disaster struck in the 27th minute when Clonmel broke quickly and worked the ball to Finn Napier who finished coolly to James Leahy’s net. That proved to be the final score of the half and Commercials were now strong favourites to advance.

Although backed by the elements Commercials too struggled in their attacking play and wasted quite an amount of good ball. 

Scores were as rare as hen’s teeth in the 3rd quarter with Dara Maher tying up the game with a good kick in the 36th minute. Brackens Padraic O’Shea produced the score of the match in the 41st minute when his mazy run took him around five defenders for a fine point and Brackens were ahead once more. 

Harry Tobin and Tom Corcoran traded frees in the 46th and 50th minutes before the seminal moment arrived in the 53rd minute when Brackens Jack Marnell bore down on the Commercials goal. Patrick Keating’s attempt to stop him earned him a black card from referee Paul Guinan who also awarded Brackens a penalty which Dayle Hogan gleefully tucked away to put Brackens 1-8 to 1-4 ahead with seven minutes to go. 

Commercials threw caution to the wind and attacked strongly in the closing stages, landing points from Aaron Cagney and Henry Lawlor to cut the gap to two. But as they poured forward Brackens caught them with a lightning break which ended with Billy Collier landing their second goal in the 61st minute to put them 2-8 to 1-6 ahead with the egg-timer nearly done. 

Harry Tobin added two further points for Commercials in injury time to close the gap to a single score but it was Brackens’ day and a significant victory. Kinnian O’Brien, Niall Delaney, and Tom Corcoran were strong in defence, Dayle Hogan and Tommy Burke were always busy at midfield while Billy Collier and Padraic O’Shea were effective upfront. 

But overall their work ethic as a team was strong and they will need plenty more if they are to overcome Moyle Rovers in the final, a repeat of last year’s cracking U15 County final. 

Clonmel will be disappointed at wasting good possession in the third quarter when they were dominant but they can have no complaints as Brackens were more clinical when it mattered most. David McSweeney, Daniel Morris, Killian Smith, Harry Tobin, and Daniel Charles were best for them on the day. 

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

Subs used: Sean Burke for Loughnane (HT); Thomas Deegan for Foy (HT); JR Corpez for Coffey (58). 

Clonmel Commercials: Peter Carroll; Darragh O’Neill, Daniel Charles, Cian O’Mahoney; Cormac Brennan, Daniel Morris, Harry Lawlor (0-1); David McSweeney (0-1), Aidan Russell; Killian Smith (0-1), Finn Napier (1-0), Kevin Barry; Harry Tobin (0-3, 0-2f, 0-1’45), Aaron Cagney (0-1), Dara Maher (0-1).

Subs used: Dara Beckett for Maher (52). 

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule)