Loughmore Castleiney claim first ever Premier Junior Football crown

FBD Insurance Premier Junior Football Championship Final

Loughmore Castleiney 1-11 

JK Brackens 1-9

By Michael Dundon

Loughmore Castleiney won its second county title in a week, defeating neighbours JK Brackens in a rousing F B D Insurance county Premier junior football final at The Ragg on Saturday last. 

They made their own piece of history by becoming the first winners of this new grade.

It was a cracking game that ebbed and flowed, with each side enjoying periods of superiority. While J K Brackens will rue a few missed chances that ultimately cost them the game, Loughmore were worthy champions, although under sustained pressure at the finish as the Templemore boys sought to get back on terms.

Unfortunately for Loughmore Castleiney, they will not represent Tipperary in the Munster club junior football championship confined to non-senior clubs. Nor would JK Brackens if they had won. Instead, Cashel King Cormacs, beaten semi-finalists, have that honour and have provincial championships in hurling and football to look forward to, their Premier intermediate hurlers having won the county title a week earlier.

Loughmore-Castleiney looked the better side from the start and were 0-2 to 0-1 up after 10 minutes but a Darragh Doyle goal for Brackens shot them ahead. Loughmore did not let that setback upset them and they hit the next four points, through Micheal McGrath (2), Martin O’Connell and Henry Maher to go 0-6 to 1-1 ahead after 24 minutes.

J K Brackens finished the half strongly however with points from Darragh Doyle, Ned Walsh and Eoin Fitzpatrick for a narrow 1-4 to 0-6 lead at half-time. As the scoreline suggested, there was not much between the sides, the little there was there tipping the scales in Loughmore’s favour.

A minute into the second half came a crucial decision as Ciaran O Shea’s fisted pass into the path of the inrushing Darragh Doyle went straight to the Loughmore net but, as per rule, was disallowed. Loughmore took full advantage and hit four unanswered points through Joey Quinn (2) and Cian Hennessy (2)  for a 0-10 to 1-4 lead after 42 minutes.

J K Brackens’ first score of the second half was a Martin Bergin point after 44 minutes, followed immediately by another from a Shane Scully free to cut the deficit to a point. Brackens were seriously on the move, but a great Loughmore move 3 minutes later ended with defender Mikey Ryan netting for Loughmore to put them firmly in the driving seat once more.

A red card for Ned Walsh was a setback for Brackens but they kept up the chase with two Shane Scully pointed frees. Then Loughmore’s Jay Shorley got his marching orders after 55 minutes. Shane Scully pointed another Brackens free after 57 minutes reducing the lead to the minimum with the fine attendance in full voice.

Brackens twice sent wide as they pressed for an equaliser and, with the game in injury time, and all the action in the Loughmore half, a break from defence saw Niall Molony send over a Loughmore point – enough to see them safely across the line.

It was a fine contest between great rivals and it could have gone either way but overall Loughmore Castleiney deserved to shade the verdict. The win promotes them to intermediate ranks next year and with some promising young players coming through, they should be comfortable in the grade. Ciaran McCormack, Cian Hennessy, Joey Quinn and Henry Maher showed their colleagues the way with Paul McCahey, and Micheal McGrath also to the fore.

JK Brackens will rue the chances missed that could have earned them the title. Darragh Doyle was their big threat in attack while James Ryan and Shane Scully also did well. Further back, Sean Purcell, Ned  Delaney and Tadhg Nolan did most to further their cause.

Loughmore Castleiney: Richard Maher; Johnny Campion, Jay Shorley, Paul McCormack; Henry Maher (0-1), Ciaran McCormack, Mikey Ryan (1-0); Paul McCahey, Ed Connolly; Niall Moloney (0-1), Conor McGrath (0-1), Michael McGrath (0-2f); Joey Quinn (0-2), Cian Hennessy (0-3, 0-2f), Martin O’Connell (0-1).

Subs used: Anthony Ryan; Padraic Hennessy; Diarmuid Meagher.

JK Brackens: Tom Bourke; Sean Collier, James Bergin, Tadhg Nolan; Sean Purcell, Ned Delaney, Lorcan Egan; Eoin Fitzpatrick (0-1), Ned Walsh (0-1); James Ryan, Shane Scully (0-5, 0-4f), Ciaran O’Shea; Brian Roche, Darragh Doyle (1-1), Joe Bourke.

Subs used: Martin Bergin (0-1); Aidan Prout; Eoin Kelly.

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)