Congratulations to our Senior hurling team who defeated Upperchurch/Drombane on Saturday evening last to advance to the Mid Final for the first time in the clubs history. Having fallen at the semi-final stage on eleven previous occasions, Brackens finally laid that ghost to rest and now face neighbours Drom/Inch in next Sunday's decider. Upperchurch were faster out of the traps and landed 1-2 in the opening four minutes with Lyndon Fairbrother replying with a point from a free. The lead was out to five by the ninth minute as the 'Church added three more points with Andrew Ormond and Paddy Cadell landing one apiece for Brackens (1-5 to 0-3). Jordan Moloney landed the first of his three points and another Fairbrother free reduced the lead to three. Back came the 'Church with two in a row before Fairbrother replied with three in a row from placed balls to leave it 1-7 to 0-8 at the end of the first quarter. Two from play for the 'Church moved it out to four once more but Brackens replied in kind through Shane Doyle and Fairbrother. Back came the Black and Amber with another brace before Fairbrother closed the first half scoring with two more, one from a free, to leave Upperchurch ahead 1-11 to 0-12 at the short whistle. Brackens were certainly the happier of the two at this stage as they had really begun to find their feet in the second quarter. While Upperchurch did land the opening score of the second half through a Paudie Greene free, it was Brackens who continued their upward graph and landed four on the trot through Fairbrother (f), Moloney, Conor Cadell and Doyle (lb) to edge in front. The' Church levelled from play before Greene put them back in front for the final time in the 39th minute. Another Fairbrother free tied it up before a third Moloney Monster briefly restored our lead. Gavin Ryan's long range free tied it up once more and it was all to play for in the final quarter (0-18 to 1-15). Brackens hit the gas and landed five of the next six thanks to four Fairbrother frees and another from Andrew Ormond to put us four ahead with five to play. Our first Mid final appearance was within touching distance but the 'Church were not done and when Paul Ryan goaled in the 56th minute it was game on once more. But Brackens kept their cool and Shane Doyle landed another beauty from a (lb) and followed up with a great score from play. Nerves were frayed by now and another point for the 'Church didn't help. Andrew Ormond had the final score of the evening with his third from play before some heroic defending kept the final 'Church surge at bay. Brackens had finally cleared the semi-final hurdle and can now look forward with great optimism to Sunday's final where it promises to be a battle royale with Drom/Inch. Well done to all concerned and best wishes on Sunday in Boherlahan. (3.30pm). Brackens Abu.

Team and Scorers: Jack Kennedy Luke Ormond Tom Murphy Martin Delaney Jordan Moloney (0-3) Paddy Cadell (0-1) Neil Quinlan Dean McEnroe Cathal Scully Conor Cadell (0-1) Andrew Ormond (0-3) Shane Doyle (0-5, 2 lb) Shane Bourke Lyndon Fairbrother (0-13, 10f) David O'Shea.