Goals prove crucial for JK Brackens in Tipperary County Senior Football Championship tie

JK Brackens 3-8 Moyle Rovers 0-12

Three second half goals sent JK Brackens on their way to a crucial win over Moyle Rovers in this FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship tie at Boherlahan on Saturday evening.

Rovers would have been many people’s favourites to take the points, due largely to some notable absentees in the JK Brackens line-up. But in a most entertaining game in which there was little between the sides, the Templemore boys got the green flags and that decided the issue.

Without Paddy Cadell, Eanna McBride and Lyndon Fairbrother in their starting line-up, Brackens looked vulnerable but the men chosen rose to the occasion in admirable fashion, and their efforts were boosted by the second half introduction of both McBride and Fairbrother, who were nursing injuries.

Their resolve was further tested as they lost Conor Cadell to a black card in the 58th minute when they had their backs to the wall under relentless Moyle Rovers pressure, as the Clonmel lads sought to make up ground lost. But with a two-goal cushion, Brackens had every incentive to soak up the pressure and this they did to record a win that gets their campaign off on the right foot.

The first half was a tight affair. Both sides defended in depth when the opposition had the ball and sought to break quickly once possession was turned over. It was very entertaining stuff as Rovers reached the interval with a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage, having spurned two very pointable chances from frees in the process. Luke Boland was the driving force for Rovers from the heart of their defence while the work of Jordan Moloney was eye-catching for Brackens.

The shape of the game changed dramatically in the third quarter. Rovers had increased their lead to 0-8 to 0-6 when Cathal Scully profited from a collision between two Rovers defenders to knock in a JK Brackens goal for a 1-6 to 0-8 lead after 40 minutes. Neil Quinlan quickly added a Brackens point and Scully was again the man in the right place to pounce when the ball came off the Rovers timberwork to shoot a goal after 46 minutes.

The advantage was very much with JK Brackens at this stage, leading 2-7 to 0-8, but Rovers weren’t giving up. Stephen Quirke pointed a free but in the 52nd minute the Clonmel lads were shattered when the ball broke nicely for Templemore’s Shane Doyle, who took his goal with aplomb.

With a six points lead (3-7 to 0-10) and time on their side the points were Brackens’ to lose but then they had Conor Cadell black-carded for hauling down Liam Boland as he bore down on goal. Boland pointed the free but on the break Jack Kennedy raised a white flag for Brackens. Jack Harney’s late point for Moyle Rovers was too little, too late to make a difference.

This was a big win for Brackens, who join Ballyporeen at the top of the table. The Templemore team has been struggling with injuries and absentees but their problems appear to be easing and the indications are that under manager Kevin Mulryan they will be a force to be reckoned with, particularly when the full squad is available.

Cathal Scully’s two goals tipped the scales in their favour but the work of Jordan Moloney, Neil Quinlan, Dean McEnroe, Conor Cadell and Stephen Cahill was what really secured the points for them in this finely balanced tie.

The defeat is a setback for Moyle Rovers, who are on most people’s shortlist to be in the shake-up for honours. They gave a very good account of themselves but needed more of a cutting edge in front of goal. This loss leaves them no room for mistakes in their upcoming games against Rockwell Rovers and Ballyporeen.

Luke Boland was a tower of strength at centre back, with Stephen Quirke and Liam Boland the dangermen in attack. Jack Harney, Luke Fogarty and Danny Owens also worked very hard.

JK Brackens: Kuba Beben; Luke Ormond, Tommy Murphy, Martin Delaney; Stephen Cahill, Neil Quinlan (0-1), Jordan Moloney; David O’Shea, Adrian Bourke; Dean McEnroe (0-2), Cathal Scully (2-1), Conor Cadell; Shane Doyle (1-1), Jack Kennedy (0-2, 1 free), Jack Nevin (0-1).

Subs: Lorcan Egan for O’Shea (40 mins), Eanna McBride for Nevin (46 mins), Lyndon Fairbrother for Scully (50 mins), Diarmuid Delaney for Bourke (57 mins), Jamie Bergin for M Delaney (60 mins).

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan; Jack Harney (0-2), Conor McGrath, Cian Crowe (0-1); Rory Collins, Luke Boland (0-1), Brian McKeown; Luke Fogarty, Danny Owens; Ben Owens, Stephen Quirke (0-2 frees), Dara Ryan (0-1); Shane Foley (0-1), Liam Boland (0-4, 3 frees), Dean English.

Subs: Diarmuid Foley for B Owens (45 mins), Killian Butler for Collins (51 mins), Aidan Foley for D Ryan (54 mins).

Referee: Sean Horan, Eire Og Annacarty.