Morgan Fuels Down SFC
Round 2B
Bryansford 2-17 An Riocht 0-6
BRYANSFORD eased their way into round three of the Down Senior Club Championship with a comprehensive win over An Riocht last night.
Played in Pairc Esler, the game was effectively over shortly after the first quarter when Packie Downey blasted in the first goal.
Deaglan Doyle offered An Riocht some hope with a point in the fourth minute following Downey’s fisted opener, then Bryansford kicked four wides in a row and it looked as if it could be one of those nights.
But they need not have worried as Bryansford kept it simple and allowed Downey, Danny Savage and Conor Maginn to take over the scoring duties.
Morgan’s second point left the minimum between the sides with 15 minutes played but the speedy Savage quickly replied with a point and then that man Savage was involved again as he ran at goal before off-loading to Patrick Sheridan who squared to Downey and he finished neatly onto the back post.
An Riocht were hampered by injuries to defenders Liam Rogers, Aidan Sloan, Michael Clarke and James Cunningham. Stretched in numbers, young Ryan Clarke was drafted in to play his first ever senior game and he acquitted himself well.
But the Kilkeel defence were over-run in the second quarter with Downey, David McKibben and a classy Conor Maginn point giving Bryansford a 10-point lead. And with the last kick of the half McKibben’s free dropped short and Downey intelligently fisted into the net.
Bryansford enjoyed a 2-9 to 0-3 lead at the break, making the second half a mere formality.
An Riocht didn’t throw in the towel and Noel McArdle, Conor Clarke and Morgan added to their tally but Bryansford had their foot firmly off the pedal and with further points from Savage, McKibben, Maginn, Patrick Sheridan, Peter Brannigan and Jack Maginn, they freewheeled into the third round.
An Riocht will have to wait until mid-September before their next League game, which should be enough time for a few injuries to heal.
Bryansford scorers: P Downey 2-4, D Savage 0-5 (0-1f), C Maginn 0-3, D McKibben 0-2 (0-1f), J Maginn 0-1, P Sheridan 0-1, P Brannigan 0-1
An Riocht: D Morgan 0-2, N McArdle 0-2, (0-1f), D Doyle 0-1, C Clarke 0-1
Round 2B: Ballymartin v Bredagh (Friday, Newcastle, 8.15pm)
THIS is a game from which both teams will be confident of progressing.
Ballymartin were minutes of away from reaching round 2A last week but had victory snatched from them by Saval. It was a frustrating way to lose and it can be difficult to lift a team after such a defeat.
Bredagh, on the other hand, were comfortably beaten (1-8 to 1-17) by Castlewellan in a game they weren’t expected to win.
The south east Belfast side were intermediate champions last season when Warrenpoint native Alan Davidson was scoring for fun.
The former county ace, though, won’t feature this evening as he is out of the country and Bredagh will be looking to Donal Hughes, Kealan Devlin, Michael Robinson and Joe Shields for their scores.
Benny Hasson is another player worth looking out for, following his excellently-taken goal against Castlewellan.
Ballymartin scored 2-14 and led for 59 minutes against Saval but still lost to Saval’s 0-21.
Ryan O’Hare is a tricky player to mark, he has bags of pace and possesses a deadly right foot and the Whites need him to be sharp.
Ciaran O’Hare and former county player Peter Fitzpatrick are other players Ballymartin will expect to step up to the mark.
Tonight’s senior game will take place after the intermediate game between Atticall and Carryduff (6.45pm).
DOWN CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
Morgan Fuels SFC
Thursday
Bryansford 2-17 An Riocht 0-6
Friday
Round 2B: Bredagh v Ballymartin (Newcastle, 8.15pm)
Saturday
Round 2A
CPN Warrenpoint v RGU Downpatrick (Castlewellan, 3.30pm)
Castlewellan v Saval (Pairc Esler, 5pm)
Round 2B
Clonduff v Longstone (Pairc Esler, 6.30pm)
Sunday
Morgan Fuels SHC semi-final
Ballygalget v Ballycran (Portaferry, 5pm)
Monday, August 21
Morgan Fuels SFC
Round 2A
Burren v Mayobridge (Pairc Esler, 6.45pm)
Ballyholland v Kilcoo (Pairc Esler (8.15pm)
Round 2B
Glenn v Loughinisland (Newcastle, 8.15pm)
