Andrew Ormond fires JK Brackens into the Mid final with late goal burst to sink Holycross

Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

JK Brackens 2-26

Holycross Ballycahill 1-26

JK Brackens qualified for their second Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship final in four years on Wednesday evening, finishing with class to finally put away a youthful Holycross Ballycahill team in The Ragg.

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Fresh after a stellar campaign with the Tipperary senior hurlers, Andrew Ormond proved to be the match winner for the Templemore club, hitting 2-1 in the final ten minutes for his side, including an injury-time finish that staved off a late Holycross comeback.

Overall, the Brackens were the better side throughout and had put in a fine first half display where they led 0-12 to 0-5 after 25 minutes, but Holycross rallied late in the half to notch four unanswered points with Darragh Woods, Eoin Craddock, and Tadhg Gould amongst the scorers with just three points between the sides at the break; 0-12 to 0-9.

Holycross were then well in the game in the third quarter as they reduced the gap to a single point at 0-19 to 0-18 by the 46th minute, but Brackens stretched out into a six-point lead in the following five minutes with Jamie Ormond, Jordan Moloney, and Éanna McBride pointing before Andrew Ormond finished his first goal in the 51st minute; the first time he escaped the clutches of Joe Caesar all game.

That had the town team ahead at 1-22 to 0-19 and with Holycross emptying the bench, they were in dire straits with the introduction of Bryan O’Mara early in the second half backfiring, as he was withdrawn within ten minutes.

However, the introduction of Jimmie Lahart reaped rewards five minutes from time when he finished superbly to the bottom corner from outside the 21, and that reduced the gap to four points with plenty of time to go.

Indeed, Holycross stayed plugging away at the lead with points and with Cathal Barrett, Eoin Craddock, and Darragh Woods all finding class scores; they had the game back to a single point in the second minute of the allotted three minutes of added time.

However, Andrew Ormond stepped up yet again with one of the last plays of the game, ghosting in behind the cover to finish expertly past Ewan Bourke and finally put the game out of Holycross Ballycahill’s reach.

The Templemore team will now go forward to Sunday’s final against Moycarkey Borris, where they will be looking to land just their second ever Mid Senior Hurling crown.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy; Luke Ormond (0-1), Cathal Scully (0-2), Sean Walsh (0-1); Éanna McBride (0-3), Paddy Cadell (0-1), Ned Delaney; Conor Cadell (0-2), Jordan Moloney (0-1); Shane Doyle (0-7, 0-3f, 0-1 65), Lyndon Fairbrother (0-1), Jamie Ormond (0-4); Michael Cahill, Andrew Ormond (2-2), Stevie Cahill.

Subs used: Ned Walsh (0-1) for M Cahill (34); Ciaran O’Shea for S Cahill (53); Martin Delaney for Moloney (61).

Holycross Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke; Cathal O’Reilly, Cathal Barrett (0-1), Jack Ryan; Evan Morris, Luke O’Mara (0-1), Liam Doyle (0-1); Joe Caesar (0-1), Tadhg Gould (0-2); Mikey Nally, Eoin Craddock (0-4), James Doyle; Tiarnan Ryan (0-2), Darragh Woods (0-10, 0-5f), Robbie Ryan (0-1).

Subs used: Bryan O’Mara (0-1) for J Doyle (37); David Fogarty for B O’Mara (47, inj);  Jimmie Lahart (1-1) for R Ryan (52); Paraic Russell (0-1) for J Ryan (53).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)

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