On Saturday (September 23rd) at 5pm Bracknagh take on Shannonbridge in the Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football final, with the winners receiving the Bill Kelly Cup, Bracknagh are bidding to win the title for the fourth time, their first success coming against St Carthages in 1978 and their most recent when they defeated Ballyfore in final of 2000. Their opponents Shannonbridge are seeking just their second title, having defeated Ballycumber in the 1991 final 0-13 to 1-9 in Ferbane.
In their semi-final outings both sides had 11 points to spare over their opponents, Bracknagh defeating Erin Rovers and Shannonbridge accounting for Daingean. The following is a brief account of those victories
Bracknagh 5-8 Erin Rovers 2-6
Bracknagh qualified for today’s final with an 11 point win over Erin Rovers in O’Connor Pk on Sunday September 11th. Corner forward Glen Brereton was the hero of the hour with scoring 3-2, while Robin Galbraith helped himself to 1-2. The early play gave no indication of the game’s eventual outcome as Gio Russo’s goal fired Erin Rovers into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Bracknagh gradually hauled their way back into the game, holding their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the half, and a Glen Brereton goal on the stroke of half time gave them a 1-4 to 1-3 interval lead.
On the resumption two goals in as many minutes from Galbraith and Brereton gave Bracknagh an unassailable lead. By the 50th minute Bracknagh had extended their lead to 4-7 to 1-5, before Jason Devery goal gave Erin Rovers a glimmer of hope. Despite losing the services of Peter Cunningham to a second yellow card, Bracknagh held firm and an injury time goal from Robbie Barron put the icing on the cake.
Scorers: Bracknagh: Glen Brereton 3-2 (0-1f), Robin Galbraith 1-2, Robbie Barron 1-0, Jim Hendy, Stefan Geoghegan, Kieran McNeilis, Peter Cunningham 0-1 each.
Erin Rovers: Gio Russo 1-2, Jason Devery 1-0, Ryan Delaney 0-3(f), Con or Owens 0-1
Bracknagh: Keith Keogh, David Costello, Darren Groome, Glenn Malone, Anthony Cunningham, Jim Hendy, Stefan Geoghegan, Peter Cunningham, Jason Dempsey, Kieran McNeilis, Joe Costello, William Dowling, Glen Brereton Sub: Dylan Broderick for Stefan Geoghegan
Erin Rovers: Dylan Buckley, Sean Buckley, Roddy Moran, Declan Buckley, Dean Bracken, Anthony Buckley, Richard Fox, Andrew Buckley, Declan Cooney, Barry Buckley, Ryan Delaney, Conor Owens, Declan Kelly, Gio Russo Subs: Jason Devery for Cooney, Ollie Buckley for Sean Buckley, Danny Spain for Andrew Buckley, Stephen Buckley for Delaney, Curtis Buckley for Stephen Buckley
Ref: Ger Keyes (Shamrocks)
Shannonbridge 3-13 Daingean 0-11
Like their final opponents Shannonbridge also had 11 points to spare in their semi-final victory over Daingean at O’Connor Pk on Friday September 9th. Despite playing with the aid of a strong wind Shannonbridge were slow into stride and led by just 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. However, the game turned very much in Shannonbridge’s favour on 12 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Gavin Kelly and Paul Deeley duly dispatched the spot kick to the net. Shannonbridge went on to lead by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.
On the resumption Daingean dominated the opening play and hit five points without reply to reduce the deficit to the minimum and it looked like they might go on to win the game. However, they failed to get their nose in front and a Michael Corbett goal gave Shannonbridge the breathing space they needed and by the time Deeley fired home his second goal, the west Offaly side had already booked their place in the final.
Scorers: Shannonbridge: Paul Deeley 2-6 (1-3f), Michael Corbett 1-1, Ronan Hynes 0-2, Peadar Kelly, Philip Egan, Shane Flannery, Trevor Mahon 0-1 each
Daingean: Jamie Hayes 0-6, Shane Tierney 0-2, Charlie Hayes 0-1(f), Cathal Egan 0-1, David Feely 0-1
Shannonbridge: Barry Rohan, Shane Flannery, Willie Keena, Paul Maloney, Peadar Kelly, Darragh Corbett, Ronan Hynes, Philip Egan, Trevor Mahon, Jack Darcy, Paul Deeley, Christian Brazil, Michael Corbett, Gavin Kelly, Kieran Flannery Subs: John Egan for Peadar Kelly, Ronan McEvoy for Gavin Kelly, Ronan Devery for Willie Keena, Emmett Molloy for Philip Egan
Daingean: Conor Curley, Tommy Cocoman, Colm Brophy, Colin Brennan, Alan McEvoy, Danny Mangan, Steven Burns, Ciaran McEvoy, David Walsh, Johnny McGrath, Jamie Hayes, Cathal Egan, Conleth Carey, Charlie Hayes, Shane Tierney Subs: Jake Naughton for Colin Brennan, Padraig Mangan for Tommy Cocoman, David Feely for Danny Mangan, Padraig Ferguson for Steven Burns, Sean Ferguson for Charlie Hayes, Tom Spellman for Cathal Egan
Ref: Davy Walsh
By Offaly PRO Fri 23rd Sep
