Carryduff heroes see off Burren

8 October 2025

CARRYDUFF’S golden generation delivered a giant-killing blow when they knocked Burren out of the Down Senior Football Championship and set up a mouthwatering decider with Kilcoo.

Although much of the squad was involved when Carryduff claimed a third consecutive U-21 title six years ago, their best senior finish to date was runner-up in 2020, but they now appear to be coming into their own.

Many had expected Burren to claim the first place in the county’s main event, given their track record, yet they were sent packing by a side which has shown they can mix it with the best, and possibly even dethrone the Magpies.

The early exchanges painted a picture that hinted at a different outcome, as the Newry men dominated opening six minutes, racking up a dazzling 1-3 without reply.

Carryduff looked to be on course for a long afternoon, and an other disappointing end to a county championship, but not many could have predicted the redemption that was to follow.

Capitalising on an avalanche of Burren wides, they showed their resilience to not only work their first scores, but actually turn the game on its head, storming into a one-point lead inside 14 minutes.

The St Mary’s side had succumbed to a total collapse, letting a seemingly insurmountable start slip from their grasp, and the second half did not make for pretty viewing either.

Throughout the entirety of the second 30 minutes, Burren could only muster up a single point, leaving Carryduff licking their lips at the prospect of a comfortable route to the showpiece.

Even star man Odhran Murdock lost his spark, contributing to the hefty haul of wides, while his county teammate, Daniel Guinness, shone brightly for the eventual finalists.

Daniel Guinness, Joe Tunney and Ronan Beatty made sure to increase the ever-widening gap after the restart, while a whole host of Carryduff scorers joined in on the act, catapulting their side to within 60 minutes of glory.

They were further boosted by the unlikely return of Daniel’s brother, James Guinness, who underwent an emergency appendicectomy just two weeks ago.

The delay of the match, moved from Friday to Sunday due to the impacts of Storm Amy, aided the county star in declaring himself fit.

He came off the bench in the 54th minute, replacing Michael McGrath, and will be a vital asset for the final — something manager Finnian Morriarty highlighted.

“He only said last night, at about half 10, that he was fit to be a sub, and we weren’t necessarily going to use him,” he admitted.

“Once we got the cushion of four or five points there, we sort off though it would maybe be a good time for him to come in, because the game was getting very stretched.”

Speaking after the game, Guinness added: “I thought it would be tight for the final, and then I went down and did a

wee bit with the physio on Friday, then got moving and was like ‘there’s probably a chance here’.

“I had the appendix removed, it wasn’t a major open surgery or anything. I suppose the only thing was not picking up any other niggles.

“The boys didn’t need me out there today, it was just seeing it over the line at the very end.”

Kilcoo will undoubtedly offer a tougher test on October 19, and the men in purple and yellow will have to bring their A-game if they are to write their name into the history of the Senior Championship.

Carryduff: M Hynes, L Toal, C Cassidy, O Sherry, M McGrath, D Guinness, P McCabe, E Donnelly, T McCarroll, G Henderson, J McFlynn, O McCabe, J Tunney, R Beatty, J McGeough. Subs: C Clinton, S McGonigle, J Guinness, D Coogan, J McFlynn.

Burren: O McStay, P McCarthy, P Fegan, M McAvoy, H Magill, G McGovern, R Cunningham, R Magill, O Murdock, R McGrath, P Burns, C Cunningham, D Murdock, R Treanor, D Mussen. Subs: D O’Hare, T Magee, J McCann, K McKiernan, N Toner.

Carryduff 0-20

Burren 1-9

DOWN SFC SEMI-FINAL

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