Late Walsh goal secures U19A Mid crown for strong JK Brackens team

Mid Tipperary U19A Football Championship Final

JK Brackens Óg 1-11

Durlas Na Sairsealaigh Óg 1-7

By Michael Dundon

Beaten finalists last year, JK Brackens Óg were emphatic winners of the Joe O'Sullivan Cab and Bus Hire Mid Tipp U19A football title last week as they proved far too strong for the holders Durlas Na Sairsealaigh Óg at Morris Park.

Last year’s final was a cracker and much of the same was hoped for this time but in the event, the Templemore boys were the more energetic, organised, and better equipped when it came to taking a score. 

The Thurles lads gave it everything but ran out of steam towards the finish, though it was not until Ned Walsh goaled minutes from the end that the Brackens were assured of their success.

It looked as though there was going to be a rout as Brackens raced into a 0-5 to no score lead after 20 minutes. Sarsfields had as much of the ball but Brackens were more clinical in front of goal, the Thurles lads too often coughing up possession through misplaced passes and soft turn-overs, without ever threatening to breach the Templemore lines.

Brian Quinn (2) Ned Walsh, Jamie Ormond, and Ned Delaney all scored for Brackens in that lively opening period before team captain Jock Fogarty finally opened Sarsfields’ account with a point after 22 minutes. 

Ned Walsh again pointed for the winners but Durlas-Na Sairsealaigh finished the half well with points from Ciaran Woodlock (free) and Jock Fogarty to trail 0-3 to 0-6 at the break and were still very much in the game.

Encouraged by their strong finish to the half, Thurles kept up the pressure on resuming, points from Jock Fogarty and Fiachra O’Gorman leaving them just one behind after nine minutes and poised to retain their title. The Brackens were made of sterner stuff however and responded like champions to the threat.

Brian Quinn steadied Templemore's nerves with a point after 43 minutes quickly followed by another from Ciaran O’Shea but Aidan Stakelum kept Durlas in the hunt with a point – 0-8 to 0-6 going into the last quarter.

It was still there for the Thurles lads to win but that final quarter belonged to Templemore who, with a double from Jamie Ormond and another from Ciaran O’Shea were five clear with eight minutes to play. Tommy Maher kept Thurles' hopes alive with a 56th-minute point but Ned Walsh put the issue beyond all doubt when he netted two minutes from time.

The merit of the Brackens win could not be disputed. They were the better side all the way and when the pressure came on them were able to raise their game to re-establish control. 

They were without their injured captain Mikey Delaney, a considerable loss, but had the greater range of options off the bench and on the form shown here will make a bold bid to lift the county title also.

Jamie Ormond, Ned Walsh, and Ciaran O'Shea were their stand-out players in attack but Brian Quinn, Michael Cahill, James Ryan, and Sean Collier also had big games for them.

Sarsfields were without Robbie Stapleton and Odhrain Donaghy of their regular line-out and they were missed but they could not be faulted for commitment.  

Unfortunately, their attacks broke down too often through handling errors or misplaced passes leaving them vulnerable to the Templemore counter-attack. The goal they needed never looked like coming and they can have no complaint about the outcome.

Jock Fogarty was their top performer with a solid hour’s work at midfield. Likewise Aidan Stakelum, Paul Noonan, Ciaran Woodlock, Daniel Rossiter, and Aidan Butler but overall they were outplayed by a slicker Templemore outfit.

JK Brackens Óg: Tom Bourke; Aidan Prout, Jamie Bergin, Shaun Jordan; Tom Corcoran, Sean Collier, James Ryan; Ned Delaney (0-1), Michael Cahill; Patrick Hickey, Jamie Ormond (0-3), Ned Walsh (1-2); Brian Quinn (0-3, 0-1f), Ciaran O’Shea (0-2, 0-1f), Sean Purcell. 

Subs used: Joe Bourke for Hickey (40); Bryan Bourke for Ryan (57); Eddie Corcoran for Corcoran (59).

Durlas Na Sairsealaigh Óg: David Purcell; Paul Noonan, Kieran Purcell (1-0), James Ayilaran; Alex Moloney, Tommy Maher (0-1), Conor Wall; Aidan Stakelum (0-1), Jock Fogarty (0-3); Emmett Ralph, Ciaran Woodlock (0-1f), Daniel Rossiter; Fiachra O’Gorman (0-1), Michael McCormack, Aidan Butler.

Subs used: James Woodlock for McCormack (52); Michael Keogh for J Ayilaran (55).

Referee:  Jonathan Cullen (Loughmore Castleiney)