Five-star Loughmore sweep Brackens aside to march into semi-finals

FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Loughmore Castleiney 5-13

JK Brackens 1-13

It’s an all too familiar story for JK Brackens. Once again they suffered severely at the hands of neighbours Loughmore Castleiney who, at Holycross on Sunday, hit them for five goals en route to as comfortable an FBD Insurance County Senior Football quarter-final victory as they could have imagined.

The notion that this Loughmore Castleiney might be nearing the end of their long run of glorious days was seen to be well wide of the mark as the champions of 2024 put their hurling defeat to bed with a display that was full of quality and energy, and one which will remind those left in the championship that the Mid boys are still a team to be reckoned with.

JK Brackens went into this game with thoughts of their county hurling semi-final this coming weekend in their minds. A few players were rested and Ned Walsh pulled out with a niggle during the warm-up, but even allowing for those upsets, the collapse that followed was devastating for the Templemore lads and one can only speculate what impact it will have on their hurling fortunes.

Three of the Loughmore goals were scored in the first quarter. Brian McGrath got the first after seven minutes. Liam McGrath shook off several tackles to bag the second two minutes later and John McGrath netted the third after twelve minutes. In between, Eanna McBride netted for Brackens after nine minutes as the goal fest unfolded.

Leading 3-1 to 1-2, Loughmore’s ability to prise open the Templemore rearguard suggested, even at this early stage, that there was going to be only one outcome. The game was being played on their terms and at half-time they led 3-6 to 1-6, were comfortably absorbing the best Brackens had to offer, but still had a way to go before their place in the semi-final draw was assured.

Loughmore missed two goal opportunities on resuming and a Dean McEnroe two-pointer and a Jack Kennedy free cut the deficit to three points inside five minutes. The Brackens resurgence was short-lived, however. A minute later, Liam McGrath used his body well to protect the ball and gain a yard before blasting home his side’s fourth goal for a 4-6 to 1-9 lead.

The possibility of a JK Brackens recovery was now very remote. Loughmore were coasting and enjoying themselves and a fifth goal came after forty-eight minutes when Joey Quinn careered through for a 5-9 to 1-11 advantage. The managers were using their benches at this stage, the semi-final spot well and truly decided.

Much has been said about the ability of this Loughmore Castleiney side to shrug off adversity and produce the goods when the chips are down. Considered vulnerable going into the game, they looked anything but, and none of their fellow semi-finalists will be anxious to draw them when the pairings are made. They slipped to Moyle Rovers in the first round but since then have gone about their business in a typically understated manner and they will now fancy their chances of county honours.

It was a game played throughout on Loughmore Castleiney terms. Their experience of competition at this level was clear to be seen in the manner in which they paced their game, but nine first-half wides and three bungled goal chances will give them food for thought in the run-up to the semi-final. Against stiffer opposition, they will be punished for such lapses.

Eoin O’Connell continues to go from strength to strength as an attacking defender. Darragh McCahey brought a lot of energy to the side. Liam McGrath’s scoring ability off left or right is a huge asset, while Tommy Maher, Joey Quinn and the McGrath influence show no sign of waning.

JK Brackens have always found their neighbours difficult to overturn and this engagement was no different. The absence of a few probables because of next week’s hurling semi-final didn’t help their situation but does not explain the defensive frailties which led to the concession of five goals and it could well have been more. It’s a performance Brackens will want to put behind them as quickly as possible.

However, they could not be faulted for effort. Paddy Cadell, Eanna McBride, Conor Cadell, Dean McEnroe and Lorcan Roche did all they could to further their ambitions. They were playing second fiddle in too many sectors, however, and were clearly rattled by the manner in which they coughed up the early goals.

Scorers: Loughmore Castleiney: Liam McGrath (2-3, 0-3f), Joey Quinn, Brian McGrath 1-2 each, John McGrath 1-0, Eoin O’Connell (0-3, 1x2pt), C Connolly 0-2, A McGrath 0-1.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy (0-6, 0-5f, 1x2ptf), Eanna McBride 1-0, Dean McEnroe (0-3, 1x2pt), Jordan Moloney 0-2, Jamie Ormond, Ned Delaney 0-1 each.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Eoin O’Connell, Willie Eviston; Tomas McGrath, Tommy Maher, Philip O’Connell; Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath; Eamon Connolly, Aidan McGrath, Darragh McCahey; John McGrath, Liam McGrath, Joey Quinn.

Subs used: Ciaran Connolly for E Connolly (36); Ed Meagher for Eviston (47); Ciaran McGrath for P O’Connell (50); John Ryan for Egan (51); Liam Treacy for A McGrath (55).

JK Brackens: Brian Roche; Michael Cahill, Tom Murphy, Jack Nevin; Ned Delaney, Cathal Scully, Eanna McBride; Lorcan Roche, Paddy Cadell; Jordan Moloney, Jack Kennedy, Conor Cadell; Jamie Ormond, Adian Bourke, Dean McEnroe.

Subs: Mikey Delaney for Ormond (HT); James Corcoran for Moloney (44); Cian Broderick for Bourke (52); Ned Walsh for Cahill (54).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris