In complete contrast to the free-flowing contest in Gortnahoe the previous week, Sunday's Junior A hurling quarter-final proved a much tougher affair against a very physical, determined Moyle Rovers side. The space afforded in the Mid Final was much harder to find but it must be noted that we were playing against a first team who were smarting from a South final loss. Brackens opened brightly with a frees from Darragh Doyle (2) and points from play from Ned Walsh and James Corcoran to lead by 0-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes. The tussles were hard but fair and Brackens knew they were in a battle. A free and a '65 from Darragh matched two for Moyle Rovers before the youngsters put their stamp on the game. Four excellent points from play courtesy of a brace apiece from Ned Delaney and Michael Cahill had Brackens 0-10 to 0-6 ahead after 25 minutes, before the South men landed the last two points of the half. The breeze favoured Moyle Rovers after the tea and our two-point lead looked precarious. The ever-improving Cahill stretched it to three upon resumption but it was quickly reduced to one before Darragh shoved it back to three again with 38 gone. The game was turned on its head when Moyle Rovers goaled a minute later and then hit a purple patch as they landed four points on the trot to lead 1-14 to 0-13 with ten to go. The odds were very poor for Brackens by now and management changed it up sending Sean Collier,Paddy Delaney and Dylan Moloney into battle, hoping for a change in fortunes. Ned Walsh reduced the gap to three with a good point from play, but it was quickly back to four from a free. One felt that Brackens probably needed a goal, but that hadn't looked likely all day. They needed something and having struggled to win frees all day we suddenly got three in three minutes. Darragh obliged each time and when the ball broke to Paddy Delaney he flashed over the equaliser on 59 minutes. There was time for more but it was Moyle Rovers who landed the next point as the clock went red. A couple of more Brackens attacks were thwarted and just as we looked goosed, referee Shane Hodgins gave Darragh one last chance. He didn't need to be asked twice and it was extra-time for the second week running (0-19 o 1-16). Poor weather and tired legs made sure the umpires weren't overworked in additional time with Brackens leading 0-22 to 1-18 at half-time thanks to Darragh (3). Martin Bergin and Shane Scully tacked on two more in the second half as Moyle Rovers wilted leaving Brackens 0-24 to 1-18 ahead at the long, long whistle. Brackens will have learned a lot from this type of game and will approach the last four with a great chance of getting to a County Final for the first time since 1998. Ballinahinch, Holycross and either Clonoulty/Roscrea will make up the final quartet. Well done boys and best of luck.

Nick Keane, Tadhg Nolan (C), Lorcan Egan, James Bergin, Ned Delaney (0-2), Shane Scully (0-1f), Ciaran Byrne, Aidan Fogarty, James Corcoran (0-1), Ned Walsh (0-2), Eddie Bergin, Michael Cahill (0-3), Joe Bourke, Darragh Doyle (0-13, 0-10f, 0-1 '65), Martin Bergin (0-1).

Subs Used: Sean Collier for Aidan Fogarty, Paddy Delaney (0-1) for Eddie Bergin, Dylan Moloney for Joe Bourke, Joe Bourke for Darragh Doyle (ET).

Referee: Shane Hodgins ( Knockshegowna).