Durrow relegate stunned Bracknagh with sensational second half recovery

A STUNNED Bracknagh were left licking their wounds when a sensational second half recovery from Durrow put them back into senior “B” football in a thrilling Offaly Senior Football Championship relegation play off on Friday evening in Geashill.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship relegation play off

Durrow 3-17

Bracknagh 3-15

Playing their best football of the year, Bracknagh were superb in the first half as they stormed into a twelve point half time lead. It looked a winning lead every day of the week and Durrow had not been at the races in the first half.

No one foresaw the second half coming as Durrow threw caution to the wind. Their dual players and best footballers produced the goods when they needed to and somehow Durrow found a way to win an extraordinary game.

There was always the possibility of a big game in Durrow but no one could have anticipated them winning the way they did. They will be delighted to retain their senior status after swimming against the tide the whole year while it was a disastrous end to the campaign for Bracknagh. They competed well, fought with everything they had but they never fully ignited.

They rescued a late draw against Clara and a late win in the group game against Durrow was followed by another last gasp draw in their last clash with Clonbullogue. That draw, however, wasn't enough to keep them out of the relegation play off and they eventually ran out of road in Geashill. Another dramatic late salvage bid just eluded them as they chased a winning goal deep in injury time with Mikey Cunningham having two shots blocked on the line and they return to the lower grade for 2027.

Bracknagh will be wondering how they lost as they were the better side by a country mile in the first half with brothers Peter and Mikey Cunningham running the show.

Twelve points should have been a winning lead but Durrow gave a fantastic second half display. Once they drew blood, they went after it relentlessly with players like Ciaran Burke, Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill, Gavin Hand, Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan driving them on. It was panic stations for Bracknagh once Durrow turned the screw and it all made for fantastic viewing.

The game started well and by the 2nd minute it was Durrow who led 0-2 to 0-1 thanks to scores from Michael McDermott and Mark Troy, either side of a score for Bracknagh from Conor Melia.

But it was at that point that Bracknagh started to take over. They were winning a lot of the key match ups and with Peter Cunningham leading the charge it wasn’t long until they were ahead on the board.

Mikey Cunningham drew the side’s level by the fourth minute, but the deadlock only lasted sixty seconds when Peter Cunningham attacked.

Taking the ball in the middle of the field, he weaved through the Durrow defence like a hot knife through butter to hit the ball to the back of the net. Bracknagh 1-2 to 0-2 clear five minutes in.

Charlie Keogh added to the lead before Peter Cunningham was on the mark with a free, 1-4 to 0-2 after nine minutes.

It was real champagne football from Bracknagh and they had more to come. This time it was the Cunningham brothers who combined. Peter set it up and with a nice ball to Mikey he headed for goal. Dermot Colbert seemed to have it under control, but the ball spilled to the net and Bracknagh were in an extremely commanding position, 2-5 to 0-2 clear after fifteen minutes.

Ciaran Burke landed a much needed score for Durrow moments later, but Mikey Cunningham was hot on heels with another score, before a brace from Brian Duignan and Steven Doran brought the scores to 2-6 to 0-5 twenty three minutes in.

Eoghan Geoghegan landed the game’s opening two pointer on the twenty fifth minute but there was even more to come from a relentless Bracknagh when Mikey Cunningham fired home a cracking goal to bring thee scores to 3-8 to 0-5 by the 24th minute.

Brian Duignan and Mark Troy did shoot over two late scores for the half, but with a two pointer free Peter Cunningham cancelled those out and Bracknagh were a staggering twelve points clear at the interval, 3-10 to 0-7.

While it looked like the task was insurmountable for Durrow, they came with real intent on the resumption and by the 37th minute, they had 1-2 on the board without Bracknagh getting a hand on the ball and you could suddenly sense a shift in the tide.

They had a dream restart when Mark Troy hit the net within sixty seconds and with follow up scores from Brian Duignan and Dan Bourke, the gap was back to seven 3-10 to 1-9.

Now with the bit between their teeth, everything they touched turned to gold and with Brian Duignan hitting over a superbly struck two pointer this game was in a melting pot.

Mikey Cunningham quelled them somewhat, but with a fine score from Sam Bourke, Durrow were pushing on and with thirty nine played we were back to a five point game, 3-11 to 1-12.

Durrow were the ones who were relentless now and with an initial shot from Jack Fogarty rebounding off the upright, Kevin McDermott, back from injury, made no mistake in raising the green flag and we suddenly had a two point game, 3-11 to 2-12.

Peter Cunningham hit over a much needed free for Bracknagh on the 47th minute, but three minutes later the sides were remarkably level with Brian Duignan rifling the ball to the net, 3-12 each and ten minutes of normal time to play.

Fionn Dempsey hit over a brilliant score from Bracknagh to steady the ship, but they were punished for a three man breach, Mark Troy duly pointed the free and the sides were level again.

Brian Duignan nudged Durrow ahead on the 57th minute, but Peter Cunningham levelled within seconds.

It was now time for Bracknagh to batten down the hatches, but a second breach saw Mark Troy hit Durrow in front again as the sixtieth minute ticked by.

Brian Duignan added two more scores, before Alex Broderick scored for Bracknagh and with 62 on the clock there was two between the sides.

Bracknagh did have the chance of pulling it from the fire but Mickey Cunningham was blocked on the double as he went for the winning goal.

It was Durrow who celebrated in the as Bracknagh fell to their knees. The final scores in an intriguing and brilliant game reading 3-17 to 3-15.

The Scorers

Durrow: Brian Duignan 1-8 (0-2 TP), Mark Troy 1-4 (0-3 Frees), Kevin McDermott 1-0, Steven Doran 0-1 (Free), Michael McDermott 0-1, Ciaran Burke 0-1, Dan Bourke 0-1, Sam Bourke 0-1,

Bracknagh: Mikey Cunningham 2-4, Peter Cunningham 1-5 (0-2 TPF, 0-2 Frees), Eoghan Geoghegan 0-2 (TP), Conor Melia 0-1, Charlie Keogh 0-1, Fionn Dempsey 0-1, Alex Broderick 0-1.

The Teams

Durrow: Dermot Colbert; Sean Hughes, Oisin Cusack, Daire Boland; Jack O’Brien (Capt.), Ciaran Burke, Gavin Hand; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill; Dan Bourke, Cian Kinnarney, Steven Doran; Mark Troy, Brian Duignan, Michael McDermott.

Subs: Sam Bourke for Oisin Cusack (Half Time), Kevin McDermott for Michael McDermott (Half Time), Arron Maher for Steven Doran (62 mins).

Bracknagh: Keith Keogh; Charlie Keogh, Adam Kelly, David Costello; Fionn Dempsey, Anthony Cunningham, Sean Dempsey; Colm Cunningham, Jason Dempsey (Capt.), Eoghan Geoghegan, Peter Cunningham, Mark Dunne; Sean Wyer, Mikey Cunningham, Conor Melia.

Sub: Alex Broderick for Sean Wyer (46 mins).

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).