JK Brackens battle past 14-man Upperchurch to claim county final date

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

JK Brackens 1-14

Upperchurch Drombane 1-13

By Michael Dundon

JK Brackens held on by the skin of their teeth against fourteen-man Upperchurch-Drombane in a thrilling  FBD Insurance county senior football semi-final at The Ragg on Saturday last to keep their hopes of a first title at this level alive.

The Templemore boys have beaten finalists four years ago and lost to Upperchurch-Drombane in last year’s quarter-final, and to heighten the rivalry between the clubs, they will meet again this coming week-end in the hurling relegation play-off. There is also the distinct possibility that their paths will cross when the deferred Mid senior football championship is played. There’ll be no need for introductions.

Both sides had injury problems for this game. Keith Ryan was a noticeable absentee for Upperchurch while Tom Murphy and Dean McEnroe could not make the starting line-up for JK Brackens. From start to finish, this was a cracker. 

JK Brackens settled the better and were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after 13 minutes. They also had two goal chances: Jack Kennedy was denied by James Griffin in the Upperchurch goal after five minutes, and Griffin defied Conor Cadell after 11 minutes.

Jack Kennedy(3) and Lyndon Fairbrother(2) were driving the J K Brackens challenge with the Shanahan’s Paul and Luke leading for The Church who got a great boost, somewhat against the run of play, when Aaron Ryan netted after 20 minutes to level 1-4 to 0-7. 

Four minutes later Brackens were back in charge, Cathal Scully confidently netting when Lyndon Fairbrother set up the chance.

Further misfortune for Upperchurch came in the 24th minute when AJ Shanahan was red-carded for a high challenge, Brackens quickly adding a brace of Jack Kennedy points for a 1-9 to 1-4 lead approaching the break. 

Upperchurch looked in trouble but found inspiration in adversity as they hit the last three points for the half through Jack Butler, Paul Shanahan, and Niall Grant to trail 1-7 to 1-9 at the break.

Not by any means an insurmountable deficit but, down a man, Upperchurch faced a huge challenge. And how well they responded to it. 

The extra man seemed to be no addition to Brackens as Upperchurch pressed them all the way in an absorbing second half. Brackens were 1-13 to 1-10 ahead after 50 minutes but points from Paul Shanahan and Conor Fahy had the gap down to the minimum after 57 minutes with a lot of the action in the Brackens half of the field. Shane Scully gave Brackens some breathing space with a 59th minute point but Paul Shanahan pointed for Upperchurch in the 62nd minute as they threw everything into attack.

Time was against them however and a relieved J K Brackens welcomed Derek Mahoney’s long whistle confirming their place in the county final – a deserved but hard-earned win.

The Templemore club has never won the county senior football title and will be outsiders in the final but they have been knocking on the door for a few years and have enough experience of big occasions to be comfortable in the decider. 

Their first-half showing here was good but they appeared to be less focussed after the break, possibly lulled into a false sense of security by having the extra man. They did show commendable character though in the manner in which they soaked up the Upperchurch pressure but they need to be more consistent over the hour if they are to claim the top prize.

Jack Kennedy has been enjoying a great campaign for them and was again their key performer, kicking a few sweet points as he chalked up 0-7. Jordan Moloney relished his attacking role while the Cadells, Neil Quinlan, and Steven Cahill were others to catch the eye. They hope to have a full deck to pick from for the final.

You had to feel sympathy for Upperchurch-Drombane who can only speculate as to how things would have gone if they had their full complement of players for the entire game. They could not have asked for more from their players who have little time now to refocus on the hurling relegation engagement. 

Keith Ryan was a big loss for them but Dean Carew, Gavin Ryan, Jack Butler,  the Shanahan brothers, and goalie James Griffin were relentless in their endeavours to tip the balance in their favour.

JK Brackens: Kuba Beben; Luke Ormond, Jack Nevin, Martin Delaney; Stephen Cahill, Lorcan Egan, Eanna McBride (0-1); Paddy Cadell, Adrian Bourke; Lyndon Fairbrother (0-2), Cathal Scully (1-0), Conor Cadell; Jordan Moloney (0-2), Jack Kennedy (0-7, 0-4f), Neil Quinlan (0-1).

Subs used: Andrew Ormond for Bourke (45); Shane Scully (0-1) for C  Scully (54); David O’Shea for Delaney (60).

Upperchurch Drombane: James Griffin; Mikey Lavery, Dean Carew (0-1), Colm Ryan; Diarmuid Grant, Gavin Ryan, AJ Shanahan; Ger Grant, Paul Shanahan (0-5, 0-4f); Aaron Ryan (1-0), Padraig Greene, Jack Butler (0-1); Luke Shanahan(0-4, 0-2f), Loughlin Ryan, Niall Grant (0-1).

Subs used: Mikey Griffin for L Ryan (35); Pat Ryan for Greene (35); Conor Fahy (0-1) for C Ryan (53); Paddy Phelan for D Grant (54).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)