Bryansford are in the mood as Liatroim falter

Bryansford are in the mood as Liatroim falter

8 July 2015

BRYANSFORD consolidated their position in the upper echelons of the top flight with a convincing win over Liatroim at St Patrick’s Park on Friday night.

While Bryansford head for a top four spot and a shot at retaining their league title, Liatroim, who are still haemorrhaging players to all parts of the globe, seem destined to be playing their football in Division 2 next season.

Bryansford served notice of intent from the throw in and moved the ball at pace up to Conor McKibben who combined with Kalum King to carve out an opening for Philip Bonny and he had the simple task of planting the ball in the net after only 10 seconds.

Liatroim did not cave in and Liam Doyle converted a seventh minute free to get his side on the scoreboard. Chris Brannigan and Gerard McAnulty exchanged scores before Conor Maginn pointed Bryansford into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead by the 11th minute.

Liatroim were having bother dealing with Bryansford’s intricate passing phases and the movement of Danny Savage, Maginn and the erudite Ciaran Brannigan, who was revelling in the playmaker role.

However, it was Liatroim who picked up the next two scores through the pacy Robbie O’Hare and McAnulty to leave a point in it after 13 minutes.

Maginn put over from play before Bryansford lost Luke Howard to a red card after it appeared he showed dissent at receiving a black card.

Aiden O’Prey took advantage of Bryansford reorganising and left a point in it again, 1-3 to 0-5, after 18 minutes.

That was as close as Liatroim got as Bryansford simply turned the screw and points from Ciaran Brannigan, Maginn and Peter Brannigan eased the home side into a 1-6 to 0-6 lead. 

P J Davidson tagged on a point for Liatroim before McKibben grabbed Bryansford’s second goal after the Brannigan brothers, Ciaran and Peter, had created the opening.

Chris Brannigan added a point and King a goal as half time-approached to give Bryansford a 3-7 to 0-6 lead. Liatroim had the last say of the half when Stephen O’Higgins grabbed his side’s seventh point.

The second half mirrored the first with Chris Brannigan converting two frees and Joseph Ireland a point from play to give Bryansford a 3-10 to 0-7 lead.

It was a matter of going through the motions now and Ciaran Brannigan and Darren O’Higgins swapped points before Ciaran Brannigan made it 4-11 to 0-8 from the penalty spot.

Points from McAnulty and Darren O’Higgins gave Liatroim some respite, but Peter Brannigan made it 4-12 to 0-10 with nine minutes remaining. Liatroim kept plugging away and Davidson and McAnulty lofted over scores with Stevie McKIbben replying for Bryansford.

Davidson and Ciaran Brannigan swapped scores before a McAnulty free and a Conor Malone point brought proceedings to a finish.

Bryanford: M Reid, J Magorrian, L Howard, R Wells, R McDonald, B King, P Bonny (1-0), K King (1-0), J Ireland (0-1), D Savage, C Maginn (0-3), C McKibben (1-0), P Brannigan (0-2), Chris Brannigan (0-4), Ciaran Brannigan (1-3). Subs: S. McKibben (0-1) for Maginn, A Keenan for Bonny, S Toner for Magorrian. 

Liatroim: D Morgan, S Og O’Rourke, C Doyle, P Middleton, C Regan, M McCartan, D O’Higgins (0-2), l Doyle (0-1), S O’Higgins (0-1), E Clarke, W McCartan, G McAnulty (0-5), PJ Davidson (0-3), A O’Prey (0-1), R. O’Hare (0-1). Subs: PJ McComiskey for W McCartan, P Burns for D O’Higgins, C O’Higgins, C McAleenan, C Malone (0-1).