Exciting contest sees JK Brackens clinch league final spot at the expense of Holycross

FBD Insurance County Hurling League - Division 1 semi-final

JK Brackens 3-24

Holycross Ballycahill 2-23

By Michael Dundon

Two JK Bracken's goals in two minutes on the stroke of half-time were critical to the Templemore boys' win over Hoycross-Ballycahill in a gripping FBD Insurance county senior hurling league Division 1 semi-final at The Ragg on Sunday morning.

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On a showery, breezy morning, the sides served up great entertainment, the prize for the winners being a final clash with Borris-Ileigh. 

Both sides were short players, with county senior and U20 hurling and senior football squad members ruled out, and while Holycross seemed the harder hit, with Cathal Barrett also injured, Templemore, without Conor Cadell and Andrew Ormond in particular, would be an even more formidable outfit at full strength.

Wind-assisted Holycross were the dominant force for most of the first half. Despite conceding a goal to Ned Walsh for Brackens after four minutes, a brace of goals from Mikey Nally in the 11th and 13th minutes helped them establish a 2-11 to 1-4 lead after 20 minutes.  

Darragh and Jamie Woods were in fine form for Holycross who were moving the ball about confidently and taking their scores well. Approaching half-time they led 2-14 to 1-5 but the shape of the game changed dramatically in the minutes before the break.

In the 29th minute, Lyndon Fairbrother latched on to the rebound of a Michael Cahill shot to fire home a Templemore goal, and a minute later, Shane Doyle had the ball in the Holycross net again. These goals gave a struggling Brackens a lifeline. Holycross were still 2-15 to 3-7 clear at half-time, but the deficit was now much more manageable for Brackens.

Any thoughts that Brackens would coast through the second half were quickly dispelled as Holycross dug in to protect their advantage. 

Scores were traded in a competitive third quarter, but Ned Walshe’s point for Brackens in the 49th minute finally levelled the game at 3-16 to 2-19. True to their tradition Holycross didn’t relent, but the ball was in JK Brackens’ court now and the game very much theirs to lose.

 A brace of Shane Doyle points and another from Lyndon Fairbrother had them ahead in the closing minutes, but Darragh Woods hauled Holycross back into the frame with a brace of his own as the clock ticked towards the hour mark. The possibility of extra time loomed, but in those tense closing minutes, the Templemore lads had momentum with them.

JK Brackens finished strongly. They had points from Shane Doyle (2), to which Darragh Woods again replied before further points from Shane Doyle and Ned Walsh sealed the issue in injury time.

Having been beaten in the football league final a week previously, this was an encouraging result for JK Brackens, who will be hoping to go one further against neighbours Borris, but again, much will depend on the availability of key players. In this game, the leadership of Paddy Cadell and Shane Doyle carried the team, but the contributions of Jordan Moloney, Ned Walsh, Stephen and Michael Cahill, and Lyndon Fairbrother also had a big say in the outcome.

 Brackens have been knocking on the door at this level for a few years now, and with some promising young players establishing themselves at the  senior level, the big breakthrough cannot be far off.

Though naturally disappointed to lose, Holycross-Ballycahill have to be pleased at how their younger squad members are developing and building on their underage successes. This was their second senior outing in four days, having lost to Loughmore Castleiney in the Cahill cup semi-final the previous Wednesday, and that possibly took its toll in the hectic closing stages. 

Once more, Darragh Woods was their main source of scores, with some delightful efforts from play and frees. Mikey Nally bagged two goals, and the efforts of Jamie Woods, Tiernan Ryan, Eoin Craddock, James Doyle, and Tadhg Gould were also worthy of note. Next up is the Mid championship, and Holycross have every reason for optimism as they fine-tune their preparations.

Scorers: JK Brackens: Shane Doyle (1-10, 0-6f), Lyndon Fairbrother (1-4), Ned Walsh (1-2), Paddy Cadell (0-3), Stephen Cahill (0-2), Michael Cahill, Sean Walsh, Tom Murphy all 0-1 each.

Holycross Ballycahill: Darragh Woods (0-10, 0-5f), Seanie Nally (2-0), Jamie Woods, Eoin Craddock all 0-4 each, Michael Doyle (0-3), Padraic Russell, James Doyle both 0-1 each.

JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy; Luke Ormond, Cathal Scully, Martin Delaney; Tom Murphy, Paddy Cadell, Sean Walsh; Eanna McBride, Jordan Moloney; Shane Doyle, Stephen Cahill, Lyndon Fairbrother; Ciaran O’Shea, Michael Cahill, Ned Walsh.

Subs used: Ned Delaney for M Delaney (44).

Holycross Ballycahill: Euan Bourke; Jack Ryan, Evan Morris, Seanie McGrath; Michael Doyle, Tadhg Gould, Liam Doyle;  Eoin Craddock, Jamie Woods; Paraic Russell, Tiarnan Ryan, Jimmy Lahart; Darragh Woods, James Doyle, Michael Nally.

Subs used: Tony Leahy for Ryan (40); Stevie Flanagan for Russell (40); Shane Ryan for L Doyle (53); Jack Dwan for M Doyle (55).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)

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