Commercials hit top gear to down JK Brackens late on and claim U19A county honours

FBD Insurance U19A Football Championship Final

Clonmel Commercials 2-17

JK Brackens 0-12

By Michael Dundon

After the disappointment in the county senior football final a week previously, Clonmel Commercials got a timely boost in the shape of a comfortable 11-point win over JK Brackens in the FBD Insurance county under 19 A football final at Holycross on Sunday last.

These sides are familiar with one another having come through under-age ranks together and there has seldom been much between them but on this occasion, Commercials, helped by goals in either half, were clearly the better side, although the winning margin flattered them.

Conditions were not conducive to quality football and both sides struggled at times with the greasy ball. Indeed, it was that which played a significant part in the Commercials' success as their goal three minutes before half-time came about when the football slipped from the grasp for J K Brackens goalie Cian Sheedy, to be gratefully scooped up and netted by Commercials’ Alex Creed.

That goal gave Commercials a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead and greatly damaged the JK Brackens performance which looked like giving them a narrow half-time advantage after a well-contested first half. Brackens spurned a great goal chance after 23 minutes too so that there was a two-goal tip in favour of Clonmel in a four-minute spell. In so finely balanced a hugely influential encounter.

J K Brackens have never won this title, despite being Mid champions on three occasions, and things appeared to be going well for them as they built up a 0-6 to 0-4 lead approaching the break. 

Jamie Ormond, Niall Delaney, and Ned Delaney were leading the way for them but Commercials, with Joe Higgins, Darragh O Connor, and Tadhg Sheehan to the fore, were giving as good as they got in what was a most entertaining clash.

James Power pulled a point back for Commercials after 25 minutes but two minutes later came disaster for Brackens as Alex Creed took full advantage of his good fortune to kick the goal to put Clonmel in the driving seat facing into the second half.

The Templemore lads came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half, points from Ned Delaney and Dayle Hogan bringing them level after three minutes. It looked as though they were going to push on but once more they were rattled by a Commercials goal, as a turn-over set up a Commercials counter-attack which was finished to the Brackens net with aplomb by Jack Lawlor two minutes later. Joe Higgins quickly added a Commercials point for a 2-6 to 0-8 lead.

A sickener for Brackens certainly, but they showed admirable spirit in their response, with points from Dayle Hogan and Ciaran O Shea rapidly cutting the deficit to two points. But from here to the finish, Commercials began to turn the screw and a struggling JK Brackens were under pressure to stay in contact. 

Darragh O’Connor, Joe Higgins, Niall Deely and Alex Creed began to exert a big influence as the Clonmel boys picked off their scores from a distance, outpointing their rivals nine-one in the last quarter to claim their second county title at this level since its introduction four years ago.

The Commercials club clearly have a lot of young talent on their books and while the disappointment of the senior loss may still be hanging around, this win will surely lift the gloom and augurs well for the future.

Importantly, their key men delivered when it mattered and with players of the calibre of Joe Higgins, Alex Creed, Darragh O Connor, Tadhg Sheehan, Nially Deely, and Thomas Charles on their game, they proved to be that bit too slick for their rivals, especially in the closing stages.

JK Brackens did not have the physical strength of their opponents but still matched them in many phases. The missed goal chance and the unfortunate handling error for the Clonmel goal were huge blows to their bid for a first county title at this level but they too will be heartened by the quality of the young players coming through. 

Jamie Ormond had a great first half linking defense and attack seamlessly. Niall and Ned Delaney and Tom Corcoran worked their socks off while Ciaran O Shea and Dayle Hogan also had their moments but overall they were beaten by a better team and can have no complaints about the outcome.

Clonmel Commercials: Harry Ryan; Matthew O Ceallaigh, Mark Corcoran, Alex McSharry; Thomas Charles, Tadhg Sheehan, Billy Tierney (0-1); Darragh O Connor (0-3, 0-1f), Michael Connellan; Niall Deely (0-4), Joe Higgins (0-3), Jamie O’Keeffe; Alex Creed (1-3), James Power (0-2), Jack Lawlor (1-0).

Subs used: Darragh Landers (0-1) for Connellan; Max O’Dwyer for McSharry; Cillian McNamara for Power; Cian McGrath for O Ceallaigh;

JK Brackens: Cian Sheedy; Tommy Burke, Jamie Bergin, Eddie Corcoran; Cian Broderick, Niall Delaney (0-1), Tom Corcoran; Ned Delaney (0-1), Dayle Hogan (0-2f); Michael Cahill, Ciaran O’Shea (0-4, 0-2f), Sean Purcell; Cormac Foy (0-3f), Jamie Ormond, Padraic O’Shea (0-1).

Subs used: Shaun Jordan for E Corcoran; Jack Marnell for Purcell; Kieran Maher for Broderick; Patrick Hickey for P O’Shea; Billy Collier for Foy;

Referee: Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe Glengoole)