Loughmore Castleiney qualified for the MacLochlainn Roadmarkings Mid Tipperary senior hurling semi final courtesy of a hard fought victory over neighbours JK Brackens at a warm and sunny Ragg on Saturday evening.
A very keenly contested tie, the JK Brackens lads were there right to the very death, but just lacked that little bit of extra craft and knowhow to shove them over the finish line in front. In fact, had they been able to convert a number of goal chan
ces which went abegging, an upset could well have been on the cards.
The Loughmore Castleiney men came from behind to win this game and did it the hard way, with points being the order of the day for them.
Despite making the early running with scores from Tom King, Gary Sweeney, Noel McGrath, Evan Sweeney and Micheal Webster to cancel efforts from Shane Scully and Shane Bourke, the Loughmore lads were rocked back on their heels when Kevin Mulryan latched onto a long delivery from Eamon Corcoran before dispatching to the net in the 13th.
It was to be the goal that would be between them at the break, but there was quite a bit of hurling to be done prior to the interval. Evan Sweeney had three points ( 2 frees) to shove Loughmore Castleiney back in front again but Brackens finished the half in a much more positive frame of mind with points coming from Kevin Mulryan, Aidan Doyle and two fine Shane Scully efforts from play, as well as one from a free.
Brackens went in at the break 1-9 to 0-9 to the good and they could thank keeper Davy Bourke for their advantage as he had saved a point blank effort from John Scully in the 10th to keep Loughmore at bay.
The initiative was with Brackens at the turnaround but it was Loughmore Castleiney who made the most of the break to get their house in order. Despite having lost centre forward Evan Sweeney at the interval they shot double the Brackens scores in the next twenty minutes to go back into the lead. Aidan McGrath and Ciaran McGrath (2) levelled the game before Scully sent Brackens in front again. Aidan McGrath levelled again with a free but Scully and Shane Bourke responded for Brackens only to see McGrath once more on target.
Full match report on pg 36 this week.
Teams and Scorers:
Loughmore Castleiney: J Gleeson, T Long, D Bourke, D Brennan, E Connolly, D Kennedy, T King 0-1, C McGrath 0-2, G Sweeney 0-1, A McGrath 0-8, E Sweeney 0-4, N McGrath 0-2, M Webster 0-1, J Scully 0-2, D McGrath. Subs: M Gleeson 0-1 for E Sweeney.
JK Brackens: D Bourke, I Delaney, R Bourke, M Doyle, T Kennedy, E Corcoran, B Guider, A Doyle 0-1, C Scully, P Bourke, S Scully 0-9, K Mulryan 1-1, M Lynagh 0-1, S Bourke 0-4, L Egan. Subs: E Fitzpatrick for A Doyle; P Bourke for M Doyle.
Referee: TP O'Sullivan (Lorrha)
