Brackaville Surprise Augher In Preliminary Round

Saturday 24.08.2024

Club Life

Augher and Brackaville got the Tyrone Junior Championship up and running on Saturday afternoon and as history would have it we were treated to a fine game with a bit of a twist.

Both teams produced some fine football and both sides played better against the wind but it was the ability of the Roes to hit the net that ultimately decided the contest.

Brackaville were out of the traps quickly and early points from Dale Mc Sorley and Jason O’Neill (2) followed by 1-1 from Gary Ferguson knocked Augher for six. Mc Sorley’s goal was a well crafted piece of skill from full forward Mc Hugh to find his team mate free at the back post.  The finish from Mc Sorley gave his team the perfect start.

The Roes supporters were in fine voice as they watched their side produce their best football of the season. In spite of playing into a very strong wind they reached the break leading 1-6 to 0-7. Their other points came courtesy of Mc Sorley again and Rian Mc Hugh who then had to leave the field injured.

Augher took a while to settle but the driving runs of Martin Mc Elhatton, Declan Connolly, Tierney Mc Elroy and Darragh Kavanagh results in scores. Kavanagh hit four of his team’s first half tally while Connolly (2) and Mc Elroy got the scores that left them one behind at the break.

The big question was whether or not Augher could cope with the elements. Mc Elhatton got the second half up and running with an early point to narrow the gap to a single point. Jason O’Neill made it a two point game again before a score from Tiernan Mc Elroy left only a point in it with Augher now on top.

The Brackaville defence were under pressure but the cool heads of Stiofan Gervin, Chris Kearns and Kyle O’Hagan repelled numerous attacks from Augher. However just when frustration began to creep into Augher’s play they hit the net on 42 minutes to lead for the first time 1-9 to 1-7.

Now it was the turn of Brackaville to dig themselves out of it and dig they did. With Shea Fee, Mc Sorley and Gary Ferguson rolling up their collective sleeves the Roes men hit 2-1 inside four minutes to push for home. A point from Darragh Kavanagh reduced the deficit but it was Brackaville who finished strongest with a Ronan Mc Hugh point and two points from Dale Mc Sorley to seal the win 3-11 to 1-10.

Brackaville now go through to meet league champions Drumquin in the first round proper.