Mid Tipperary Junior A Hurling Final.

JK Brackens 4-21

Holycross/Ballycahill 1-25

They say a week is a long time in politics. Well twenty-five years is surely a long time in hurling. 1998 was the last time JK Brackens captured the PJ O’Brien cup when Seanie Percy captained them to victory over Drom and Inch. In fact, last Saturday was their first appearance in the final since that year and they were hungry for success, but they had tough opposition in Holycross/Ballycahill who have had the upper hand on them in recent years. The newly developed grounds at Gortnahoe were immaculate and the pitch was in pristine condition. The sun beamed down mercilessly and most made for the cover of the ditch.

The game was helter-skelter from the word go with the umpires constantly in action. Holycross opened the scoring with a good strike from Audie Dwan inside the opening minute before Darragh Doyle showed a sign of things to come when he rattled the net in reply. He added a point from a free and Joe Bourke got his first of the day to leave Brackens four up inside five minutes. Stevie Flanagan settled Holycross with a point from play before Tony Leahy and Jamie Lee Dwan landed two more. Doyle added three more (2f) while Martin Bergin and Michael Cahill opened their accounts from play. The impressive Leahy and Tomas Comerford replied for Holycross to leave Brackens ahead at the water-break, 1-7 to 0-6. Leahy’s third and another Comerford free halved the lead before Joe Bourke weaved his way through the Holycross defence to land Brackens second major on 19 minutes. A feature of the Holycross team was their point taking ability from distance with James Doyle and Paraic Russell striking two lovely scores in the 21st and 22nd minutes. (2-7 to 0-10). The game was flowing nicely, and the sides shared four points from play, Bourke and Martin Bergin for Brackens, Russell and Comerford for Holycross. Brackens got a huge boost in first half stoppage time when Murty Ryan awarded a penalty for a foul on Martin Bergin. Darragh Doyle buried it, and Brackens went in 3-9 to 0-12 ahead.

The baking sun was certainly having an effect with the tempo dropping slightly in the third quarter. Paddy Delaney replaced Ciaran Byrne for Brackens at half-time. Darragh Doyle (2) and Comerford traded early second half frees while Russell continued his good striking with his third from play. Stevie Flanagan was growing into the game for Holycross and two points from play and another Comerford free cut the gap and brought the fine crowd to life. Doyle stemmed the tide with another free with Flanagan replying in kind. Doyle again (f) and Martin Bergin shoved the lead out to five with twelve to go (3-14 to 0-18) and Brackens were looking good. Holycross needed a tonic, and they got just that when Brackens goalkeeper Nick Keane was adjudged to have stepped over the line when fielding a high ball. Murty Ryan correctly took his time, consulted with his umpires who were best placed, and awarded the goal. Brackens were shell-shocked, Holycross seized their chance and two beautiful strikes from Flanagan had them in front for the first time in nearly an hour. They looked likely winners from here, but Brackens refused to wilt. A great burst from veteran Lorcan Egan set up Joe Bourke for the leveller before Doyle landed another free to restore their lead. But just as they did all day Holycross replied with a point from play, this time through James Doyle. Enough is enough said Murty and he called time at 1-22 to 3-16.

Extra-time and sweltering heat have never been a favourite of the junior hurler but on we went, and Brackens got their second major boost of the day when Martin Bergin was pulled down for another penalty. Darragh Doyle buried it again to get Brackens off to a flyer. Holycross continued where they had left off with Doyle, Russell and Flanagan all on target from play as Brackens failed to score again in the opening additional half. Crucially Flanagan from a free and Doyle from play were both off target just before the break, while Nick Keane made a vital save from Eanna Ryan as the sides remained deadlocked. Holycross again looked the more likely but perhaps it was young legs that won the day as Brackens hit five unanswered points through Doyle (2), Joe Bourke, Michael Cahill and Ned Delaney to the delight of their supporters who thronged the field following Murty Ryan’s final blow of a long afternoon.

Captain Tadhg Nolan brought an end to a quarter of a century of disappointment in this grade for Brackens. He led his troops admirably from corner-back while veterans Lorcan Egan and Shane Scully contributed handsomely. Ned Delaney, James Corcoran, Ned Walsh and Eddie Bergin all worked very hard for the team while man-of-the-match Darragh Doyle, Joe Bergin, Michael Cahill and Martin Bergin were excellent in attack. Holycross will certainly be disappointed to lose a cracking Mid Final but they more than played their part in a highly entertaining contest. Their ball striking and point-taking was excellent but the concession of four goals and their failure to convert a few gilt-edged chances of their own ultimately proved the difference. They had excellent performances from Eoin Morris and Pa O’Dwyer in defence, James Doyle and Tony Leahy were always to the fore at midfield while Tom Comerford, Paraic Russell and Stevie Flanagan were excellent in attack.

JK Brackens: Nick Keane, Tadhg Nolan (Capt.), Lorcan Egan, James Bergin, Ned Delaney (0-1), Shane Scully, Ciaran Byrne, Aidan Fogarty, James Corcoran, Ned Walsh, Eddie Bergin, Michael Cahill (0-2), Joe Bourke (1-4), Darragh Doyle (3-11, 2-0 pens, 0-8f, 0-1 ’65), Martin Bergin (0-3). Subs Used: Paddy Delaney for Byrne, Sean Collier for Fogarty, Dylan Moloney for Edward Bergin, Tom Bourke for Delaney (ET), Fogarty for Walsh (ET), Nicky Madden for Martin Bergin (ET).

Holycross-Ballycahill: James O’Dwyer, David Manning, Eddie O’Gorman, Michael Harty, Eoin Morris, Pa O’Dwyer, Seanie McGrath, James Doyle (0-3), Tony Leahy (0-3), Tomas Comerford (0-5,4f), Steven Ryan, Paraic Russell (1-4), Jamie Lee Dwan (0-1), Stevie Flanagan (0-8,2f), Audie Lohan (0-1). Subs Used: Eanna Ryan for Dwan, Pierce Briody for Comerford, John Dunne for Manning, Frank Hanafin for Lohan, Dwan for Ryan (ET), Tossy Lowry for Dunne (ET), Patrick O’Gorman and Kieran O’Dwyer. 55

Referee: Murty Ryan (Moyne-Templetuohy).