Pulsating Mid final produces grandstand finish as JK Brackens bring home their second title

Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship Final

JK Brackens 1-22

Moycarkey Borris 2-18

By Michael Dundon

Two points in injury time saw JK Brackens over the line in an exciting final to a close but unspectacular Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final at Boherlahan on Sunday last. It was the Templemore lads’ second time winning the title and their first in three years.

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The decisive period for Brackens came in the last ten minutes as they out-pointed their rivals six points to two, but, in fairness, it should be pointed out that Moycarkey were playing their third game in a week, while Brackens had just two games. The extra game in such a short period looked to have taken its toll on the losers.

The well-prepared and stewarded Boherlahan venue was packed to capacity for this first-ever senior final clash between these sides, and while it was nip and tuck most of the way, it did not reach the heights in quality expected. 

That will not bother Brackens, who, for the most part, were doing “the chasing” and they will go forward with confidence to face Lorrha in the opening round of the county championship this coming weekend.

Moycarkey Borris will need a light week to recover from their hectic Mid campaign in advance of engaging Roscrea in the county opening round. 

Up to the final, their Mid form was impressive and, as they are in a team-building stage with many young players finding their feet at this level, this setback should not unduly rattle them, but should be taken in their stride as all part of the learning process.

It took Moycarkey just 25 seconds to open their account through Bill Flanagan, but Brackens then got moving to build up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after nine minutes. Jack Hayes was fed by David Costigan for a Moycarkey goal and the lead a minute later and as the two sides slugged it out, Moycarkey were ahead 1-6 to 0-8 in the twenty ninth minute when Rhys Shelly prevented a Ned Walsh effort going over the bar but Andrew Ormond was on hand to squeeze home a Brackens goal to lead 1-8 to 1-6.

Moycarkey finished well with points from Kieran Morris, Rory Darmody and David Costigan, to which Andrew Ormond responded for Brackens to leave the sides all square at the break, 1-9 each. 

An interesting first half certainly, but somewhat lacking in championship intensity, and both sides had scope for improvement at the break.

Two minutes into the second half, after Andrew Ormond had put Brackens into the lead, David Costigan bagged a Moycarkey goal, but by the 36th minute, they were again level. Three Kieran Morris pointed frees pushed Moycarkey clear, but Ned Delaney and Ned Walsh countered for Templemore as the game began to gather momentum. 

With 11 minutes to go, Moycarkey led 2-16 to 1-16, but now the efforts of the previous week began to take effect. Points from Shane Doyle, Andrew Ormond, and Eanna McBride levelled the game 1-19 to 2-16 with eight minutes to go. 

A further point from Shane Doyle nudged Brackens clear, but on the hour mark, Kieran Morris equalised. Every play was crucial now, and Lyndon Fairbrother, a non-starter because of injury, sent Brackens ahead in injury time only for Killian Cantwell to restore parity. 

With extra time looking likely, wingback Ned Delaney crowned a fine individual performance with a long-range point, his third of the day, which proved to be the winning score.

Understandable unbridled delight in the Brackens camp at this win. They won it the hard way, sticking to their game strategy all through, and then having “the bottle” to see it through under severe pressure. 

They had several nominees for man of the match, but Shane Doyle’s free-taking and his general play earned him the honour. County man Andrew Ormond was not far behind, nor was Ned Delaney, Jamie Ormond, or Eanna McBride, while Paddy Cadell’s defending in the latter stages and Cathal Scully’s earlier were also central to the Templemore win.

Chasing their first divisional success at this level since 1982, this defeat is a setback to Moycarkey, but no more than that. 

The part fatigue played in their loss cannot be underestimated, but they have the ideal opportunity to bounce back against Lorrha next week in the county championship, and this could yet be a big year for the club. 

The early injury to Peter Melbourne did not help their cause, and they also lost county panellist Kieran Cummins late on when the game was in the melting pot.

Kieran Morris’ free-taking was a key source of scores for them, ten in all, while Eoghan Hayes, Kevin Hayes, Kieran Cummins, Bill Flanagan and Max Hackett, when introduced, were others to figure prominently.

Scorers: JK Brackens: Shane Doyle (0-11, 0-7f, 0-1sl-cut), Andrew Ormond (1-3), Ned Delaney (0-3), Conor Cadell, Lyndon Fairbrother, Ned Walshe, Jamie Ormond, Eanna McBride (all 0-1 each).

Moycarkey Borris: Kieran Morris (0-10f), David Costigan (1-1), Jack Hayes (1-0), Kieran Cummins, Bill Flanagan (0-2 each), Rory Darmody, Jack Hayes, Killian Cantwell (all 0-1 each).

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy; Luke Ormond, Cathal Scully, Sean Walsh; Eanna McBride, Paddy Cadell, Ned Delaney; Conor Cadell, Jordan Moloney; Shane Doyle, James Corcoran, Jamie Ormond; Ned Walshe, Andrew Ormond, Stevie Cahill.

Subs used: Lyndon Fairbrother for S Cahill (40); Ciaran O’Shea for N Walsh (52).

Moycarkey Borris: Rhys Shelly; Kevin Hayes, Peter Melbourne, Tom Ryan; Tom Hayes, Eoghan Hayes, Kyle Shelly; Kieran Cummins, Rory Darmody; Joe Maher, Joe Egan, David Costigan; Jack Hayes, Kieran Morris, Bill Flanagan.

Subs used: Sean Hayes for Melbourne (20); Max Hackett for Maher (40); Jack Fallon for Darmody (44); Killian Cantwell for K Shelly (52); Niall Heffernan for Cummins (56).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)

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