Upperchurch domination too much for Brackens in one sided Mid 21A football final

Munster Construction U21A Mid Football Championship Final

Upperchurch Drombane 0-18

JK Brackens 1-4

Upperchurch Drombane’s fantastic year continued in Boherlahan on Saturday afternoon last when they easily saw off a tame JK Brackens challenge to claim their first title at this grade.

Brackens were hoping to add the U-21 crown to the Senior title they won earlier in the month, and even without the influential Conor Cadell, they would have fancied their chances of doing so.

They played with the aid of a healthy breeze in the opening half but despite this advantage, it was the Black and Amber boys who dominated from the off. Two early Luke Shanahan frees got them up and running before James Corcoran opened Brackens' account with a point from play in the 6th minute.

Midfielder Keith Ryan and centre back Pat Ryan kicked two good points for Upperchurch in the 7th and 8th minutes to stretch their lead.

Upperchurch’s direct running was causing serious problems for Brackens which led to numerous kickable frees for Shanahan.
He landed two more in the 10th and 15th minutes with Brian Quinn replying for Brackens with a good point from play in the 12th minute.

Both full forwards then traded points, Darragh Doyle for Brackens and Patrick Purcell for Upperchurch to leave the ‘Church 0-7 to 0-3 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

Brackens were in trouble by now, and but for a great save from goalie Tom Bourke, could have been even further behind. Scores dried up in the second quarter with Luke Shanahan’s 31st minute free ending a fifteen minute barren spell.

Darragh Doyle landed his second from play in the 34th minute before Jim O’Dwyer ended the first half scoring with a fine point from play.

Upperchurch were now in a commanding position as they turned to play with the breeze, five points to the good. Brackens needed to step up dramatically on their first half performance and some tough talking at half-time appeared to do the trick when Martin Bergin fisted to the net in the 3rd minute following excellent work by Tadgh Nolan.

Both sides were guilty of a number of bad misses before three Shanahan frees in the 11th, 13th and 16th minutes restored their half-time lead.

And when Ryan and Purcell both kicked their second points from play in the 18th and 19th minute the game was done. Ryan capped an excellent individual performance with his third from play in the 21st minute.

A feature of the Upperchurch performance was their quick transition from defence to attack which Brackens never coped with.
Shanahan’s 9th and 10th free came in the 22nd and 25th minutes before Jim O’Dwyer, just as he did in the first half, closed out the scoring with his second from play and sealed an excellent win for the ‘Church.

They have come a long way with the big ball in recent years and this bunch will be delighted to create their own piece of history.

They were dominant from the word go and apart from a few minutes early in the second half, never looked in trouble. Their defence was solid with captain AJ Shanahan and Pat Ryan to the fore. Keith Ryan had an excellent outing at midfield while forwards Luke Shanahan, Jim O’Dwyer and Patrick Purcell contributed 0-14 between them.

While Brackens will be very disappointed with their performance they can have no complaints with the result. Patrick Moloney, Tadhg Nolan and Darragh Doyle fared best for them on the day in a gallant but losing effort.

Upperchurch Drombane: James Griffin, Joe Bourke, Mikey Griffin, Patrick Bourke, AJ Shanahan (Capt.), Pat Ryan (0-3), Darragh Bourke, Keith Ryan (0-1), Tom Purcell, Paddy Phelan, Luke Shanahan (0-10f), Jim O’Dwyer (0-2), Oisin Treacy, Paddy Purcell (0-2), Sean Ryan.

Subs: Joey O’ Donoghue for Sean Ryan, Eoin Noonan for Paddy Purcell.

JK Brackens: Tom Bourke, Niall Moloney, Patrick Moloney, Ciaran Byrne, Luke Ormond, Stephen Cahill, Jack Nevin, Lorcan Roche, Diarmuid Delaney, Ned Walsh, James Corcoran (0-1), Tadhg Nolan, Martin Bergin (1-0), Darragh Doyle (0-2), Brian Quinn (0-1).

Subs: Mikey Delaney for Diarmuid Delaney, Joe Bourke for Brian Quinn, Sean Collier for Martin Bergin, Cian McDonnell for Ciaran Byrne, Ned Delaney for James Corcoran.

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy)