Edenderry forced to dig deep by brave Bracknagh

EDENDERRY were forced to dig deep before booking their place in the semi-finals of the Senior Football Championship with a hard earned win over a fiercely motivated Bracknagh in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Edenderry 0-16

Bracknagh 2-7

When the outstanding Cian Farrell kicked the opening point of the second half to put Edenderry 0-9 to 0-4 clear, they looked set for a comfortable run in but Bracknagh did very well to pose the most serious of questions of them.

Two sensational Mikey Cunningham goals changed the whole game and a Bracknagh upset loomed large for a few minutes. The first was scored in the 32^nd minute when he ran onto a misplaced Mark Young kickout. He had more space but drilled low and hard to the net from fifteen metres and suddenly the gap was two.

Cian Farrell replied with an Edenderry free but Cunningham trumped his first goal with an even better second one in the 40^th minute. There didn't seem much danger when he gathered possession out on the left but he blasted a super shot to the roof of the net to level it up. He added a mark to put them ahead and older brother Peter curled over a super point to put them two to the good with sixteen minutes left.

Edenderry were in trouble but their response was very impressive. Jordan Hayes got a point when Ricky Geoghegan spilled the ball as he moved out of defence and Cian Farrell levelled it up in the 49^th minute. Peter Cunningham was doing what Bracknagh needed at this stage and he gave them back the lead with another quality point in the 50^th minute.

Unfortunately for Bracknagh, they never scored again as Edenderry took control in all sectors. Bracknagh ran out of steam and ideas but Edenderry played very well in the last ten minutes with their defence cutting out a lot of ball. Cian Farrell got three of their last four points, two from play while Sean Doyle got an injury time free as Edenderry won, but just about.

It was a fascinating, tactical battle and both sides served up an entertaining, enjoyable game. Bracknagh named Charlie Keogh as a replacement for full forward Jamie Sheridan but he went to corner back, picking up Cillian Lowry while Adam Kelly roved around the defence.

The downside of this was that it allowed Edenderry to keep a couple of players back on Peter Cunningham and Bracknagh struggled to create chances in the first half.

The underdogs played well for much of the first half, particularly in the first quarter, but Edenderry's 0-8 to 0-4 half time lead was fair. And the town side really should have had a goal on board as Jordan Hayes blasted over the bar from close range in the 9^th minute while Bracknagh keeper Keith Keogh made a great save from Sean Doyle a minute later, though it really should have been a goal.

The sides were level on four occasions in the first fifteen minutes with Anthony Cunningham's great point making it 0-4 each. Bracknagh, however, failed to score again in the half as Edenderry got on top in most sectors. They got the four points, three of them from Cian Farrell, with one from play and the odds were very much in their favour at the break.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cian Farrell (Edenderry): Cian Farrell and Jordan Hayes had outstanding games for Edenderry. Hayes got three points and went through a mountain of work at midfield but Farrell was on fire. Six of his ten points came from play and the Bracknagh defence never came to grips with him.

Mnikey Cunningham was a contender for Bracknagh while Peter Cunningham had great spells.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Cian Farrell 0-10 (4f), Jordan Hayes 0-3, Ciaran Farrell and Sean Doyle (f) 0-1 each

Bracknagh: Mikey Cunningham 2-3 (2f and 1m), Peter Cunningham 0-2, Anthony Cunningham and Eoghan Geoghegan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

EDENDERRY: Mark Young; Liam Farrell, Sean Pender, Eoin Dunne; Adam Mahon, Lee Pearson, Dylan Byrne; Rory Egan, Jordan Hayes; Colm Byrne, Adam Harte, Conor McCarthy; Cillian Lowry, Cian Farrell, Sean Doyle. Subs – Ciaran Farrell for Colm Byrne, inj. (12m), Mason Farrell for McCarthy (45m),

BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; Adam Kelly, Fionn Dempsey, Tom Hyland; Colm Cunningham, Ciaran Donnelly, Anthony Cunningham; Chris Whittle, Jason Dempsey; Sean Dempsey, Ricky Geoghegan, Peter Cunningham, Eoghan Geoghegan, Charlie Keogh, Mikey Cunningham. Subs – Mark Dunne for Whittle (51m), Robin Galbraith for Sean Dempsey (56m), Colin Broderick for Rickly Geoghegan (56m), Eoin Hyland for Charlie Keogh (60m).

Referee – Chris Dwyer (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Chris Dwyer had a very good game. He didn't suffer fools easily and give soft frees but his awareness, knowledge of and implementation of the rules commanded respect. He did allow four minutes injury time in the first half and that seemed excessive, despite Colm Byrne receiving treatment before going off with a shoulder injury early on.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Mikey Cunningham's second goal was worth the admission fee but Jordan Hayes' point after Bracknagh got two clear was important. Unfortunately for Bracknagh, it came from a mistake but it took the momentum out of their challenge and Edenderry always looked like they would get home from then on.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch was in pristine condition and it was easy to manage the crowd.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edenderry go into the semi-finals while Bracknagh are in the relegation play offs.

STATISTICS

Wides: Bracknagh – 6 (1 in first half); Edenderry – 7 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Edenderry – 0; Bracknagh – 1 (Adam Kellly0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0