Fourteen man J K Brackens secure Tipperary senior status with win over Upperchurch-Drombane

Defeat for Upperchurch-Drombane are relegated after 25 years in the top flight.

J K Brackens secured their senior status with a narrow win over Upperchurch-Drombane.

Tipperary SHC Relegation Playoff

J K Brackens 0-18 Upperchurch-Drombane 1-14

Fourteen man J K Brackens secured their senior status with a narrow win over Upperchurch-Drombane in a thrilling Tipperary senior hurling championship relegation play-off at The Ragg on Saturday.

In a hectic tussle, Upperchurch had a Pat Ryan goal after 14 minutes to lead 1-2 to 0-4 and were leading 1-8 to 0-8 when J K Brackens had Shane Doyle red-carded after 25 minutes.

The Church led 1-11 to 0-10 at half-time and were well placed to survive the relegation battle. However, Brackens totally dominated the third quarter and with Lyndon Fairbrother razor sharp off frees, they were level 0-14 to 1-11 after 39 minutes.

Further points from Fairbrother (3) and Conor Cadell had them 0-18 to 1-11 ahead after 47 minutes. Upperchurch got back into the game in the last quarter and points from Pat Ryan and Padraic Greene (2) left them just one point adrift as the game moved into injury time.

In a nail-biting finish Brackens held their nerve to preserve their senior status while Upperchurch-Drombane are relegated after 25 years in the top flight.

Fairbrother’s free-taking was crucial to the Brackens win with Conor Cadell, Neil Quinlan, Andrew Ormond and Martin Delaney also having big games. Keith Ryan Jack Butler, Pat Ryan, and Ger Grant were to the fore for Upperchurch.

Scorers for J K Brackens: L Fairbrother (0-11, 10fs), M Ormond and C Cadell (0-3 each), S Doyle (0-1).

Scorers for Upperchurch-Drombane: P Greene(0-9, 9fs), P Ryan (1-1), J Butgler (0-2), A Ryan, L Shanahan (0-1 each).

J K Brackens: J Kennedy; Jamie Bergin, L Ormond, M Delaney; Jack Bergin, E McBride, J Moloney; C Cadell, P Cadell; N Quinlan, S Cahill, C Scully; A Ormond, S Doyle, L Fairbrother.

Subs: D McEnroe for Moloney (42mins), E Fitzpatrick for Scully (57mins), C Scully for Fitzpatrick (59mins).

Upperchurch-Drombane: C Shortt; M Lavery, G Grant, A J Shanahan; K Ryan, G Ryan, D Carew; N Grant, A Ryan; J Butler, D Grant, P Shanahan; L Shanahan, P Greene, P Ryan.

Subs: P Phelan for N Grant(45mins), O Treacy for A Ryan(54mins), C Ryan for L Shanahan (55mins).

Referee: P Carroll (Burgess).