Bryansford’s second half performance the difference in strong win

4 June 2025

BRYANSFORD made the second half their own as they swept An Riocht aside and moved to within a point of second place.

The hosts controlled the majority of the opening 30 minutes, netting early through Ciaran Lundy and although a late surge saw their opponents close the gap at 1-6 to 1-4 before half-time, there was only ever going to be one winner after the interval.

Majors from Tomas McInerney and Conall Murray, alongside a plethora of points, blew the Kingdom away and ensured Bryansford collected their fifth win of the season.

Opening attacks broke down for both sides and after An Riocht fired wide of the mark on their next drive forward, Bryansford saw their opportunity to pounce.

Lundy carved through the heart of the defence with ease and kept his composure to slot into the bottom corner, opening the hosts’ account on the goal front after just three minutes.

The away side were frustrated by second wide in as many minutes, but they eventually got up and running thanks to Eoin Sloan and Declan Doyle’s points.

Danny Savage and Oisin Kelly hit back for Bryansford and increased pressure on An Riocht, who found the wrong side of the uprights on their next four attacks.

Bryansford kicked on with a Conall Murray two-pointer and were presented with a golden opportunity when Andrew Watson was brought down in the away area.

Danny Savage stepped up to take the resulting penalty and while there was nothing wrong with his effort, goalkeeper Steven Doran leapt across his line to make a dazzling save.

The resulting 45 was converted, but the goal denial gave the Kingdom the impetus they needed to find their feet in the game.

They found their first score in 16 minutes with Ronan McAlinden’s two-point free and cut the deficit to a minimum as Deaglan Morgan smashed home from close range.

Murray converted the final score of the half to steady the Bryansford ship and give them a slim, two-point lead at the mid-way point — a margin that did not offer a true reflection of their performance.

An Riocht’s McAlinden opened the second half scoring, but that would do nothing to scupper the sheer ferocity of the home attack.

Bryansford hit three points without reply, courtesy of Ruairi Wells and Watson (2), and they asserted their dominance when McInerney clipped the ball past scrambling ‘keeper Doran.

They were evidently not content with their seven-point advantage, as Savage added to his tally with an arrow-like point.

Kingdom finally returned the scoreboard in the 42nd minute, with a Luke Rafferty free, and after Murray added another for the hosts, the visitors found further joy.

Substitute Oran McAleenan pulled a point back in a goalmouth scramble and Darragh McAlinden gave them hope with a two-point free that he made look easy.

However, Murray and Riain Magorrian calmed the Bryansford nerves with two points in quick succession and ‘keeper Jack McLaughlin got down low to deny An Riocht’s Christopher Flanagan.

The result was put beyond any doubt when Watson embarked upon a driving run and fisted over the heads of the defence to find Murray, who rifled into the top corner.

Wells doubled his tally with a powerful loft over the bar and despite Morgan hitting another two-pointer for the away side, victory was already in Bryansford’s grasp.

With a record of five wins and four defeats, Bryansford are now closing in on second place Rostrevor and will hope to bridge that gap next time out.

Bryansford: J McLaughlin, P Brady, S Donegan, A McDonald, C Lundy, S Og Kelly, C Laverty, R Wells, O Kelly, A Watson, C Maginn, F Canavan, C Murray, D Savage, R Magorrian. Subs: J Harbinson, L Kelly, J Leonard, C Magorrian, D McDonald, T McInerney, C Merron.

An Riocht: S Doran, E Killen, M Greenan, L Donnan, D Cordell, D Doyle, C Flanagan, R McAlinden, L Quinn, B Rodgers, L Rafferty, C Campbell, D McAlinden, D Morgan, E Sloan. Subs: S Quinn, S Browne, O McAleenan, C McConville, K Colgan, G Gricius, S Rafferty.

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