Football

Kilcoo set the benchmark for defensive tactics says Bryansford boss Steven Poacher

Kilcoo set the benchmark for defensive tactics says Bryansford boss Steven Poacher. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Kilcoo set the benchmark for defensive tactics says Bryansford boss Steven Poacher. Picture by Hugh Russell. Kilcoo set the benchmark for defensive tactics says Bryansford boss Steven Poacher. Picture by Hugh Russell.

STEVEN Poacher is used to being criticised for his safety-first gameplans but the experienced coach, who took over as manager of Bryansford this season after a successful spell with Carlow, says that, when it comes to defensive tactics, Down and Ulster champions Kilcoo are “setting the benchmark”.

During his time as assistant-manager, Leinster minnows Carlow were transformed from alsorans into the team no other county wanted to play and won promotion for the first time in three decades before going on to reach the semi-final of their provincial Championship.

His Bryansford team used a similar style to the Barrowsiders in their 1-8 to 1-7 win over Glenn on Sunday. Traditional set-ups and tactics have been replaced by a double-sweeper system and a 15-man counter-attacking style that is possession-based, often low-scoring and not to everyone’s liking. Poacher has been criticised for what some see as an overtly-negative outlook on the game but, like it or loathe it, his gameplans are effective.

Anyway, he says, Mickey Moran’s strategy with Kilcoo makes “me look like the Barcelona manager”.

“Let’s call a spade a spade, Kilcoo are probably setting the benchmark in this county at the minute,” said the former Down U21 manager.

“Be under no illusions, Kilcoo are probably the most defensive team that I have ever seen – they make me look like the Barcelona manager with the way they set up at times. Other teams are mirror-imaging what they’re doing and they’re saying to themselves ‘If we want to beat the best, sometimes we have to match the best’.”

Bryansford goalkeeper Marc Reid was a regular outfield on Sunday. The former Down goalkeeper offered his side an extra man outlet on the right wing when the Ath Bhrian outfit attempted to pick their way to Glenn’s defensive system.

“Marc played in midfield a couple of times for the club last year, so he’s a competent outfield player,” Poacher explained.

“It’s a 15-man game and it’s in the rules but some of the rules… I hope we don’t go down to the line of (referees) blowing up for wee silly things. Like, Marc didn’t use his tee (for a kickout) in the second half and that was blown-up. We need to cut those rules out because people are coming to watch the game and enjoy the game and I thought the second half was a real wholehearted, spirited championship affair.”

The few spectators admitted to Pairc Esler on Sunday created a good atmosphere and it was only after the final whistle that Poacher realised how much he had missed the club championship in his native county.

“I thought at the end there: ‘God I’ve missed this’,” he said.

“Newry always has a great atmosphere and when Glenn went in front with six or seven minutes to go it was great. I love Pairc Esler and days like this and even though it’s strange now with social-distancing and everything you saw there was nobody giving an inch.”

When his team lose the ball everyone has to funnel back into their own half and defend but there is room for talent to shine through in Poacher’s playbook and on Sunday his tactics worked brilliantly at times. Bryansford forced turnover after turnover as Glenn struggled to break them down and then worked the ball patiently to shooters Danny Savage (0-5) and Ryan O’Higgins (0-3). It was O’Higgins who conjured up the winner after Glenn had fought back brilliantly and Poacher predicts a bright future for the Down underage star.

“Ryan is that sort of a player, he can burst into life,” he said.

“He is a fantastic prospect, he’s a big talent and he’s not just a big talent for us, he’s going to be a big talent for Down too because he’ll give us something that we don’t have.

“He’s 6’3” and we don’t tend to produce too many of those type of footballer in this county. I have great hopes for him and if he keeps learning and progressing, I would say Ryan has a big future.”