JK Brackens' win consigns Rockwell Rovers to relegation play-off

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 4 - Round 3

JK Brackens 3-13

Rockwell Rovers 2-7

By Michael Dundon

A first-half blitz by J K Brackens on Rockwell Rovers saw the Templemore boys emerge tops of Group 4 after round 3 of the FBD Insurance county senior football championship at Holycross on Sunday, the nine points-winning margin accurately reflecting the Mid side’s superiority in a disappointingly one-sided game.

Having struggled throughout the summer with injuries, JK Brackens appear to be coming good at the right time and this display, albeit against an under-performing Rovers contingent, suggests they are finding the momentum that could carry them to silverware. They are not yet the finished product, but they are moving smartly in the right direction.

Rockwell Rovers on the other hand are now consigned to the relegation play-offs on scoring difference, having finished level on points with Ballyporeen and Moyle Rovers, who join Brackens in the quarter-finals, again on scoring difference. They have a lot of work to do to preserve their senior status.

The game was over as a contest at half-time. Brackens were 3-10 to 1-3 ahead and they could have had three more goals but for the woodwork twice and a timely block down by fullback Robert O’Donnell on Dean McEnroe.

Paddy Cadell, a driving force back in the side after injury, got the first goal after five minutes following up on a lightning break by his brother Conor to slot home for a 1-1 to 0-1 lead. Four minutes later Jack Kennedy tested the Rockwell netting after Dean McEnroe’s initial foray. And the same combination yielded the third Templemore goal just before half-time, giving the winners a 3-10 to 1-3 advantage at the break.

In the 15th minute, Dean McEnroe looked certain to net but for a timely block by Rovers’ Robert O’Donnell. In the 20th minute Conor Cadell saw a goal-bound effort strike the upright and trickled across the wrong side of the goal line and on the stroke of half-time Jack Kennedy was denied a goal by the woodwork as a rampant Brackens dominated.

Aidan Barron got the Rockwell goal after 22 minutes but their big concern at this stage was how the other game in the group was going with scoring differences likely to be a factor at the finish.

The stats will show that Rockwell won the second half 1-4 to 1-3 but the reality was they were never going to catch their rivals who availed of the situation to rest some of their squad who are in recovery mode after injury. Brackens were cruising at 3-13 to 1-6 when Alan Moloney netted a penalty for Rockwell after T J Ryan was fouled in the 52nd minute.

As it transpired the goal did nothing to lift them out of the relegation frame with Moyle Rovers recovering from two earlier defeats to edge through as runners-up in the group on scoring difference.

Brackens will be hoping that this recent surge in form will also benefit them in the hurling relegation games and on the form shown here they will certainly be in the shake-up in the football championship. When the game was in the balance, they were sharper, better organised, and devastated Rockwell on the break, the pace of Conor Cadell and Dean McEnroe exposing huge gaps in the Rovers' defence.

This win should work wonders for JK Brackens’ confidence. Jack Kennedy was an inspiring figure at full forward but Paddy Cadell, Conor Cadell, Dean McEnroe, and Tom Murphy all had huge games.

Rockwell have a fight on their hands to retain their senior status but they have enough quality at their disposal to come through. Alan Moloney and TJ Ryan were the main threat in attack with Tom Tobin putting in a solid hour at midfield. Robert O’Donnell and Liam Fahey did their best to stymie the Brackens attackers but for too much of the hour, Rockwell had their backs to the wall and at no time threatened to upset their fancied rivals.

JK Brackens: Kuba Beben; Luke Ormond, Tom Murphy, Martin Delaney; Stephen Cahill, Neil Quinlan (0-1), Jordan Moloney; Paddy Cadell (1-2), Adrian Bourke (0-1); Conor Cadell (0-1), Dean McEnroe (0-2), Eanna McBride; Lyndon Fairbrother, Jack Kennedy (2-5, 0-4 from play), Jack Nevin.

Subs used: Lorcan Egan for P Cadell (44); Shane Doyle (0-1) for McBride (46); Jamie Bergin for Delaney (54); Paddy Cadell for Murphy (57).

Rockwell Rovers: Eoghan Doyle; Liam Lonergan, Robert O’Donnell, Peter Heney; Kieran McGovern, Liam Fahey, Joe Lawrence; Tom Tobin, Aidan Barron (1-0); Kevin Cleary, Eoin Byrne (0-1), Luca Fitzgerald; Alan Moloney (1-3, pen,3fs), T J Ryan (0-2), Eoin Shine (0-1).

Subs used: Pat Halley for Shine (35); Paul Halley for Heney (44).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy)