By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 2
Bracknagh: 3-11
Durrow: 1-16
Bracknagh thanks to a penalty and follow up two pointer from former County star Peter Cunningham came from behind to take a vital win over Durrow in the second round of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship on Saturday afternoon last.
Played in Durrow this was the home sides opening game, having served the bye in the opening round, coming up against a Bracknagh side with a point already in the bag following a thrilling encounter with Clara two weeks ago.
It was a game that could well have ended in a draw and at times both sides would have taken the draw, but it was Bracknagh’s never say die attitude much like they did against Clara that saw them over the line by the faintest of margins.
Durrow certainly will look back on this game and know too well that they probably should have pushed on especially when they went three points up with fifty eight minutes on the clock, but they started to retreat and they allowed Bracknagh to come at them and in the end they paid the ultimate price.
It certainly was a snatch and grab win by Bracknagh, but with that said, you allow Peter Cunningham space he will do the damage and he contributed a whopping 1-7 in the second half, with some of them spectacular two pointers and in the end that was the difference between the sides.
There is no doubt that Durrow who had a horrible year last year and while they lost on Saturday are in a better place this year.
They have ample amounts of talent on their team and they are backboned strongly by a lot of Offaly inter county hurlers. The fact this was their first game and for some only their second game of football this year having missed all the league with county duty, they were rusty and it showed at times.
But they have the bones of a very good and if they don’t let this loss get to them, they certainly have a lot of football to play and will have a lot to say yet in this group.
It was Bracknagh who despite playing against the breeze started well when Jason Dempsey punched the ball to the net with only nineteen seconds played. A dream start to say the least.
Durrow certainly weren’t happy with the lack in concentration on that one, but they regrouped very well and it wasn’t long until they were in the lead.
Jack Fogarty was absolutely brilliant for them in the middle of the field. He won the vast majority of the kick outs and as a result Durrow had a fine platform for attack.
A free from Kevin McDermott got them off the mark on the fourth minute and with follow up scores from Brian Duignan and a massive two pointer from Jack O’Brien they were in the lead 0-4 to 1-0 with eleven played.
They really should have pushed on even further from there. They had the majority of possession, but they took a lot of silly final shot selections and it wasn’t long until Bracknagh were back in front.
Mickey Cunningham with two in a row – one from a free had the side’s level on the 16th minute, before a lovely score from Eoghan Geoghegan after lovely play between Jason Dempsey and Conor Melia hit them to the fore again, 1-3 to 0-4.
Jack O’Brien landed another two pointer this time from a free and for the remainder of the half, it was all Durrow from there on to half time.
Kevin McDermott nudged them in front 0-7 to 1-3 on the 24th minute and with further scores from Mark Troy and Kevin McDermott again, the gap was suddenly three 0-9 to 1-3 had half time loomed.
Bracknagh did break their momentum and when Peter Cunningham took off, you would not have been wrong in thinking a score was on, but a vital interception by Ciaran Burke stopped him and Durrow went down the field with Steven Doran pointing, to leave four between the sides at the break 0-10 to 1-3.
Durrow came out with very strong intentions and by the 34th minute they had stretched their lead to six thanks to Mark Troy and Dan Bourke.
With the breeze it was only inevitable that Bracknagh would come and by the 37th minute a brace of two monstrous two pointers from 60 metres out thanks to Peter Cunningham had the gap whittled down to two, 0-12 to 1-7.
The momentum was certainly now with Bracknagh and with a brilliantly worked move between Anthony Cunningham and Conor Melia, nobody tracked Colm Cunningham coming like a train and with a rasping shot he fired home Bracknagh’s second goal. Bracknagh in front 2-7 to 0-12 with forty one played.
Durrow in fairness never panicked. Kevin McDermott drew the side’s level on the 45th and then with a goal of his own he had Durrow three clear 1-13 to 2-7 seconds later.
Jack Fogarty brought it to a four point game on the 50th minute but a nice sore from Anthony Cunningham stopped the purple patch, before his brother Peter added another and the gap was two 1-14 to 2-9 with fifty four played.
Mark Troy had it back to a three point game with two minutes of normal time to play and really Durrow should have closed it out from there.
There was still time however for more twists to come and with fifty nine on the clock Charlie Keogh was hauled down on route to goal by Sam Bourke.
A black card was duly flashed and a penalty called for. Up stepped Peter Cunningham and making no mistake he rattled the net and the sides were level 3-9 to 1-15.
If it had ended there, neither side would have minded, but there was still more to come. Another massive two pointer Peter Cunningham gave Bracknagh the lead, 3-11 to 1-15 three minutes into injury time.
There was still one more attack and Mark Troy rightly went for a goal shot but it was deflected brilliantly by Keith Keogh over the bar and it was Bracknagh who held on for the win. The final scores reading 3-11 to 1-16.
The Scorers
Bracknagh: Peter Cunningham 1-7 (0-4 TPF’s, 1-0 Penalty, 0-2 TP), Jason Dempsey 1-0, Colm Cunningham 1-0, Mikey Cunningham 0-2 (0-1 Free), Anthony Cunningham 0-1, Eoghan Geoghegan 0-1.
Durrow: Kevin McDermott 1-4 (0-4 Frees), Mark Troy 0-4 (0-1 Free), Jack O’Brien 0-4 (0-2 TPF, 0-2 TP), Jack Fogarty 0-1, Dan Bourke 0-1, Brian Duignan 0-1, Steven Doran 0-1.
The Teams
Bracknagh: Keith Keogh; Fionn Dempsey, Tom Hyland, Eoin Hyland; Charlie Keogh, Anthony Cunningham, David Costello; Mark Dunne, Colm Cunningham; Jason Dempsey, Peter Cunningham, Eoghan Geoghegan; Colin Broderick, Mikey Cunningham, Conor Melia.
Subs: Adam Kelly for Colin Broderick (38 mins), Alex Broderick for Eoin Hyland (inj. 42 mins).
Durrow: Dermot Colbert; Sean Hughes, Oisin Cusack, Michael McDermott; Gavin Hand, Ciaran Burke, Jack O’Brien; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill; Aaron Maher Dan Bourke, Steven Doran; Mark Troy, Brian Duignan, Kevin McDermott.
Subs: Sam Bourke for Michael McDermott (Half Time), Liam Clavin for Steven Doran (60 mins).
Referee: Brian Gavin (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 18th Jul
