Euan Murray brace sends Durlas Óg into another Mid U17 Hurling decider

Mid Tipperary U17A Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Durlas Óg 2-16

JK Brackens 1-14

By Michael Dundon

Two first-half goals by county minor star Euan Murray sent Durlas Óg on their way to the Stakelum Office Supplies Mid U17A hurling final against Holycross-Ballycahill as they saw off the challenge of JK Brackens at Castleiney on Monday evening.

It was a close affair when these sides met in the round-robin series. Not so this time as Durlas Óg had their spot in the final secured by the three-quarter stage at which time they led 2-15 to 0-9, but JK Brackens put in a strong finish and unfortunately for them, the goal they needed so badly did not come until well into injury time, too late for them to capitalise on it.

Though Cillian Minogue had the opening point for Durlas Og J K Brackens had the ball in the Thurles net in the third minute off Padraic O’Shea’s free but the effort was disallowed for an infringement of the square. In the 12th minute, Euan Murray was ”fed” by Eoinb Webb and made no mistake for a Durlas Óg goal and a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Durlas Óg had by far the greater attacking options with Murray, Cillian Minogue, Eoin Webb and Alex Coppinger a constant threat and they were 1-8 to 0-4 clear in injury time in the first half when Euan Murray worked his way through from the right corner to score his second goal, helping Durlas Og to a half-time lead of 2-9 to 0-4.

JK Brackens relied heavily on Padraic O’Shea’s free-taking but with Jack Marnell on a tight rein, their attacking options were limited. After Durlas Óg had points from Leelan Donoghue and Cillian Minogue on resuming, Padraic O Shea pointed three frees for Brackens, suggesting a revival was underway. However, Euan Murray(2) and Alex Coppinger's points for Durlas Óg kept the Thurles boys thirteen points clear and coasting.

The breeze was aiding Brackens in this half and they played their best hurling in the last quarter, five points without reply in a 13th-minute flourish cutting the deficit to seven points without seriously threatening to overtake their rivals. 

The goal they needed so badly ten minutes earlier finally came courtesy of Larry O’Brien in a goalmouth scramble, too late to make any significant difference as the final whistle followed immediately afterward.

The clash with Holycross Ballycahill in the final promises to be a thriller as these sides have dominated underage hurling in the division in recent years. Five of the Durlas Óg squad were in the Tipp All-Ireland minor winning panel, a huge plus as the club pursues trophies. 

Euan Murray, Cillian Minogue, and Kieran Rossiter excelled all through with Evan Nolan, Alex Coppinger, Eoin Webb, and Leelan Donoghue also very prominent but all around there did not appear to be a weak link in the side.

J K Brackens’ effort came too late. They had too much ground to make up in the second half and, valiantly though they tried, the game was beyond their reach at the three-quarter stage though their strong finish suggested that had they been as effective earlier on, then the result might have been different. Niall Delaney, Bill Collier, Tom Corcoran, Padraic O’Shea, and Sean Walsh led by example but their shortcomings in attack proved too much.

Durlas Óg: Jamie Stapleton; Andy Rossiter, Kieran Rossiter, James Lloyd; Bill Fogarty, Evan Nolan, Ronan O’Dwyer; Euan Murray (2-3), Keelan Dunne; Alex Coppinger (0-2), Cillian Minogue (0-6, 0-1f), Leelan Donoghue (0-1); Eoin Webb (0-4), Aaron Darmody, Darragh O’Dwyer. 

Subs used: Sean O Mahoney for Webb.

JK Brackens: Dayle Hogan; Jack Bourke, Billy Collier, Kieran Martin; Tommy Bourke, Niall Delaney (0-3, 0-2f), JR Corpez; Tom Corcoran, Sean Walsh (0-3); Sean Bourke (0-1), Ryan Loughnane, Padraic O’Shea (0-7f); Kinnian O’Brien, Cian Broderick, Jack Marnell. 

Subs used: Thomas Deegan for Corpez; Larry O’Brien (1-0) for Loughnane.

Referee: Tom McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)