Bracknagh salvage dramatic point to deny Clara winning return to top flight

THEY may be in what is termed the “weak group” but there was little inferior about Bracknagh and Clara as they served up a rare footballing treat in the Offaly Senior Football Championship Group 2 opener in Bracknagh on Saturday.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 1

Bracknagh 3-13

Clara 1-19

A Eoghan Geoghegan goal a minute into injury time after a great Peter Cunningham break forward salvaged Bracknagh a valuable point and Clara were definitely the more disappointed at this outcome as they looked to have done just enough to make a winning return to the top flight.

The visitors were the better side over the course of the hour plus but Bracknagh displayed terrific character in the second half, refusing to go away and eventually getting a result against the head.

The value of a player of the calibre of Peter Cunningham was shown in that decisive late play. The former county star had been very quiet by his own high standards, a peripheral figure for much of it, but he got their second goal, almost got two more and when he got possession just inside the Clara half in the 61st minute and they trailing by three points, he knew exactly what had to be done – running down Clara's throats before off loading to Geoghegan who stroked the ball to the net.

Clara were gutted at dropping a point in that manner but will also be aware that it could have been worse as Conor Doyle had got a great point to put them three up just before that – that point had taken a two pointer out of the equation for Bracknagh and they may have tried to work one if that option was still there but the goal may also have emerged and Clara would have been beaten then.

Hats off to both teams for serving up a really good, attacking game of football.

Bracknagh started well against the wind and were 0-4 to 0-1 up after seven minutes but with Marcas Dalton and Conor Doyle brilliant on their half back line and Ed Cullen and David Falsey cleaning up at midfield, Clara played great football for the next ten minutes plus.- they scored 1-8 without reply from the seventh to 20th minutes with Marcas Dalton getting a fantastic 18th minute goal after Conor Doyle made a terrific break forward.

Trailing by 1-9 to 0-4, Bracknagh were in trouble but they rallied well with the next four points before Clara settled again and led by 1-12 to0-7 coming up to half time. They fell asleep then and the concession of a 30th minute goal to Eoghan Geoghegan was a disaster for Clara, giving Bracknagh a lifeline as they trailed by 1-12 to 1-7 at the break with wind to come.

Clara extended their advantage with a Cormac Delaney two point free and a tap over one from Jack Reynolds to lead by 1-15 to 1-7 after 33 minutes. The concession of a calamitous second goal in the 35th minute brought Bracknagh back into it. Clara had three against one with Carl Stewart, Ryan Carroll and Conor Doyle around Peter Cunningham when a high ball landed in the danger area. They didn't deal with it and the ball broke for Cunningham to tap to the net, 1-15 to 2-7.

Five points was still a decent lead and even as Bracknagh rallied, Clara looked like they would get there as they kept the scoreboard ticking over. Offaly senior football goalkeeper Conor Melia did more than anyone else to keep Bracknagh alive. Playing at corner forward, he got five fantastic second half points, four of them from audacious two pointers as Bracknagh finally began to play football.

Graham Guilfoyle turned the clock back with a great individual point for Clara before Melia's second two pointer made it 1-17 to 2-11 with 46 minutes gone. As tension mounted, Clara did contribute to their own difficulties with some sloppy play but their work ethic remained sky high. They missed crucial chances to leave the door open for Bracknagh. Sub Bobby Mitchell had a poor wide, Delaney was off target with a difficult two point free into the wind and sub Eoin Gavin dropped an easy chance short.

Peter Cunningham almost got two more goals for Bracknagh – he was desperately unlucky when his 38th minute rocket hit the underside of the cross bar while his intuitive flick after another high ball caused consternation in the Clara full back line in the 58th minute flew just outside the right post.

Eoghan Geoghegan's point brought the gap down to two in injury time before those late scores brought the curtain down on a most enjoyable, well spent afternoon of great entertainment.

MATCH ANALYSIS

SEE NEXT: Tullamore make powerful statement of intent as flying second half leaves Edenderry reeling

MAN OF THE MATCH

Marcas Dalton (Clara): A choice between Clara's Marcas Dalton and Bracknagh's Conor Melia. Melia was the main reason Bracknagh salvaged a point as he had a sensational second half but Dalton was much more in the game throughout and gets the vote. Dalton has brought his football to a new level this year and Clara benefitted from this here as he combined his defensive duties with great attacking raids up the field. Remarkably fit he was the standout player on the field with Conor Doyle, Ed Cullen and Cormac Delaney also staking claims for Clara.

Eoghan Geoghegan's 2-2 haul was also pivotal for Bracknagh while Fionn Dempsey came to his milk in the second half and Peter Cunningham's vast experience and quality shone through in the wind up.

THE SCORERS

Clara: Cormac Delaney 0-11 (2 x 2pf, 3f, 1 x 2p), Marcas Dalton 1-0, Conor Doyle 0-3 (1 x 2p) Graham Guilfoyle and Jack Reynolds (1f) 0-2 each, Adam Kelly 0-1.

Bracknagh: Eoghan Geoghegan 2-2, Conor Melia 0-6 (2 x 2p, 1f), Peter Cunningham 1-0, Colm Cunningham 0-2, Sean Wyer, Jason Dempsey ('45') and Mikey Cunningham 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; David Costello, Tom Hyland, Colin Broderick; Fionn Dempsey, Charlie Keogh, Eoin Hyland; Mark Dunne, Colin Cunningham; Eoghan Geoghegan, Peter Cunningham, Sean Wyer; Conor Melia, Jason Dempsey, Mikey Cunningham.

CLARA: Adam Scanlon; Ryan Carroll, Barry Egan, Carl Stewart; Conor Doyle, Marcas Dalton, John Ledwith; Ed Cullen, David Falsey; Conor Egan, Adam Kelly, Myles Handy; Jack Reynolds, Cormac Delaney, Graham Guilfoyle. Subs – Kevin Minnock for Ledwith (HT), Bobby Mitchell for Handy (45m), Eoin Gavin for Reynolds (51m).

Referee – Fergal Smyth, Kilclonfert.

REFEREE WATCH

Fergal Smyth had a busy afternoon and a decent game. He was perhaps a bit over dramatic in the way he addressed things at times but his message was heard loud and clear as a result, particularly when he warned the Bracknagh mentors that they were in danger of being punished by a free to Clara for their protests. He got the vast majority of calls right but did seem a little bit hard on Clara on a couple of occasions: it is seldom punished with a red but Mikey Cunningham was fortunate to get away with a yellow for a blow into Conor Doyle's stomach, that winded the Offaly hurling star and reduced his influence for a few minutes at a stage when he was flying.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

All of Bracknagh's goals were momentum changers. The last one earned them a point but we are going to go with Eoghan Geoghegan's one in first half injury time as it gave Bracknagh a crucial lifeline and a five point half time deficit was much more retrievable than the eight point one Clara deserved for their first half dominance.

VENUE WATCH

Bracknagh's ground looked very well and they were perfect hosts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Clara host Ballycommon while Bracknagh travel to Durrow.

STATISTICS

Wides: Clara – 8 (4 in first half); Bracknagh – 7 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Clara – 1 (Conor Egan); Bracknagh – 2 (Colm Cunningham and Mikey Cunningham).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0