The Powerade Down Senior Football Championship final between Mayobridge and Burren has captured the imagination of the fans and a bumper crowd is expected at St Patrick’s Park on Sunday.

Just as Burren was the team of the Eighties, Mayobridge have dominated Down football since 1999 when they defeated their local rivals 0-14 to 0-8 in the Championship final.
As they have won five of the last seven Championships, the Bridge will start as favourites yet an upset is a definite possibility.

Mayobridge were slightly fortunate to get past Kilcoo, who had opportunities to oust them in the semi-final while Burren have improved considerably under James McCartan this year. Astute gaels admire McCartan’s approach and he is a very real contender for the vacant Down manager’s position.

The statistics show that Mayobridge and Burren have had remarkably similar passages through the Championship and both have beaten three very good teams on their way to Sunday’s big clash.

In beating Longstone, Liatroim and Kilcoo, the Bridge scored 4-24 and conceded 1-28. Burren dismissed Rostrevor, Bryansford and Clonduff while scoring 4-32 and conceding 2-29.
It is also obvious that neither team depends on a few players to get their scores. Nine men have scored for Mayobridge while a total of 12 have hit the target for Burren.

It is all set up for an enthralling contest which may be decided by the respective defences and whoever defends most aggressively without conceding too many frees will win.

Referee Gavin Corrigan will obviously keep a tight rein on the initial exchanges as this game will be packed with tension. Hopefully both the players and the referee will read each other accurately and the spectators will enjoy a good game of strong sporting football.

The Burren backs immediate task will be to shackle Benny Coulter. Benny is due a big game and Daniel McCartan is the man most likely to be given this role. Declan Rooney, Brian Murphy and even Kevin McKernan all have the potential to mark a player of Coulter’s ability.
Michael Walsh is playing very well at the moment and if he is allowed freedom he will certainly open up opportunities for John Quinn and the Sextons to get scores. Ronan Sexton is also certain to have a big influence on the outcome as he has the kind of courage and foresight which is invaluable during tight games.

At midfield Eoghan Woods and Cathal Magee will likely be pitted again Sean Ward and Declan Rooney. The winning of the breaking ball will be vital and I cannot see either team winning much clean possession. Expect both managers to have to make changes in this sector.

It will be interesting to see where Mickey Linden starts Declan Rooney as the latter’s continuous running can have a big influence on any game.

The Burren forwards are all fiercely committed and honest foragers. Kevin McKernan, Eamon McGovern and company will battle incessantly for everything and Conor McCann has the stamina to cover a lot of ground.
Ciaran Byrne has been a revelation at full forward and Aidan McGiven is still one of the most inventive forwards in the county while Kevin McGivern and P J McAlinden always have the kind of alacrity that can grab a goal out of nothing.

The Mayobridge defence is accomplished as a unit and their contribution to the club’s success has sometimes been underrated. Brendan Grant, Gavin Barry, Lively and O’Hare will provide the Burren forwards with their stiffest test so far this year and unless careless frees are conceded, Burren will find it difficult to get scores. This is where the contest will be decided. Expect Mayobridge to edge to victory by three or four points.