JK Brackens defy 14-man Church to keep quest for first senior title on track

J K Brackens hung on grimly for a narrow win over 14-man Upperchurch-Drombane in a Tipperary SFC thriller 

 

Tipperary SFC semi-final: JK Brackens 1-14 Upperchurch-Drombane 1-13 

Beaten finalists four years ago, J K Brackens hung on grimly for a narrow win over 14-man Upperchurch-Drombane in a Tipperary SFC semi-final thriller at The Ragg on Saturday.

When Upperchurch-Drombane lost A J Shanahan to a red card for a high tackle after 25 minutes with J K Brackens leading 1-7 to 1-4 at the time, a win for the Templemore lads looked a sure bet

But 14-man 'Church' put in a huge second half effort only to come up just short in their bid to reach the final for the second year in succession.

JK Brackens enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and were leading 0-7 to 0-4 when Aaron Ryan slipped through for a levelling Upperchurch goal after 20 minutes. Four minutes later Brackens were back in front when Lyndon Fairbrother fed Cathal Scully who made no mistake for a Templemore goal.

Shanahan’s red card was followed by two Brackens points for a 1-9 to 1-4 lead and it looked as though they were going to pull steadily away. However, Upperchurch finished the half with a three-point flourish to be just 1-7 to 1-9 behind at the break.

The expected second-half dominance by Brackens did not materialise as Upperchurch produced a mighty effort. Brackens were leading 1-13 to 1-10 with 10 minutes to play but Upperchurch had them under constant pressure and outscored them three to one in a nail-biting climax, Paul Shanahan’s pointed free after 62 minutes leaving just a single point between them.

J K Brackens held their nerve and were relieved to hear referee Derek O'Mahoney’s final whistle as their campaign for a first title continues. Jack Kennedy was the key man for Brackens with Lorcan Egan, Stephen Cahill, Paddy Cadell, Conor Cadell and Jordan Moloney also having big games.

Upperchurch can only wonder how things would have gone if they had their full quota of players. Goalie James Griffin, Dean Carew, Gavin Ryan, Paul Shanahan, Luke Shanahan, and Jack Butler led the way for them in their hunt for a first Tipp title in the grade.

Scorers J K Brackens: J Kennedy (0-7, 4fs), C Scully (1-0), J Moloney, L Fairbrother (0-2 each), N Quinlan, E McBride, S Scully (0-1 each);

Scorers Upperchurch: P Shanahan (0-5, 4fs), L Shanahan (0-4,2fs), A Ryan (1-0), J Butler, D Carey, C Fahey, N Grant (0-1 each);

JK BRACKENS: K Beben; L Ormond, J Nevin, M Delaney; S Cahill, L Egan, E McBride; P Cadell, A Bourke; L Fairbrother, C Scully, C Cadell; J Moloney, J Kennedy, N Quinlan; 

Subs: A Ormond for Bourke (45), S Scully for C Scully (54), D O Shea for Delaney (60);

UPPERCHURCH-DROMBANE: J Griffin; M Lavery, D Carew, C Ryan; D Grant, G Ryan, A J Shanahan; G Grant, P Shanahan; A Ryan, P Greene, J Butler; L Shanahan, L Ryan, N Grant 

Subs: M Griffin for L Ryan (35), P Ryan for Greene (35), C Fahy for C Ryan (53), P Phelan for D Grant (54);

Ref: D O Mahoney, Ardfinnan