Impressive Ferbane ease through as Bracknagh warning signals prove well founded

WHEN news emerged during the week that two of their best defenders, Ciaran Donnelly and David Costello were gone abroad, we immediately feared the worse for Bracknagh and these doubts proved to be very well founded as Ferbane sent them packing in a very one sided Senior Football Championship quarter-final in Tullamore on Sunday.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Ferbane 3-15

Bracknagh 0-7

Donnelly, an Offaly senior and Costello had both been playing very well in the Bracknagh defence as they qualified for the quarter-finals and their departure for Dubai and Australia, respectively, put the writing very much on the wall for the underdogs.

The Bracknagh loss may have been cancelled out by the absence of two of Ferbane's top forwards, Cathal Flynn and Cian Johnson. In reality, however, Ferbane could afford their absentees, Bracknagh just couldn't and this result had an air of inevitability from the start.

Looking hungry, sharp and moving very well, Ferbane's safe passage to the semi-finals was secure by half time when they held a 1-10 to 0-1 half time lead. Ferbane may have had first use of a strong wind but their dominance was so complete, their football so superior that you just couldn't countenance any Bracknagh comeback.

Bracknagh actually scored the first point from Eoghan Geoghegan in the third minute but not only did they not score again in the first half, they didn't look like doing so either.

Ferbane played very well in the first half, and took some quality scores. The half back line of James and Shane Nally with Leon Fox in the middle, laid a powerful foundation as they cut out a lot of ball and drove forward impressively.

Jack Clancy had a great first half in the attack and Ferbane had six points and five wides on board by the 15th minute. Darragh Flynn got their goal in the 19th minute with Keith Keogh parrying his shot but unable to keep it out after Leon Fox made a powerful surge forward. Jack Clancy should have got a 22nd minute goal but Keogh saved well and Ferbane's half time lead was a more than sufficient cushion to book their semi-final place against Tullamore or Rhode.

Bracknagh's prospects did not improve when Cathal Flynn came on at half time and he teased and probed efficiently. It all meant that the second half was a dead rubber. Bracknagh's body language never suggested that they could rescue it and Ferbane, understandably, played within themselves, not doing much more.

There was very little of note in the second half and the fact that Bracknagh were not far away from scoring parity had a lot more to do with Ferbane easing off the throttle than anything they did. Ferbane won the second half by 2-5 to 0-6 with the goals coming from Jack Clancy in the 52nd and 62nd minutes – the first, a good finish after an interchange with Cathal Flynn and the second, a routine tap in after Ronan McGuire's shot as saved.

While much stiffer tests lie ahead, it was an impressive display by Ferbane and they look to have the best prospects of upsetting Rhode's and Tullamore's dominance in the championship while Bracknagh won't dwell too long on it. They couldn't win a championship no matter what they did and they achieved their season's aim of staying up in the top grade.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jack Clancy (Ferbane): Jack Clancy had an excellent game for Ferbane. He was at his best in the first half as Ferbane took a grip, firing over two points and running at Bracknagh at every opportunity while he continue to impress in the second half – he crowned his good work with a fine goal. James Nally, Leon Fox and Darragh Flynn also caught the eye for Ferbane – Flynn has done very well this year and is well worth a chance with new Offaly manager Declan Kelly.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane: Jack Clancy 2-3 (1 mark), Darragh Flynn 1-4 (1f and 1m), Joe Maher 0-3 (1f), James Nally 0-2, Shane Nally, Paddy Clancy and Ronan McGuire 0-1 each.

Bracknagh: Peter Cunningham 0-3 (1m), Eoghan Geoghegan, Conor Melia, Mikey Cunningham (f) and Josh Maher 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

FERBANE: David Dunican; Conor Butler, Ciaran Cahill, Patrick Taaffe; James Nally, Leon Fox, Shane Nally; Kevin Nugent, David Kelly; Paddy Clancy, Joe Maher, Jack Clancy; Conor Grennan, Ronan McGuire, Darragh Flynn. Subs – Cathal Flynn for Grennan (HT), Stephen Wren for Shane Nally (46m), Kieran McManus for Kelly (52m), Ronan Flynn for Flynn (52m), Jack Egan for Butler (54m).

BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; Darren Kelly, Fionn Dempsey, Tom Hyland; Anthony Cunningham, Colin Broderick, Sean Dempsey; Mark Dunne, Peter Cunningham; Eoghan Geoghegan, Joe Costello, Jason Dempsey; Conor Melia, Robin Galbraith, Mikey Cunningham. Subs – Josh Maher for Dunne (40m), Dillon Broderick for Kelly (40m).

Referee – Marius Stones (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones had a good game. He allowed play to run, perhaps a bit long on a couple of occasions, but he was consistent with this and was not a factor in the outcome.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

We knew from a few minutes in that Ferbane were going to win this but Darragh Flynn's 19th minute goal gave them a 1-6 to 0-1 lead and made it certain.

VENUE WATCH

It was a busy weekend for O'Connor Park with a bit of rainfall but the pitch was excellent.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ferbane play Tullamore or Rhode in the semi-finals.

STATISTICS:

Wides: Ferbane - (6 in first half); Bracknagh - (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ferbane – 0; Bracknagh – 3 (Fionn Dempsey, Robin Galbraith, Josh Maher); Ferbane – 0.

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.