Burren get the better of the Bridge in derby clash
Down ACFL Mayobridge 2-9 Burren 1-14
Burren got the better of neighbours Mayobridge on Friday night in a hard-fought game with all of the county players released back to their clubs.
That changed the programme considerably for Burren with Peter Fegan, Odhran Murdock, Danny and Ryan Magill and Liam Kerr all coming in and Shane Annett in the starting line-up for the Bridge.
It was a welcome win for Burren – their second from four league fixtures played, while this was just a second defeat for Mayobridge from five games.
Dylan O'Hare opened the scoring from a free to give the hosts the lead but Burren came close to a maximum in the fifth minute when Kerr raced down the right with the ball at his feet, cut inside and shot for goal but was denied by Conor Fitzpatrick with a brilliant clearance off the line.
Niall Toner, who was causing headaches for the home side and on song from the dead ball, scored a brace of frees either side of a point for Adam Crimmins to put Burren into an 0-3 to 0-2 lead – their first of a game that would swing one way and then the other.
Danny Magill increased that to two, but on 18 minutes Annett hit the net for the Bridge and they led again 1-2 to 0-4.
Annett was called into action at the other end moments later with a great block to deny Burren a goal once again and Dylan O'Hare scored a super point to edge the hosts further in front.
There was nothing to chose between the teams however, and another Toner free and a point from play from Danny Magill the sides were level again 1-3 to 0-6.
Conaill Gallagher nudged the Bridge in front once more with a low shot over the bar but Kevin O'Rourke was black carded minutes before the end of the half and Burren took full advantage when Toner picked up a long ball into the Mayobridge square and with the keeper off his line he sidestepped Shane McNamee and stroked into the net. Gallagher replied with a point to give the visitors a narrow 1-6 to 1-5 advantage at the break.
That lead increased to three when when county stars Kerr and Magill pointed but Dylan O'Hare reduced the arrears with a brace of frees, either side of a black card for another county player, Murdock.
Mayobridge couldn't capitalise on the numerical advantage though and it looked like the visitors were set to pull away when they nabbed two of the next three points but with 52 minutes on the clock, a little bit of magic saw Gallagher twist and turn away from two Burren defenders and aiming for goal. The ball seemed to hang in the air for a second before sailing past the diving keeper into the corner of the net.
The Bridge were back in front again 2-8 to 1-10 but it remained close to the very end with the sides level again twice more . But the last two scores of the match were converted by Aaron Cole and Murdock giving them a 1-14 to 2-9 victory.
SCORERS
Mayobridge: Conaill Gallagher (1-3), Shane Annett (1-0), Dylan O'Hare (0-4, all frees), Adam Crimmins (0-2)
Burren: Niall Toner (1-4,3f), Danny Magill (0-4), Liam Kerr (0-4,3f), Aaron Cole (0-1), Odhran Murdock (0-1)