Kilcullen's Leinster journey grinds to a halt with a chastening defeat at home to Bracknagh

Kilcullen 0-7

Leinster JFC semi-final

The journey started on the pitches of Kilcullen as early as last February, and while Jarlath Gilroy's men ventured through pitches in Hawkfield, Newbridge and the Netherlands, their adventure concluded back where it began on Saturday afternoon. There was no shame in this defeat- Bracknagh are an intermediate club playing in a junior championship- and Kilcullen will be pleased with their year's work, but they were well and truly bested by a well-oiled side from across the Kildare border in Offaly.

Kilcullen started the game brightly, and even led as early as the fifth minute, but that proved to be somewhat of a false dawn. Despite Glen Brererton kicking Bracknagh into an early lead through a free, scores from Colm Fox and Paul Jones meant that the home side led by 0-2 to 0-1 after five minutes.

The next 15 minutes of the game proved to be critical as Bracknagh wrestled control of the tie and reeled off 1-4 without reply. A point from Stefan Geoghegan kickstarted that spell, before centre-back Jim Hendy got up the pitch to kick a fine score. Brererton's second free of the day brought the gap to two points, before a speculative '45 from Peter Cunningham was poorly dealt with by the Kilcullen defence and the ball eventually nestled in the back of the net.

Another free from Brererton rounded off a rotten 15 minutes for the Rags, before they eventually strung together a fine move that culminated in David Marshall kicking over his first point of the afternoon.

Bracknagh had the aid of a strong breeze however, and it seemed as if the Offaly men were managing to get their scores with consummate ease in comparison to their hosts. Brererton was kicking his frees confidently, and another score from the full-forward put them further ahead with 24 minutes played.

Both sides tagged on a couple of points each before the interval, with Marshall and Darren Barker landing scores for the Rags, while Anthony Cunningham and Brererton kicked over scores for Bracknagh to leave the Offaly champions 1-8 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

The home side would have been hopeful that the wind advantage they would enjoy in the second half would give them a platform for a comeback, but it was Bracknagh who got off to the start that Kilcullen would have envisaged for themselves.

A couple of points from Peter Cunningham and Brererton effectively put the game to bed as the visitors went eight points ahead with just two minutes of the second half played. A point from John Whyte after a goal chance had been passed up by Paul Jones and Colm Fox offered some respite for the Rags, but O'Dempseys imposed themselves once more to strike the nails into the coffin of Kilcullen's Leinster campaign.

Jamie Sheridan blazed over a point when he really could have goaled, while further scores from Brererton, Peter Cunningham and Joe Costello supplemented the Bracknagh lead. Jamie Lambe's excellent point was the solitary response that Kilcullen could muster up.

The game was pretty much over as a contest by that stage, and though Kilcullen never threw the towel in, finding the energy to attack the away side was always going to prove difficult. Their challenge wasn't helped when goalkeeper Alan Wright was sent off for an off the ball incident, while midfielder Darren Barker was shown a black car. Bracknagh were also reduced to 14 men after Stefan Geoghegan was given a red card soon after, with the game becoming increasingly fractured as neither side managed a score for 14 minutes.

Robin Galbrith plundered 1-1 as the game entered its final passage, and the flame on Kilcullen's season was comprehensively blown out.

They can look forward to competing in the Kildare Intermediate Championship in 2017 however, and judging by their displays this year, they will have nothing to fear in regards to the step up in class.

https://twitter.com/KilcullenGAA/status/794922736879603712

Scorers for Kilcullen: D Marshall 0-2(1f), C Fox(1f), D Barker, J Lambe, P Jones and J Whyte 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bracknagh: D Brererton 0-6(6f), P Cunningham 1-2, R Galbrith 1-1, S Geoghegan 0-2, J Sheridan, J Costello, A Cunningham and J Sheridan 0-1 each.

Kilcullen

A Wright; H Peacock, F Shortt, W Jones; P Bell(S Ryan 40mins), J Lambe, R Toft; D Barker, S Byrne; D Marshall(B Fox 40mins), B Bell, P Jones; G Lavin, C Fox, J Whyte.

Bracknagh

K Keogh; D Costello, D Groome, E Geoghegan; A Cunningham, J Hendy, W Dowling; P Cunning, S Geoghegan; J Sheridan, J Costello, R Galbrith; K McNeilis(E Maher 43mins), G Berereton, R Barron(J Dempsey 43mins).