Kilsheelan/Kilcash progress to the last four in Tipperary senior football championship

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-9 JK Brackens 0-7

Two first half goals laid the groundwork for Kilsheelan/Kilcash’s comfortable victory over an understrength JK Brackens in this FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Cashel on Sunday, a game that did not quite come up to expectations.

This game was deferred for 24 hours because of a sodden pitch following heavy rain, and while conditions underfoot were tacky, both sides did their best to play good football.

JK Brackens showed five changes from the team listed in the programme and were struggling from the start to impose themselves on proceedings, although they were aided by the fresh breeze.

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Kilsheelan were sharper and hungrier, surging forward in numbers from the start, and they punished JK Brackens’ early uncertainty when Jamie Roche netted a penalty after just two minutes following a foul on Shane Garland. It was the ideal start for the South lads whose movement, pace and teamwork was impressive.

The Templemore team responded to this setback with points from Paddy Cadell (two) and Jamie Ormond to restore parity after seven minutes. But they were still struggling to contain a Kilsheelan side that oozed with confidence and enjoyed more time on the ball.

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Brackens needed scores on the board but Kilsheelan dealt them a further killer blow on 22 minutes when Daire Brennan was on the end of a move that opened up the Templemore defence. Brackens goalie Shane Scully got his hands to the shot but failed to stop it from crossing the line, as Kilsheelan pushed 2-4 to 0-4 clear.

The sides swapped points before the interval but at half-time it was most definitely advantage Kilsheelan, two goals clear and with the elements to favour them in the second half.

JK Brackens were in trouble but to their credit they rose to the challenge and enjoyed more of the play than previously. They needed a goal to ignite their challenge but they never threatened Evan Comerford between the Kilsheelan posts.

At the end of the third quarter they were still two goals adrift, Jamie Roche and Tommy O’Connor pointing for Kilsheelan, with Jack Kennedy and Dean McEnroe replying for Brackens.

The last quarter was a rather scrappy affair, which threatened to get out of hand at times. Kilsheelan were defending their lead without being under undue pressure and they rounded off the day with a two-pointer free from Jamie Roche to send them through to the semi-finals.

The south team have every reason to be pleased with the result. Brackens have been knocking on the door at this level for a few years, as have Kilsheelan, but on this occasion Kilsheelan looked the better side and had the greater potential in attack.
They will have to up their game somewhat if they are to make further progress but they will take great encouragement from this win and will not fear any opposition.

Kilsheelan’s leaders stood out, particularly in the first half, with Daire Brennan a commanding figure in defence, ably assisted by Eoin Kehoe and Billy O’Connor. Mark Stokes and Billy Murphy controlled matters at midfield, while in attack Jamie Roche was the key figure, with Micheal Freaney and Tommy O’Connor also getting through a lot of work.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing campaign for JK, Brackens whose form dipped considerably after their defeat by Loughmore/Castleiney in the earlier rounds. For many of the squad, the Mid senior hurling title is an immense consolation but the manner in which their challenge for football honours petered out will be a concern looking to the future.

Paddy Cadell did more than anyone to get his side moving, with Jamie Ormond, Conor Cadell, Stephen Cahill and Cathal Scully also prominent. Overall, though, it was a below par performance, bringing the curtain down on a season that fell well below expectations. Successes at underage level this year will encourage optimism for the future.

Kilsheelan-Kilcash scorers: J Roche (1-0 penalty, 0-2ptf, 0-1) D Brennan (1-0), B O’Connor (0-2), M Freaney (0-2, 2pt), B Kehoe, S Garland (0-1 each).

JK Brackens scorers: P Cadell (0-3), J Ormond (0-2), D McEnroe (0-1), J Kennedy (0-1f).

Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Evan Comerford; Kian Quinn, Eoin Kehoe, Jason Madigan; Emmet Butler, Daire Brennan, Billy O’Connor; Mark Stokes, Billy Murphy; Tommy O’ Connor, Micheal Freaney, Shane Garland; Barry Kehoe, Jamie Roche, Senan Butler.
Subs: Conor Neville for E Butler (25 mins), Liam Freaney for B Kehoe (35 mins); Ru Kelly for Murphy (48 mins), Billy O’Gorman for Madigan (54 mins).

JK Brackens: Shane Scully; Luke Ormond, Jamie Bergin, Jordan Moloney; Stephen Cahill, Eanna McBride, Conor Cadell; Paddy Cadell, Martin Delaney; Jamie Ormond, Andrew Ormond, Jack Nevin; Cathal Scully, Dean McEnroe, Jack Kennedy.
Subs: Lyndon Fairbrother for Cahill (49 mins), Adrian Bourke for Moloney (54 mins), Michael Cahill for Andrew Ormond (55 mins), James Corcoran for Delaney (57 mins).

Referee: Seanie Peters, Aherlow.