JK Brackens find their way past a stubborn challenge from Arravale Rovers

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 1

JK Brackens 2-13

Arravale Rovers 0-14

By Michael Dundon

No upset here as JK Brackens got their FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship group 3 campaign off to the best possible start with the expected win over Arravale Rovers at Cashel on Sunday.

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The Templemore boys have been knocking on the championship door for a few years now, always threatening, but always coming up short, and from what was seen here, they will again be in the shake-up when the business end of the championship is reached.

Jordan Moloney did not start because of an injury but was introduced in the second half. Andrew Ormond did not start either, but he got an early call-up when Shane Doyle picked up a nasty leg injury, and he could be a doubt for their upcoming hurling tie with Loughmore Castleiney next week.

A goal early in each half set up the win for Brackens. The first came after just three minutes when Stephen Cahill, who had a splendid game in defence, was in the right place in support of the attack to finish a fine Templemore move. 

Jack Kennedy’s free-taking was also significant, and he landed three two-pointers in the first half, at the end of which the winners were ahead 1-10 to 0-7 and looking good for the points.

Rovers’ Ciaran Kelly was their big threat up front with Orrin Jones ably supporting, but all around they needed to step up their effort if they were to rein in the Mid lads. Points from goalie Evan Ryan and Orrin Jones raised Rovers' hopes at the start of the second half but Jack Kennedy quickly dashed them with another two-pointer free for Brackens. 

In the 41st minute, Michael Cahill did very well to react promptly when a Jack Kennedy free-kick fell short and he wriggled his way through for JK Brackens’ second goal and a 2-12 to 0-9 lead that looked to put them beyond Arravale’s reach.

Rovers, however, actually enjoyed their best spell in the game over the next nine minutes as they clipped over an Evan Ryan two-point free, and white flags from Sean O Mahoney, Johnny Ryan, and Adam Ryan to be just four points behind with seven minutes to play. 

Their failure to convert several other scoring chances from play and long-range frees at this time marred their comeback, and it was Dean McEnroe who had the last say with a J K Bracken's point to secure a five-point win.

It's always a problem for the dual clubs protecting their dual players, and with a hurling clash against Loughmore Castleiney in a mouth-watering county championship game next weekend, JK Brackens management were taking no chances in their team selection. 

The injury to Shane Doyle will be a big concern for them this week, and they will be hoping his injury is not too serious. 

Their first half here was promising, but things were not as encouraging afterwards, and shortcomings there will need to be addressed. Stephen Cahill, Paddy Cadell, Eanna McBride, Dean McEnroe, Ned Delaney, and Jack Kennedy were their big men in ensuring that the job that needed to be done was done.

In this six-team group, Arravale Rovers will not find it easy to get through to the knock-out stages and could well find themselves in a relegation battle, particularly as three teams are being relegated from the senior grade this year. 

Particularly in need of attention is their work near the goal, with too many chances going astray, opportunities that cost them at the finish. David Ryan, Johnny Ryan, Mathew Moroney, Orrin Jones, and Ciaran Kelly were foremost in their efforts to win the points.

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Scorers: JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (0-9f), Dean McEnroe (0-3), Stephen Cahill, M Cahill (1-0 each); Ned Delaney (0-1).

Arravale Rovers: Ciaran Kelly (0-4, 0-2f), Evan Ryan (0-3f), Orrin Jones (0-3), Shane Leahy, Shane Maher, Johnny Ryan, Adam Ryan (0-1 each).

JK Brackens: Cian Sheedy; Luke Ormond, Ned Delaney, Tommy Burke; Stephen Cahill, Eanna McBride, Conor Cadell; Paddy Cadell, Adrian Bourke; Lyndon Fairbrother, Shane Doyle, Dean McEnroe; Martin Delaney, Michael Cahill, Jack Kennedy.

Subs used: Andrew Ormond for Doyle (17); Jordan Moloney for T Burke (37); Jamie Ormond for Fairbrother (45), James Corcoran for A Bourke (45).

Arravale Rovers: Evan Ryan; Tommy Lowry, Darren Lowry, Raymond Kelly; David Ryan, Johnny Ryan, Eoin Doocy; Adam Ryan, Mathew Moroney; Shane Maher, Shane Leahy, Niall Sharpe; Ciaran Kelly, Orrin Jones, Donough Leahy.

Subs used: Johnny Lowry for T Lowry (45); John Paul Lohan for S Maher (57).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)