Sharp JK Brackens advance to knockout stages of senior hurling championship in Tipperary

JK Brackens 2-26   Clonoulty Rossmore 4-14

JK Brackens powered their way into the knockout stages of the FBD County Senior Hurling Championship when they blitzed Clonoulty Rossmore in this Round 2, Group 4 game at Borrisoleigh on Saturday.

Éanna McBride pointed after just thirty seconds and from there until the end they were never headed, and were fifteen points to the good at the three-quarter stage, 2-21 to 0-12.

Clonoulty staged a fourth quarter comeback, hitting three goals in a four-minute spell between the 19th and 23rd minutes, while also getting a fourth three minutes into added time.

Time and time again the Mid side opened up the Clonoulty defence with ease. Their link-up play and ball distribution was excellent throughout. They were sharper all over, especially to the breaking ball, which they moved at pace. They defended well for 45 minutes and took their scores with ease.

They controlled most of the lines, especially during the opening half when their half forwards were on top. In Lyndon Fairbrother they had a match-winner, as he gave a man of the match performance. He hit 2-10, which included 0-8 from placed balls. His two goals in the 19th and 22nd minutes of the opening period set them up for this victory. He was well assisted by the Ormonds, Andrew and Jamie, with Paddy and Conor Cadell also putting in big shifts.

Clonoulty played second fiddle for 45 minutes. Their forwards never really got into the game and failed to make inroads into the Brackens defence. The sharpness that was evident the last day out was clearly lacking. They were down by nine points at the break, the two second quarter goals being killer blows, and fifteen at the three-quarter stage. Their defence was taken apart at ease, with Brackens scoring at will.

The West men staged a fourth quarter comeback, led by Jack Ryan. He scored his first goal from a free on 49 minutes and followed up immediately with another from open play. Jimmy Maher then added a third when he got on the end of a sideline ball to bat home.

These lapses by Brackens were quickly remedied, as Fairbrother hit back with four points, as well as a sideline point from Shane Doyle. Jack Ryan crashed home another 20 metre free to complete his hat trick deep into added time but it was Brackens who prevailed and now go into round 3 knowing that a place in the knockout stages is already secured.

JK Brackens were quickly off the blocks and Éanna McBride fired over after just 35 seconds. Jamie Ormond put two between the sides before Nathan Slattery opened Clonoulty’s account. Luke Ormond set up Conor Cadell and Andrew Ormond then put three between the sides.

Clonoulty were off- target from a couple of placed balls and found it difficult to get to the pitch of the game, while Brackens were beginning to show a sharpness that allowed them to dictate the terms of engagement.

Cathal Bourke hit two minors either side of a Paddy Cadell point. The Mid men hit four of the next five points before Lyndon Fairbrother struck a double whammy.

Andrew Ormond picked up a breaking ball out on the sideline, cut in along the end line, drew a defender and found the unmarked Fairbrother, who crashed past Jason O’Dwyer from close-range. Stephen Ferncombe was on target from a placed ball but again Andrew Ormond turned provider following a high catch, feeding Fairbrother who crashed home goal number two.

These two goals were killer blows for the West team, who had been under pressure in defence prior to this. Brackens pushed on and were twelve points to the good as half-time approached, but Clonoulty finished the half with three good scores, a point from Danny Slattery and two from Ferncombe to put nine between the teams, JK Brackens 2-13, Clonoulty 0-10.

The West men needed a big start to the second half but it was the opposite that happened, as Andrew Ormond split the posts after thirty seconds. Stephen Ferncombe replied from a placed ball but Brackens hit seven of the next eight points, with Jamie Ormond putting over three from different angles. Fairbrother brought his tally to 2-6 and Michael Cahill came upfield for his second point.

Brackens were now fifteen to the good but Clonoulty came right back into the game. Jack Ryan crashed home a twenty metre free and followed up immediately with another from open play.

Mikey Ryan (Winnie) put over from close range but Fairbrother cancelled that from a placed ball.

Jimmy Maher got onto the end of a Stevie Quinn sideline cut to bat home a third major in four minutes, with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Shane Doyle steadied Brackens when he put over a sideline ball and Lyndon Fairbrother hit three points, two from placed balls as the game went into added time.

Jack Ryan had the final say when he completed his three-goal tally, finding the net from a twenty metre free.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy, Tom Murphy, Cathal Scully, Luke Ormond (captain), Ned Delaney, Paddy Cadell (0-2), Jordan Moloney, Éanna McBride (0-1), Dean McEnroe, Shane Doyle (0-2, 1 sideline), Andrew Ormond (0-4), Jamie Ormond (0-4), Conor Cadell (0-1), Lyndon Fairbrother (2-10, 8 frees), Michael Cahill (0-2).

Subs: Ned Walsh for Dean McEnroe (55), James Corcoran for Ned Delaney (58), Stephen Cahill for Jordan Moloney (60), Martin Delaney for Shane Doyle (61).

Clonoulty Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer, Tommy Ryan, Ronan Heffernan, Donnchadh Quirke, Sean O’Connor (0-1), Enda Heffernan, John O’Keeffe, Nathan Slattery (0-1), Danny Slattery (0-1), Cathal Bourke (0-3, 1 free), Stephen Ferncombe (0-5, 4 frees), Jack Ryan (3-0, 2-0 frees) Mikey Ryan (Winnie 0-1), Thomas Butler, Robert Doyle (0-1).

Subs: Jimmy Ryan (Con) for Donnchadh Quirke (26), Jimmy Maher (1-1) for Stephen Ferncombe (37), Stevie Quinn for Thomas Butler (48), Stephen Ferncombe for Danny Slattery (58).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).