Brosna Gaels perform well to return to final as wasteful Edenderry rue missed chances

WITH their county star Donal Shirley listed as number 34 but not playing, Brosna Gaels did very well to return to the Junior Hurling Championship final for the third consecutive year and fourth since 2021 when they had a good win over Edenderry in an entertaining semi-final in O'Connor Park on Saturday.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Junior Hurling Championship semi-final

Brosna Gaels 2-17

Edenderry 0-13

Shirley is on his way back from a broken wrist, could well feature for Tubber in a big senior B football game next weekend and Brosna Gaels performed well in his absence. They were clearly the better side over the hour, notwithstanding a fifteen minute plus period in the second half when they really lost their way, almost allowing Edenderry back into a game that should have been a done deal.

Brosna Gaels, a hurling amalgamation of Ballycumber, Doon, Erin Rovers and Tubber, were very fortunate that Edenderry let them off the hook in this period, hitting some poor wides – 5 in a row in one concerted spell of all out pressure and eight in the closing quarter.

Edenderry also began to try to work goals a bit early and had they been more clinical, they could have made it very interesting late on. As it was, Brosna Gaels were able to survive with a degree of comfort, returning to familiar territory after losing the last two finals and aiming to return to the winners' enclosure that they occupied in 2021 when they meet Tullamore in a couple of weeks time.

Brosna Gaels led by 0-14 to 1-4 at half time and it was impossible to be certain at that stage that this was sufficient as the wind was significant.

They were clearly the better side for a lot of the first half with Eoin Murphy taking his frees well, including two huge long rang ones while midfielder Keith Lawler made a powerful contribution with four points from play.

Brosna Gaels led by 0-9 to 0-1 after 17 minutes and Edenderry were in severe peril of being beaten either. A soft 17^th minute goal kept them alive, Eoghan Kelly finishing after Brosna Gaels goalkeeper Jamie Rigney didn't deal with a Cillian Foran centre.

Foran was crucial for Edenderry in the first half, getting all four of their points, off limited possession. Edenderry did improve as the half wore on and with Brosna Gaels not keeping the momentum going, it meant it was all to play for in the second half.

It looked all over when Brosna Gaels broke through for two goals in the nine minutes after the restart. The first in the 33^rd minute was a great finish by Cormac Ryan after a super build up with subs Bernard Allen and Ciaran Murphy and the second arrived six minutes later, Ciaran Murphy applying an excellent finish after cutting through the Edenderry cover.

With a 2-15 to 1-5 lead, Brosna Gaels should have coasted home but instead they fell asleep, allowing Edenderry to dominate and barely able to break out of their half. They didn't score again until the 52^nd minute and by that stage, Edenderry had 1-13 on the board and were threatening a remarkable salvage act.

The losers' wide count also crept higher and higher and a goal could have inflicted fatal damage on Brosna Gaels. Instead, Edenderry ran out of steam and Brosna Gaels were able to get back on top late on. A 52^nd minute free from Eoin Murphy settled them and Gary Larkin added a fine point four minutes later.

That was the final score and Edenderry were beaten – the game was well beyond reach when their midfielder Cathal Nolan was sent off for a second yellow card in the 59^th minute after an incident with Seanie Farrell who picked up a yellow.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Foran (Edenderry): Keith Lawler had a magnificent first half for Brosna Gaels while Eoin Murphy's accuracy from frees and play was instrumental in their win with Seanie Farrell lively in their attack. Brosna Gaels played very well as a team but on this occasion, the selection is a member of the losing side, Edenderry forward Cillian Foran.

An Offaly U20 footballer this year, Foran will feature in next weekend's Senior Football Championship semi-final and he had a serious display for a member of the losing side. He scored six points, four of them quality scores into the wind in the first half. He added two in the second half and was very much the main reason that Edenderry made it interesting.

THE SCORERS

Brosna Gaels: Eoin Murphy 0-9 (7f), Keith Lawler 0-4, Ciaran Murphy 1-0, Seanie Farrell 0-2, Sean Og Foley and Gary Larkin 0-1 each.

Edenderry: Cillian Foran 0-6, Cathal Nolan 0-3 (3f), Eoghan Kelly 1-0, Alan Harte 0-2, Denis Murphy and Cian Farrell 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BROSNA GAELS: Jamie Rigney; Ciaran Allen, Sean Hackett, James Langan; Lee Colgan, Ger Buckley, Sean Og Foley; Declan Buckley, Keith Lawler; Oisin Carroll, Cormac Ryan, Gary Larkin; Eoin Murphy, John Egan, Seanie Farrell. Subs – Bernard Allen for Egan (28m), Ciaran Murphy for Carroll (HT),

EDENDERRY: Oisin O'Grady; Mark McCarthy, Lorcan O'Dwyer, Ciaran Breen; Shane Cummins, Eoin Dunne, Leslie Nolan; Callum Dunne, Cathal Nolan; Cillian Foran, Alan Harte, Dylan Foy; Cathal Nolan, Eoghan Kelly, Adam Boyne. Subs – Cian Farrell for Foy (18m), Conor McCarthy for Boyne (HT),

Referee – Steven Connolly, Kilcormac-Killoughey.

REFEREE WATCH

It was great to see Steven Connolly a semi-final like this. He has been a fiercely dedicated, reliable asset for Offaly GAA in recent years, cropping up on the line all over the county, and the Kilcormac-Killoughey man handled this very well.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ciaran Murphy's 39^th minute goal gave Brosna Gaels a 2-15 to 1-6 lead and a huge cushion.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch looked really well with shining white lines.

WHAT'S NEXT

Brosna Gaels go into the final against Tullamore.

STATISTICS

Wides: Brosna Gaels -5 (3 in first half); Edenderry – 13 (3 in first half).
Yellow cards: Edenderry – 3 (Adam Boyne, Cathal Nolan 2); Brosna Gaels – 2 (Declan Buckley, Seanie Farrell).

Red cards: Edenderry – 1 (Cathal Nolan, 2 yellows); Brosna Gaels – 0.