JK Brackens leave no doubt with emphatic league final performance to clinch trophy

Troy Marketing Mid Tipperary Junior Hurling League - Division One Final

JK Brackens  4-25

Moycarkey Borris     2-11

By Ronan Loughnane

A keenly anticipated contest never materialised at Pairc Shileain in Templemore on Friday night last as the home side dominated from start to finish. 

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A spare man at the back is the norm in hurling nowadays, irrespective of the grade, and Brackens were certainly far superior in this department as they completely outfoxed their opponents, leading to many scores of the soft variety. 

To Bracken's credit, they were on hand to punish when the chances arose. Despite the loss upfront of Darragh Doyle in the opening quarter, they continually pressed forward with Shane Scully initiating many attacks from deep. 

Stephen Cahill, Ned Delaney, and Joseph Bourke all in good scoring form in the opening half. A double green from Cahill and a third from team captain Martin Bergin had the deal done by the break as Brackens led by 3-13 to 1-6. 

No Moycarkey team talk or howling wind towards the town end was going to turn this one around but to be fair, the away side battled hard in the second period without ever threatening the Brackens' lead. 

The scoring ease continued with a stack of tap-over points on both sides; Brackens were once again smarter in finding the room. 

They were also that good bit tighter at the back, but if truth be told, they won’t have it this handy again for a long time. Shane Scully, Tommy Burke, Sean Walsh, Joe Bourke, Stephen Cahill, Ned Delaney, Martin Bergin, Cian Broderick, and substitute Ciaran O’Shea served them best on the night. 

A long evening for Moycarkey Borris, who no doubt will be back stronger and better and will put little mass into this defeat, no more than Brackens into victory. Rory Ryan, Pat Molloy, Rory Darmody, Diarmuid Maher, and Darren Flood served them best on the night.

JK Brackens: Darren Russell; Billy Collier, James Bergin, Tommy Burke; Jamie Bergin, James Corcoran (0-1), Tom Corcoran (0-1); Sean Walsh (0-2), Ned Delaney (0-2); Darragh Doyle, Stephen Cahill (2-2), Joe Bourke (0-11, 0-5f, 0-1 ‘65); Cian Broderick, Martin Bergin (1-0), Shane Scully.

Subs used: Shane Bourke (0-2) for Doyle (7, inj); Jack Marnell (0-1) for Ned Delaney (40); Tommy Brett for Martin Bergin (46); Ciaran O’Shea (1-3) for Cian Broderick (47); Tadhg Nolan for Collier (58).

Moycarkey Borris: Conor Hayes; Bill Maher, Rory Ryan, Sean Hayes; David O’Donnell, Pat Molloy (0-1), Kevin O’Regan; Rory Darmody (0-3), Killian Cantwell (0-2f); Joe Doran (0-1) Bill Flanagan, JJ Darmody; Diarmuid Maher (1-1f), Darren Flood (0-1), Mark Heffernan (1-1).

Subs used: Cillian Doran for JJ Darmody (40); Brendan Looby (0-1) for Cantwell (44,inj); Kevin Moran for Flanagan (50).

Referee: Martin Ryan (Moyne Templetuohy)