Bridge win back to back Minor titles

Mayobridge retained their Down Minor Championship title at Pairc Esler ahead of Sunday’s Senior semi-final between Burren and Carryduff, with a four-point victory over St John Bosco.

A brilliant spell midway through the first half where they scored three goals helped the Bridge on their way, but although trailing 3-3 to 0-2 at the short whistle, Bosco battled back bravely in the second half. The Newry side scored a late goal to narrow the margin to four but the Bridge held their nerve and as the better side overall, were deserving of the win.

“It was tough,” Mayobridge co-manager Francie Poland admitted to the Newry Reporter after the game.

“We were 10 points up at one stage but we just knew the type of team Bosco is – they scored six goals in the semi-final – we knew they'd definitely come back at us and definitely get goals. They took us to the wire. We weren't at our best today but we still won so I'm happy enough with that.”

It was a windy afternoon in Pairc Esler and the Bridge had it at their back in the first half, which also helped them build up a head of steam, with those goals supplied by Daire O'Keefe with a brace either side of a maximum from Corey Clerkin.

At the other end, Kian McCaughey was doing his utmost to net, with three fantastic saves made by Bridge keeper Michael Gallagher.

“He had an excellent day,” felt Poland. He made two great saves in the first half and another one at the end. He's a great lad with a great future ahead of him.

“Bosco are a good side. We knew a lot of the players. We knew a lot of them play soccer and we knew they had pace, so we were concerned about that, but thankfully we got over the line.”

Bosco's goals came from Matthew McLoughlin and their centre back Oran McCoy in stoppage time, but Mayobridge had enough of a cushion to hold out for the win.

For full match report see this week’s Newry Reporter, in shops Wednesday October 2

MATCH STATS

Mayobridge: Michael Gallagher; Rory Magone, Ben Kelly, James Keenan; Ollie De Rose, Daniel McMahon, Conor Colhoun (0-1); Daire O'Keefe (2-1), Conor Keenan; Daniel Carr (0-3), Corey Clerkin (1-3,all frees), Patrick Woods; Ryan Coulter, Darragh Poland, Ciaran McPolin

Subs: Lorcan O'Rian for Magone (50mins), Ryan Magee for McPolin (60mins)

St John Bosco: Calum O'Neil; Cahal Casey, Oran McCoy (1-0), Cathair McCaul; Manus Bogue, Fionn McCaul, Darren Doherty (0-1); Declan Flynn, Ben Cinnamond; Aidan Martin Bell, Lorcan Lynch, Rory O'Connor; Shea Byrne (0-1), Kian McCaughey, Matthew McLoughlin (1-5, 4f, 1'45)

Subs: Criostan Patterson for Bell (28mins), Padraig Magill for Bogue (28mins), Caomhan Griffen for Byrne (H-T), Shea Byrne for Griffen (46mins), Bell for McCaul (60mins)

Referee: Kevin McGrath