JK Brackens deservedly take out favourites Holycross in tense finale

FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

JK Brackens 2-23

Holycross Ballycahill 0-28

The bookmakers got it wrong. Hot favourites for the FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship, Holycross Ballycahill’s late surge was not enough to stop JK Brackens clinching a semi-final spot after a thriller at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

After knocking holders for the past two years Loughmore Castleiney out in the preliminary quarter-final, the Abbeysiders were most people’s fancy for the Dan Breen Cup, but JK Brackens rocked them with a top-drawer performance, and though they were hanging on by the skin of their teeth in a pulsating climax to a fine contest, they deserved their win.

Pre-match speculation ignored the fact that Brackens have twice thwarted Holycross Ballycahill in championship hurling in recent years, and have also been knocking on the door when silverware was being decided.

However, in the spacious Thurles arena, the Templemore lads had “the legs” and the quality to damage a Holycross outfit that may not have been fully recovered from their Loughmore win, physically and mentally.

It made for an absorbing encounter, with Brackens making the running most of the way. The sides shared ten points in a lively opening twelve minutes, but then Brackens went into overdrive, five points in as many minutes from Lyndon Fairbrother (3f), Andrew Ormond and Jamie Ormond sending them clear of their labouring opponents.

In the twenty-fourth minute, Jamie Ormond poached a Brackens goal for a 1-11 to 0-7 lead, but Holycross showed their quality with a powerful finish to the half.

Darragh Woods hit three points, Bryan O’Mara two, and Tiarnan Ryan another as they drew level, 0-14 to 1-11, at the break. That six-point sequence suggested that Holycross had shrugged off their earlier lethargy, and they had more reason to be happy at the interval than their rivals.

Things appeared to be going Holycross’ way when, with three points on the trot from Mikey Nally, Eoin Craddock and Tadhg Gould, they hit the front, 0-18 to 1-14, after forty minutes.

JK Brackens’ credentials were being seriously examined and, when the chips were down, they came up trumps. Dean McEnroe came on to make a big impact with two quick points, added to by Shane Doyle, but at the start of the last quarter they had a match-winning strike, Andrew Ormond setting up Lyndon Fairbrother for a goal and a 2-17 to 0-19 lead.

Holycross rallied, but a four-point run from the Ormonds, Lyndon Fairbrother and Ned Walsh sent Brackens seven points clear with six minutes left on the clock, 2-22 to 0-21. Brackens looked uncatchable. Darragh Woods and Dean McEnroe swapped points and then came a breathtaking rally from Holycross. In a nine-minute spell, Darragh Woods (2f), Robbie Ryan, Joe Caesar, Jimmy Lahart and Bryan O’Mara fired over points for Holycross to make it a one-point game after sixty-four minutes.

By now, Holycross had introduced Cathal Barrett, who did not start because of a hamstring injury, but time ran out for them, their season which promised so much coming to a disappointing conclusion.

However, for JK Brackens, who will meet Moycarkey Borris in the semi-final, it is onwards and upwards. They played their best hurling of the year and fully deserved their win, showing great resolve and tenacity in grinding out the result. They started without Tom Murphy, but he came on near the finish to shore up the defence when the pressure was on.

Lyndon Fairbrother was back after injury and his accuracy from frees was a huge asset to the team. Jamie Ormond was their top performer, but brother Andrew, the Cadells, Paddy and Conor, Ned Walsh and Dean McEnroe were others to contribute handsomely to this win. In this mood, Brackens will fear nobody, their clash with Mid rivals Moycarkey Borris a mouth-watering prospect.

A disappointing end to a campaign that promised much for Holycross Ballycahill, but they went out with colours flying, their finish to both halves reflecting the courage and quality in the team. Cathal Barrett’s absence was a setback, though the return of Jim Ryan softened the blow.

Bryan O’Mara, Evan Morris and Joe Caesar were strong in defence, with Tadhg Gould and Tiarnan Ryan working hard at midfield, but up front they were found wanting. Darragh Woods’ free-taking, as usual, was impeccable and Robbie Ryan was a constant threat, though tightly policed by Luke Ormond, but otherwise not much was offered.

However, overall, it was one of Holycross’ poorer displays in a year when so much was expected of them. JK Brackens seized the moment, but with football commitments this coming weekend, they will be anxious about the possibility of injuries and fatigue.

Scorers: JK Brackens: Lyndon Fairbrother (1-8, 0-7f), Jamie Ormond 1-4, Andrew Ormond, Dean McEnroe 0-3 each, Ned Walsh 0-2, Conor Cadell, James Corcoran, Shane Doyle all 0-1 each.

Holycross Ballycahill: Darragh Woods (0-12, 0-10f), Tiarnan Ryan, Eoin Craddock 0-3 each, Robbie Ryan, Bryan O’Mara, Tadhg Gould, Joe Caesar all 0-2 each, Mikey Nally, Jimmy Lahart 0-1 each.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy; Luke Ormond, Cathal Scully, Padraic O’Shea; Michael Cahill, Paddy Cadell, James Corcoran; Eanna McBride, Conor Cadell; Lyndon Fairbrother, Ned Delaney, Jamie Ormond; Ned Walsh, Andrew Ormond, Shane Doyle.

Subs used: Dean McEnroe for O’Shea (HT); Tom Murphy for Corcoran (56); Ciaran O’Shea for Doyle (57); Sean Walsh for Fairbrother (61).

Holycross Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke; Cathal O’Reilly, Jim Ryan, Evan Morris; Jack Ryan, Bryan O’Mara, Joe Caesar; Tadhg Gould, Tiarnan Ryan; Jamie Lee Dwan, Eoin Craddock, Ben Hennessy; Robbie Ryan, Mikey Nally, Darragh Woods.

Subs used: David Fogarty for Hennessy (42); Seanie McGrath for Jim Ryan (46); Cathal Barrett for Jack Ryan (54); Jimmy Lahart for Nally (54).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)