Watch and read: Loughmore-Castleiney and JK Brackens book Tipperary SFC quarter-final spots

Loughmore-Castleiney and JK Brackens came through Mid derbies to book their Tipperary SFC quarter-final berths.

Loughmore-Castleiney and JK Brackens came through Mid derbies to book their Tipperary SFC quarter-final berths, while Clonmel Commercials and Kilsheelan-Kilcash took the direct route to the semis.

Dual senior outfits Loughmore and Brackens, who are also in the Tipp SHC knockout stages, will be joined by Moyle Rovers and Ardfinnan in the quarters.

Sixteen-time champions Loughmore weathered a stern test against Upperchurch-Drombane by 1-9 to 0-9 at Holycross.

Eoin O’Connell’s second-minute goal would remain the difference in the end. The Tipp full-back was picked out by Noel McGrath before unleashing a drop-kick finish for his second goal in two games.

It was otherwise a tetchy first half with as many points as yellow cards (seven of each) as referee Seán Lonergan had a word with both captains at half-time.

Two fine scores by Keith Ryan kept Church in touch. Three points from Liam McGrath and a quality kicking move converted by Joey Quinn had it 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.

There was a better flow to proceedings as Paddy Phelan and Paul Shanahan halved the deficit for a Church team coached by ex-Kildare manager Glenn Ryan.

John McGrath sold two dummies to swing over a Loughmore settler. Liam McGrath took his tally to 0-5 (four frees) as Church battled on. Minor graduate Seán Griffin got it back to two points, but Quinn produced the insurance score for Greg Ramsbottom’s side.

The Loughmore hurlers will face another local derby next Saturday as they meet Holycross-Ballycahill in the SHC preliminary quarter-final at The Ragg.

That was the venue for another winner-takes-all Mid clash on Sunday, which saw Brackens emerge convincing victors over Thurles Sarsfields by 2-17 to 0-7.

This first-ever senior championship meeting between the clubs was led from pillar to post by the Templemore men.

They did the damage with a 1-3 burst in the space of 80 seconds. Jack Kennedy slotted a two-point free, Ned Walsh added a point, and Éanna McBride caught the subsequent kick-out before laying on the final pass for Jamie Ormond to finish. The young Tipp hurler added another white flag in the aftermath.

It was 1-7 to 0-3 at half-time and free-taker Kennedy would extend his tally to 0-10, featuring three two-pointers (one from play).

Following one such orange flag, McBride again came forward from the kick-out to assist his second goal, thumped home by Adrian Bourke. Paddy Cadell added the cherry on top with a stylish two-pointer.

The other key clash was played on Friday as 14-man Ardfinnan fended off Ballina by 1-13 to 1-10 at Drombane.

Matthew Power found the net to push the North side ahead, but the lead was temporary as Ronan Myles’ two-pointer equalised and Gerry Cronin’s goal had Ardfinnan 1-7 to 1-6 up by the break.

Their goalkeeper Cian O’Mahoney was a central figure in defending that cushion, saving from Charlie King, Luke McKeogh, and Steven O’Brien’s stoppage-time free.

Ardfinnan may be left to regret a straight red card picked up by Tipp corner-back Jack O’Neill after 54 minutes for an off-the-ball incident.

The other three games were effectively dead-rubbers, aside from group winners looking to ramp up their score difference to confirm semi-final byes and bottom-ranked teams seeking to avoid direct passage to a relegation final.

There was little doubt over the semi-finalists as defending champions Commercials (+37) and Kilsheelan (+31) clinched those last-four places ahead of Moyle Rovers (+17).

With Séamus Kennedy marrying his partner Orlaith on Friday, Commercials played on Thursday, beating Aherlow by 2-14 to 0-8 at Lattin without their captain.

Cian Smith (1-3) hit the net before teeing up his younger brother, Killian, for his first senior championship goal.

Kilsheelan took a while to get going before running out 1-18 to 0-12 winners over Ballyporeen at Ardfinnan.

Two-pointers from Tommy O’Connor (0-4), free-taker Jamie Roche (0-7), and Billy Murphy sent them into half-time three ahead and Micheál Freaney (1-2) doubled their lead with a goal on the resumption. Darragh Brennan ended with 0-6 (two from play) for Ballyporeen.

Paddy O’Keeffe and Rian Quigley led the scoring as the Moyle Rovers defence held Grangemockler-Ballyneale scoreless for the final 27 minutes of a 0-13 to 0-5 victory at Fethard.

Aherlow (-32) head for the relegation final, with Grangemockler (-28) and Ballyporeen (-25) to contest the semi-final.