Down SFC Final Preview Part 1: ‘We’ve improved across the board’ feels Burren manager Stevie O’Hare

​Given that it’s the third time in the past four years they’ve met in the final, Burren and Kilcoo are the teams many would have expected to be the last two standing in this year’s Down Senior Championship.

​It didn’t go their way in any of those three, including last year with Kilcoo comprehensive nine-point winners, but this year Burren’s new co- manager Stevie O'Hare feels his side have improved, with an unbeaten run to the final with wins over Liatroim, Mayobridge, Bredagh and Carryduff.

“We have a full clean bill of health so that's the main thing,” said the manager. “We've also improved in our transitions and are not making as many turnovers. We've just improved across the board.”

O'Hare watched Kilcoo beat Glenn the day before their semi-final and saw what he expected from the reigning champions.

“Kilcoo looked very impressive, like they always do. Glenn scored their 10 points but Kilcoo got 17. They are the benchmark now so we know we have to bring our A Game.

“We'll work on our own game plan. Work on our transition play and cut out as many mistakes as we can. We're working all year since training at the start of February and we're not going to change what we do.”

The psychological affect of such a lopsided final last year is bound to play on the players' minds and while Jim McCorry was at the helm for Burren last season, O'Hare acknowledges that.

“I think Kilcoo knew what was going on last year,” he said referring to the refereeing controversy ahead of the game as Kilcoo’s objection to Drumgath's Paul Faloon refereeing the game led to Brian Higgins being drafted in at the eleventh hour.

“We turned up 40 minutes before the match. We didn't know where the ref was.”

But it's a fresh start for both O'Hare and some of his players.

“There are other players in there who have never played Kilcoo in the championship, so they'll be fresh and they'll have no baggage - and we'll have no baggage.”

Despite Burren's inability to get past the Magpies since 2018, between the two teams they make up most of last year’s Tailteann Cup winning Down team – four each on the starting 15. So on paper, Burren have the players to usurp the champions if they play their cards right.

​​Last year Burren got it all wrong in the final against Kilcoo but they will be aiming to rectify that on Sunday.

Liam Kerr top-scored with three points – the other six provided by fellow county player Odhran Murdock, Ronan McGrath and Darra Mussen. Kilcoo pulled away in the first half and there was no catching them after that.

This year’s semi-final between Carryduff and Burren was expected to be close and it was, with a goal late on by Ronan Kelly separating the sides as Burren won 1-10 to 1-7. Carryduff kept Burren’s main scoring threats under wraps for the most part – Kerr, Murdock, Danny and Ryan Magill – but the good news for Burren is that other players stepped up, like Kelly who came off the bench, Conaill McGovern and Niall Toner.

A mistake by goalkeeper Donal O’Hare gifted Carryduff their goal but he made up for the gaff with three terrific scores from frees and ‘45s, so Burren will be confident in their ability to adjust when things aren’t going as planned.

At the back they also have county men who have been performing well in Peter Fegan, Paddy McCarthy and Armagh’s Paddy Burns.

One concern for the management was a worrying spell against Bredagh in the quarter-final where Burren led by eight points at one stage but let their opponents back to within two points near the end. They missed goal chances in that game too that would have made things a lot more comfortable at the end but from Burren’s point of view hopefully lessons were learned ahead of Sunday’s final.