It was a busy week on the playing front with three teams in Mid A hurling semi-final action. Our U-17's faced Holycross in the Park on Monday evening. There has been very little between these sides over the past couple of years with the teams playing out a draw in the opening round-robin game. But it was Holycross who proved best on this occasion landing 32 scores to Brackens 19 in a 2-30 to 5-14 victory.
Team: Cormac Bourke, Tommy Burke, Billy Collier, Kieran Martin, Niall Delaney, Tom Corcoran, Dylan Quinlan, Jamie Ormond (2-8, 0-3f), Josh Quinlan, Cian Broderick, Cian Sheedy, Padraic O'Shea (0-2), Jack Marnell (1-4, 2f), Ciaran O'Shea (1-0), Sean Purcell (1-0). Subs Used: Kyle Whelan for Dylan Quinlan, Dan Coffey for Broderick,
Wednesday saw us head to Holycross for the U-19 semi-final against Na Sairsealaigh Og. Another tight games was expected here with Brackens winning the round-robin game by a point. Brackens got off to a good start and Jamie Ormond's cracking goal in the eight minute left us four up (1-3 to 0-2). Sarsfields dominated from there to half-time, outscoring Brackens by 0-11 points to 0-3 to lead by four at the short whistle. Brackens had a bright to start to the second half and had scores from Joe Bourke, Michael Cahill and 1-1 from Ciaran O'Shea to close the gap to a point (2-9 to 0-16) after 37 minutes. Sars finished the stronger, scoring 1-7 to Brackens 0-3 to run out 1-23 to 2-12 winners.
Team: Tom Bourke, Sean Collier, Shaun Jordan, James Ryan, Ned Delaney, Tom Corcoran, Mikey Delaney (0-1), Jamie Ormond (1-1), Michael Cahill (0-1), Ned Walsh, Brian Quinn, Joe Bourke (0-7,6f), Jack Marnell (0-1), Ciaran O'Shea (1-1). Subs Used: Sean Purcell for Ned Walsh, Brian Bourke for Jack Marnell, Daniel Joyce for Tom Corcoran.
Our third game was the U-15 semi-final against Holycross which was played in the Park on Thursday night. Brackens were twelve point winners in the round-robin but these results are no indicator when it comes to knockout. Holycross led by a single point (1-10 to 0-12) after an even first half. Padraic O'Shea (0-9), Sean Burke (0-2) and Ryan Loughnane were on target for Brackens. Four minutes into the second half Sean Burke goaled for Brackens and from there on they gradually took charge of the game and led by six as the game drew to a close (1-20 to 1-14). Brackens finished in a blaze of glory when Jack Noonan scored a four minute hat-trick, surely one of the fastest ever. Brackens advance to the final against Durlas Og which takes place next Thursday night.
Team: James Leahy, JR Corpez, Kinnian O'Brien, Andrew Quinlan, Thomas Deegan, Niall Delaney, Jack Duggan, Dan Coffey, Stephen Fogarty (0-1), Sean Burke (1-3), Padraic O'Shea (0-15, 6f, 0-1 '65), Larry O'Brien, Jack Burke, Ryan Loughnane (0-1), Jack Noonan (3-0). Subs: Peter Breen for Andrew Quinlan
