Tipperary SFC: Upperchurch and J K Brackens advance to semis

TOP SCORER: Jack Kennedy scored 1-5 for J K Brackens. File pic: Brendan Gleeson

It took a second round of penalties before Upperchurch-Drombane emerged victorious 7-6 over Kilsheelan-Kilcash in the Tipperary senior football quarter-final after the sides were level 0-9 each at the end of ordinary time at Boherlahan on Sunday. 

Upperchurch were on top early on going 0-5 to 0-1 clear with the scores coming from the Shanahan brothers, Paul (2) and Liam (3). Kilsheelan took over in the second half with Jamie Roche hitting four points and they were leading 0-9 to 0-6 with 5 minutes to play. But Upperchurch finished strongly with points from Gavin Ryan, Loughlin Ryan, and Paul Shanahan, deep in injury time, sending the game to extra time.

The sides added a point each in the first half of extra time and neither scored in the second half leading to the penalty shoot-out. On the first round of penalties, each scored three, Upperchurch goalie James Griffin saving two and Kilsheelan goalie Kian Quinn saving one to be level 3 all. 

On the second round each team converted their first three penalties and then both missed before Ger Grant netted for Upperchurch and Upperchurch goalie Griffin again saved, this time from Mark Kehoe to send The Church through to the semi-finals. Goalie Griffin was Upperchurch’s hero on the day but the Shanahans, Keith Ryan, Aaron Ryan and Ger Grant also shone. Mark Stokes, Mark Kehoe and Jamie Roche were Kilsheelan’s top men.

Beaten finalists four years ago, J K Brackens moved comfortably to the semi-finals with a 2-10 to 3-3 win over Killenaule at Cashel. Oisin Shelley gave Killenaule the ideal start with a goal after twenty seconds but Brackens soon took control and a Jack Kennedy penalty goal after Tom Murphy was fouled put them 1-5 to 1-0 ahead after 17 minutes. Cathal Scully had a second goal for the Templemore lads after 25 minutes and they led at half-time 2-6 to 1-2.

Killenaule resumed with a flourish, Luke Ryan netting after 3 minutes followed shortly afterwards by a Paddy Codd point but once more Brackens took control with 4 unanswered points to be 2-10 to 2-3 clear after 52 minutes. Brackens then lost Conor Cadell to a second yellow card. Paidi Feehan netted a penalty for Killenaule after 57 minutes when Joe O Dwyer was fouled but Brackens saw out the game for a spot in the last four.

Jack Kennedy scored 1-5 for the winners with Conor and Paddy Cadell also prominent while for Killenaule the Feehans, Paidi and Jimmy, Joe O Dwyer, and Thomas Keaveney did most.

On Saturday, champions Clonmel Commercials blitzed last year’s intermediate champions Ballina 4-17 to 0-7. While a Ben Owens point in the 7th minute of injury time gave Moyle-Rovers a surprise 1-10 to 0-12 win over Loughmore-Castleiney in their quarter-final clash at Golden.