‘Ford are fantastic and lift league title

21 October 2015

BOLD, belligerent Bryansford bushwhacked bewildered Burren to win the coveted O’Neills ACFL Division 1 final at Clonduff on Saturday.

Frank Dawson’s defending champions were given little hope of retaining their crown against a Burren side who had won all their league games — but that’s not how it turned out.

Bryansford’s greater hunger and desire, epitomised by the display from David McKibben, enabled them to overcome a vaunted Burren side that were not allowed to play to their potential.

Burren’s Ryan Treanor grabbed the first score of the game in the second minute when he pointed from play. This was quickly followed by a fisted point from Shay McArdle as Burren threatened to over run a Bryansford side that just couldn’t get a foothold in the game and who wasted a few good scoring chances.

All that changed in the seventh minute when goalkeeper Marc Reid pointed a 45 to get his side moving and McKibben brought the sides level with a converted free in the 16th minute, just after midfielder Conor Devlin was harshly black carded.

David McEntee nudged Burren back in front in the 21st minute, but unanswered points from McKibben (0-2) and Chris Clarke gave Bryansford a 0-5 to 0-3 lead as the end of tense, uninspiring first half drew to a close.

Burren closed the gap to a single point when Donal O’Hare converted a free, but there is no doubt that Bryansford went in the happier side at the break.

The second half was a much more open affair and played at a hectic pace with Bryansford calling the shots.

Burren managed the first score with another fisted point from McArdle, but Bryansford were growing in confidence and McKibben, who had an insatiable appetite for a piece of the action, led his side from the front.

His ball-winning abilities and never-say-die attitude enabled Bryanford to regain the lead with two super scores from the equally impressive Clarke.

Burren lost Treanor to a black card at this stage, but they were living off scraps and had to rely on a free from O’Hare to keep them in touch.

With 46 minutes gone Chris Brannigan gave Bryansford a 0-8 to 0-6 lead with a great score from play, but Burren were then thrown an unexpected lifeline.

Reid, who was under pressure from McArdle, could only punch an attempted point from Kevin McKernan out as far as Sean Murdock and he drilled the ball to the net to give his side a 1-6 to 0-8 lead.

Bryansford were staring down a barrel when O’Hare tagged on a free for Burren, but this was to be his side’s last score of the game. Pushed on by McKibben and Kalum King, Bryansford went for the jugular and a King point was followed by a Danny Savage goal from the penalty spot after Conor Gribben was dragged to the floor.

It was now Bryansford’s to lose, but there was no chance of that happening and Clarke put the cherry on the top with another point from play to seal a memorable win.

Bryansford: M Reid (0-1), R McDonald, S Toner, N Murray, D McKibben (0-3), R Wells, L Howard, C Devlin, K King (0-1), D Savage (1-0), C Clarke (0-4), J Magorrian, Chris Brannigan (0-1), C Maginn, P Brannigan. Subs: A Somers for Devlin (black card), C Gribben for P Brannigan, C McKibben for Maginn, A McDonald for Chris Brannigan.

Burren: C Murdock, J McGovern G McGovern, R Hana, D McEntee (0-1), Ciaran McGovern, P Murdock, E Toner, M McKay, Conaill McGovern, C Foy, K McKernan, S McArdle (0-2), R Treanor (0-1), D O’Hare (0-3). Subs: R McGovern for P Murdock, S Murdock (1-0 for Treanor (black card), C Toner for McKay, D McCartan for R McGovern.

Bryansford 1-10

Burren 1-7

ACFL DIVISION 1 FINAL

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