Bredagh win Down Intermediate Hurling Championship for 3rd time

Monday 19th September 2016

Bredagh win Down Intermediate Hurling Championship for 3^rd time

Bredagh Senior Hurlers won the Down Intermediate Hurling championship for the third time at sunny Newcastle today, overcoming a determined and dogged Ballycran team by the bare minimum.

On a perfect day for hurling, Bredagh started well and although went behind early on, soon opened up a two point lead, thanks to scores by Niall Irwin, Decky McCartney and a pointed free by Cillian McSuibhne.

Mal Scullin was heavily involved in the opening exchanges winning possession in the air, dirty ball on the ground and laying the ball off to supporting players.  McCartney, too, started brightly and was a constant threat, getting out in front to win plenty ball and only for some excellent defending might had more scores to his name.

The full back line of Mark Patterson, Tom McGuckin and Michael Woods were solid and composed and dealt well with Ballycran’s attacking threat.  Cormac Hughes was his usual dominant self at centre back, strong in the air and sweeping up for his wing men of Eoghan Donnelly and Cillian McSuibhne.

Ballycran gradually gained a foothold and levelled the scores before the side exchange a number of tit for tat scores.  During this period Sean McGourty and Irwin formed an effective midfield with both chipping in with vital scores, while Emmet Trainor, stationed a centre forward worked tirelessly.  The Ormeau men looked to have more of a goal threat with the Ballycran keeper Declan Ennis being forced into two outstanding saves.  The first, a point blank block from Niall Donnelly who reacted quickest to a ball rebounding off the upright – McSuibhne was unerring with the resultant 65.  And then a well worked move between McCartney and Trainor put Ryan Curran in space and it took a full length diving effort to keep his shot out.

With 3 minutes to go in the half, Ballycran had opened up a two point lead and it looked like Bredagh needed the half time whistle to re-organise.  However Philip Miskimmin struck for a goal for the Crans leaving 5 points between the teams and clear daylight for the first time in the match.  This Bredagh team has repeatedly shown during its league campaign that it will not flinch in the face of adversity and seconds later a searing Niall Donnelly run through the heart of the Crans defence was finished with a rasping shot to the net.  A further minor score by Donal Hughes left the odd score between the teams at the half time whistle – 1-09 to 1-08.

Ballycran opened the second half scoring to stretch their lead before the imperious Donal Hughes won possession in midfield and raced towards the goals. His low shot bounced high over the keeper but snuck under the crossbar to give Bredagh the advantage.  Following a similar pattern to the first half, the men in maroon and white enjoyed a period of relative dominance – solid in defence and biting hard in the midfield area, with Niall Irwin turning in a superb performance.  Unfortunately that dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard with several chances drifting outside the posts.

The Ardsmen stuck to their task admirably and when Joe Shields dropped a ball in the square only a Mark Patterson clearance off the line averted a goal.  On their next attack Crans made sure though and a low shot from Niall Breen beat Shields to leave them ahead and Bredagh with serious work to do.  Danny Robinson and Ian Galway were introduced for Trainor and Curran but the tide looked to be against Bredagh who could not gain a foothold at the half forward line.  Cometh the hour, cometh the man however and Woods and Cormac Hughes thundered into the last 10minunte and gave no quarter in breaking up Crans attacks.

Donal Hughes began to exert more influence in the attacking half and 2 pointed frees from McSuibne, plus excellent scores from McCartney, now playing a roving midfield role and popping up all over the pitch, and Niall Donnelly put the City boys into the lead.  Leading by two points deep into injury time Crans won a free 25 yards out and at a difficult angle.  The resultant strike scorched over the bar, leaving the referee to blow the final whistle and sparking jubilant scenes in the Bredagh camp as injured captain Cathal Brunton received the cup.

Best for Bredagh were the Hughes brothers, Woods, Irwin, Niall Donnelly and McCartney, with Mark Patterson also contributing with a typically no-nonsense corner back performance.  In truth though, this was an excellent team display and just reward for the efforts of the full panel throughout the year.  Time and time again the boys have stuck to their task when things weren’t going their way and dug out hard fought wins.  There are always things to improve on though, and the team will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to make an impact in the Ulster Intermediate Championship, which starts with a quarter final away to Sean McCumhaill’s of Donegal in two weeks’ time.

Thanks to all the supporters who made the journey to Newcastle, and a special mention also to Sean Dunlevy who sustained a bad shoulder injury in the semi-final vs Carryduff and is facing a lengthy period of recovery – all the squad wish him well in his recovery.

Winning Bredagh Team:

Joe Shields, Mark Patterson, Tom McGuckin, Michael Woods, Eoghan Donnelly, Cormac Hufghes, Cillian McSuibne (0-5, 4f, 1 65), Niall Irwin (0-2), Sean McGourty (0-2), Mal Scullin, Emmet Trainor, Donal Hughes (1-03), Decky McCartney (0-2), Niall Donnelly (1-03), Ryan Curran.

Panel: Danny Robinson, Ian Galway, Paul Kelly, Cathal Brunton, Aaron Maguire, Ruairi Sheridan, Matt McAfee, Ciaran McFarland, Sean McGuigan, Andrew Hoctor, Sean Dunlevy.