Mid Junior B Hurling Final

JK Brackens 2-12 Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-7

Ultimately this game was won inside the opening nine minutes. A whirlwind start landed 1-3 without reply, and with the sandbags in place, the banks never looked like being breached. A wet, blustery morning made for sloppy conditions but Brackens made light of the handicap early on with Nicky Madden opening the scoring in the third minute. A flick from Niall Bourke found the net in the seventh minute and when joint captain Paddy Delaney followed up with two from play Brackens were six up and away to a flyer. However Gortnahoe had plenty of possession but much to Brackens relief they left their shooting boots at home. A free from their goalkeeper in the 23rd minute was their first score and they only added one more before the break. As the conditions worsened Brackens too struggled for scores. Points from Delaney (free) and Brian Roche left the half-time score 1-5 to 0-2. Three more Delaney frees after tea left Brackens 1-8 to 0-3 ahead with 18 minutes to play but Gortnahoe landed three of their own before the second water break to close the gap to five. Brackens antenna was up once more and the gamebreaker came when the goalkeeper from the 1999 victory, Tommy Deegan, flicked home from close range to effectively kill the game. (2-8 to 0-6). A late Gortnahoe goal closed it to five once more but the early sandbags held firm. Two more frees from man of the match Paddy Delaney plus one each from Eoin Fitzpatrick and substitute Paul Hanley saw the boys home on a 2-12 to 1-7 victory. Great credit is due to everyone involved with this victory, on and off the field, and also to all those who put in a huge effort since returning to the Junior B grade in 2017. Today is your day and we wish the team all the best as they go forward to meet Kiladangan in the county semi-final. Brackens Abu.

Team and Scorers: Denis Cody Padraig Meade Peter Burke Ciaran Byrne Radek Natkaneic Aidan Ivers Frank McGrath Paddy Delaney (0-8,6f) Niall Martin Brian Roche (0-1) Tommy Deegan (1-0) Nicky Madden (0-1) Eddie Bergin Niall Bourke (1-0) Eoin Fitzpatrick (0-1). Subs Used: Paul Hanley (0-1) Joe Bergin Padraic Keely James Moore Cian McDonnell

Joint Captains Peter Burke and Paddy Delaney hoist the cup.