Loughmore Castleiney make it double trouble for JK Brackens in football tie on Sunday

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 2

Loughmore Castleiney 3-9

JK Brackens 0-13

Champions Loughmore Castleiney are virtually guaranteed their spot in the quarter-finals following this five-point win over JK Brackens in the FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship, Group 3, Round 2 tie at Templetuohy on Sunday.

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With six teams in this group and four to go through, Loughmore Castleiney’s second win, following on from their defeat of Killenaule in the first round, sets them firmly on course for the knock-out stages. 

Next up is a clash with Moyle Rovers, like Loughmore-Castleiney, on the favourites shortlist, and also almost certain to qualify.

JK Brackens are finding it very hard to get a result against their near neighbours in either hurling or football. A week earlier, they suffered a drubbing in the hurling championship, but here they gave a much better account of themselves. 

Two goals conceded in seven minutes in the last quarter were their undoing in a contest that, while always interesting, will not be remembered as one of the great tussles between these teams.

A strong breeze blowing into the village end of the grounds greatly influenced the pattern of the game. JK Brackens had first use of it, but an interval lead of 0-10 to 1-3 always looked insufficient. 

Brackens were playing the better football in a cagey game and were helped by three two-pointers from Cathal Scully, Shane Doyle and Jack Kennedy, but the most important score of the half was Eamon Connolly’s goal for Loughmore Castleiney after 15 minutes in their first serious attack of the contest.

J K Brackens were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes and playing with purpose, but they coughed up possession in their own half and Loughmore punished them with a well-taken Eamon Connolly goal. That was the platform the champions needed to maintain their challenge as Liam McGrath pointed 3 frees for their first half tally of 1-3. 

Jack Kennedy scored four frees for Brackens, one of them a two-pointer, but three scores from play, albeit two of them two-pointers, were a poor return for the possession they enjoyed, and a four-point interval lead (0-10 to 1-3) left them in a precarious position given the conditions.

Loughmore Castleiney would not have been happy with their first half showing either, but with the wind to aid them, they were poised to succeed. 

Philip O’Connell blazed an early goal chance wide on resuming before Eoin O’Connell landed a two-pointer for them. They levelled on 44 minutes (2-5 to 0-11) when Philip O’Connell netted after sloppy defensive play by Brackens, and looked on course for a win when Liam McGrath landed a two-pointer almost immediately.

Brackens showed admirable character as they fought back for points by Jack Kennedy and Jack Nevin to be level again (0-13 to 2-7) after 50 minutes, but a minute later, Loughmore hit them for a third goal, Liam Treacy the scorer, and they never looked like being caught afterwards.

Eamon Connolly almost had a fourth goal but was denied by a fine Cian Sheedy save. John McGrath and Ciaran McGrath rounded off the scoring for the champions with points that put the game beyond JK Brackens’ reach.

The Loughmore charge continues, even if this was not one of their better performances. The result is what matters, and the champions’ second brace of points puts them in a very strong position as the business end of the defence of their title approaches.  

On a day when there were few star showings, the work of John Ryan, Eamon Connolly, Philip O’Connell, Noel McGrath and Ed Connolly helped get them over the line. An injury to Ciaran Connolly in the warm-up ruled him out and is a concern with their heavy schedules of games in both codes underway.

Brackens are still fancied to progress from this group, with Killenaule now on their radar after a win over Arravale Rovers in their first game. Paddy Cadell was the driving force for them all through, with most assistance coming from Ned Delaney, Stephen Cahill, Cathal Scully, and Conor Cadell.

Scorers: Loughmore Castleiney: Liam McGrath (0-5, 1x2pt, 0-3f), Eamon Connolly, Philip O’Connell, Liam Treacy 1-0 each, Eoin O’Connell (1x2pt), John McGrath (0-1f), Ciaran McGrath 0-1.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (0-7, 0-5f, 1x2ptf), Cathal Scully, Shane Doyle 1x2ptf each, Conor Cadell, Jack Nevin 0-1 each.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, Eoin O’Connell; John Ryan, Tomas McGrath, Tommy Maher; Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath; Conor Ryan, Eamon Connolly, Ed Connolly; Liam McGrath, John McGrath, Philip O’Connell.

Subs used: Ed Meagher for C Ryan (40); Liam Treacy for T McGrath (48), Ciaran McGrath for L McGrath (54).

JK Brackens: Cian Sheedy; Martin Delaney, Luke Ormond, Joran Moloney; Stephen Cahill, Ned Delaney, Conor Cadell; Paddy Cadell, Shane Doyle; Eanna McBride, Dean McEnroe, Andrew Ormond; Cathal Scully, Jack Kennedy, Michael Cahill.

Subs used: Jack Nevin for M Delaney (46); Jamie Ormond for Doyle (54); Lyndon Fairbrother for McEnroe (57).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)

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