Morgan Fuels Down SFC round two: Burren 2-11 Glenn 0-8
JIM McCorry’s appointment as manager was a sure indication of Burren’s desire to win back the Tom O’Hare Cup and they are into the quarter-finals after comfortably taking care of Glenn last night in Newry. Burren were home and dry by half-time with a 2-6 to 0-03 lead, while Glenn had one eye on round three this weekend.
The St Mary’s brushed aside the challenge of Saul in the opening weekend of the championship, while Glenn were impressive in their victory over Bryansford.
Glenn made a couple of late changes with Michael Turley coming in for Jack Hughes at corner-back, while Joe Sands was rewarded for his league form by getting the nod ahead of David Convery. Burren made changes too – there was the surprise omission of top scorer Donal O’Hare in favour of Shay McArdle, while county man Gerard McGovern was named among the subs but started instead of Stevie Fegan.
McCorry’s faith in youth continues but it’s not surprising as four of his starting 15 were part of Conor Laverty’s Down U20 team and Paddy McCarthy scored a neat goal only seconds before the break.
Ryan Magill did a fantastic man-marking job on former county star Shay Millar and kept him scoreless before being taken off at half-time, while young Odhran Murdock also impressed in midfield.
Burren led 0-5 to 0-2 at the first water-break as Danny Magill and Ronan McGrath tapped over before Mattie Bagnall opened Glenn’s account. Jack McCartan squeezed over a wonder point but Glenn were dealt a blow when talisman Dennis Murtagh was black-carded. Liam Kerr kept the Burren scoreboard ticking over and as the game progressed the St Mary’s men were utilising their pace with sweeping runs.
Shay McArdle bundled over the first goal straight after the first waterbreak and while the remainder of the half was a tight enough contest, with Kerr and Bagnall trading points, McCarthy’s tidy side-foot into the net only seconds before the whistle gave Burren a healthy lead. McArdle almost bagged another goal but his shot crashed off the post and, with the goal wide open, Kevin McKernan met the rebound on the half-volley but screwed his shot wide.
Ronan McGrath and Bagnall (frees) traded points but there was no way back for Glenn. Burren had designs on more goals and they would have had a third but Gavin McParland cleared off the line and keeper John O’Hare denied Ryan Magill, who attempted a cheeky lob. McKernan fisted over and Ronan McGrath drilled between the sticks as Burren pulled away.
The lively Jack McCartan replied with a great point, but he was given a black card with five minutes remaining. Burren were 2-9 to 0-6 in front at the second water-break, and coasted to the finish from there.
SCORERS: Burren: S McArdle (1-0), P McCarthy (1-0), R McGrath (0-4, 0-1 free), L Kerr (0-3), D Magill (0-2), K McKernan (0-1), R Magill (0-1) Glenn: M Bagnall (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 mark), J McCartan (0-2)
ROUND THREE DRAWS: Senior: Clonduff v Warrenpoint; Longstone v Carryduff; Glenn v Castlewellan; Bredagh v Mayobridge Intermediate: Clann na Banna v Saval; Attical v St Paul’s; Darragh Cross v Shamrocks; Drumgath v Ballymartin
