1.
Hanafins Mid U13 Group 1 Final Despite the concession of two early goals J.K. Brackens recovered to easily dispose of a disappointing Boherlahan Dualla challenge. These two have had some great battles in recent years and much was anticipated of this clash. Brackens claimed the spoils in the round-robin series but with Boherlahan missing some key players that evening, this was predicted to be a real 50/50 clash. A beautifully prepared Kickham Park was blessed with glorious evening sunshine and the defending county champions Boherlahan got a dream start when first David Crosse and then Aidan Kennedy rattled the Brackens net to put them six up inside four minutes. Boherlahan could have been even further ahead only for some good Brackens defending, but Dylan Fennell’s seventh-minute point settled them. The impressive Ross Dorrity quickly followed with another before finding the net a minute later. Brackens had come to life and Danny McGuinness buried a penalty in the 10th minute. They swarmed all over the Boherlahan kick out and further points followed from Rory Ryan (2), McGuinness (2), Dorrity and Isaac Owens to leave Brackens 2-8 to 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes. Another McGuinness penalty coupled with a goal from Ryan left Brackens 4-9 to 2-0 ahead at the short whistle. In truth, there was no way back for Boherlahan but to their credit they battled gamely to the end. They are a fine side and worthy county champions from 2023 but this simply wasn’t their night. Brackens mopped all that was thrown at them with Dorrity and the ever-willing Eoin O’Connell adding further majors. Brackens will be delighted with how they coped with the early setback in an excellent team performance. While Dorrity, Ryan and McGuinness grabbed the scoring headlines they had strong performers all over the field with Shane Cahill, Luke Duggan, Robert Myles, Dara Naughton, Dylan Fennell, and Eoin O’Connell always to the fore. Boherlahan will be disappointed with their own performance, particularly after a flying start. Dara
2.
Mid West Oil Mid U13 Group 2 Final Holycross Ballycahill came out on top of a very well contested Group 2 Mid Football Championship Final against Moycarkey Borris last Wednesday Kickham Park, Thurles. In what was a great team effort overall from the boys in green, Christopher Mills was the standout player for the victors, while their team captain Mikey Carr did the honours by accepting the trophy after the game.
3.
Clancy Construction Mid U13 Group 3 Final Clonakenny were crowned Group 3 Mid U13 Football Champions after a terrific performance over JK Brackens in the final played last Thursday in the Ragg in front of a big crowd. Martin Murray gave a man-of-the-match performance in the win for Clonakenny who had plenty to spare over JK Brackens. Leading by just two points at the break Clonakenny let loose in the second half to sweep aside the JK Brackens challenge. Having comprehensively beaten Clonakenny in the round-robin game Brackens were favourites to land this one but the Black and Amber ripped up the form book to land the title. They started well with a goal from Martin Murray in the second minute but it was Brackens who dominated the next fifteen minutes and landed five points on the trot through Aaron Owens (2), Lee Loughnane, Paidi Noonan, and Barney Murphy. But the match turned on its head just before the break when Robert Smith landed a fine point before Murray sent Clonakenny in with their tails up when he grabbed his second goal on the stroke of half-time to leave them 2-1 to 0-5 ahead. Aaron Owens notched his third point within a minute of the restart to reduce the deficit to the minimum and when Smith was sent to the line a minute later for a second yellow it looked ominous for Clonakenny. But they dug deep and driven forward by Murray they found renewed energy when Vincent Maher goaled in the fifth minute. Two more from the impressive Thomas Franks and another two from Murray left them well clear with ten to go. Brackens battled gamely but their young team had no answer to the stronger Clonakenny boys. Substitute Sean Ryan added two goals of his own as the avalanche continued before Jake McGuinness grabbed a consolation for Brackens. There were great scenes of joy as Dylan Conroy lifted the cup while Murray claimed the man-of-the-match award. Vincent Maher, T.J. Breslin, Thomas Franks, Martin Murray, Joe Mortimer, and Sean Ryan all contributed handsomely to the win. Brackens can have no complaints