Bryansford Battle For Win Over Kingdom

BRYANSFORD 1-13 – 1-10 AN RIOCHT Match report by Peter McGrath Jnr SOME clubs begin their training in the dark, winter evenings of January and February and they have but one date and one game in their minds that remains etched there until it has passed – the first round of the Championship. It was obvious from early on in this thrilling encounter that both An Riocht and Bryansford had prepared fully andxa0wholesomely for this game. Perhaps the key to the winning of this match was that Bryansford started and finished stronger and Chris Brannigan settled the early nerves with the games first point from a free kick. [caption id="attachment_26742" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bryansford's Timothy Hanna fights off an An Riocht challenge."][/caption] A Martin Clarke catch in the middle of the field was the foundation for the equaliser as the ball was worked to Chris Killen who stuck it beautifully over the bar. Danny Savage and Ciaran Brannigan both pointed to leave Bryansford in the ascendancy but Killen and Clarke again combined, this time the Aussie-bound Mourneman xa0was the one who took a fine score. Bryansford’s response was swift and decisive. A ferocious counter attacking move wound up with Ciaran Brannigan through one-on-one and his driven shot was heroically saved by Brendan McVeigh, but the Down keeper, having dived full length to deny Brannigan could do nothing to prevent Kalum King following in and prodding the rebound to the net. A Paul Murney point – a phenomenon almost as rare as a hen’s tooth was cancelled out by a Chris Brannigan free which ironically resulted from a Murney foul on Conor Gribben. From four points down the kingdom battled back valiantly, scoring 1-4 without reply. The first score of the run was the goal. Joe McVeigh broke through the Ford’s defensive ranks but his attempt at a fisted point crashed off the cross-bar and Darren White, who started in place of the injured James Colgan , was on hand to grab the ball then shoot through a crowd of players into the net. Thexa0equalizingxa0point was converted by Paddy Cole and Killen and Clarke again combined to give An Riocht the lead. A stunning Clarke pass was caught by Killen and not to be upstaged he shot magnificently over the bar. Brothers John and Martin Clarke added points to their sides total but a Ciaran Brannigan free just before half time reduced the gap between the teams at the break to just two points. Having closed out the scoring in the first half, Brannigan also opened the scoring in the second period but this was cancelled out by a Martin Clarke pointing a xa0free. It had appeared that Chris Brannigan had been fouled attacking the An Riocht goals but Con Reynolds, who had an otherwise fine game missed it. An Riocht broke away, won a free, then Clarke pointed it and three Bryansford players, Brain King, Jim Magorrian and Peter Travers picked up yellow cards for dissent. Would this be the key moment in the game? [caption id="attachment_26743" align="alignright" width="366" caption="All action match. Luke Howard takes a shot at the An Riocht posts as Martin Clarke closes in."][/caption] No. It wasn’t.xa0Bryansford fought back resiliently. Chris Clarke and Ciaran Brannigan points made it all square before McVeigh was the Kingdom’sxa0heroxa0again. Ciaran Brannigan unleashed a fearsome strike through a crowd. Though he only saw it at the last second McVeigh somehow got down to parry the ball away. A good free from Chris Killen had the Mournemenxa0backxa0in-front but Ciaran Branniganxa0broughtxa0the sides level again. Chris Killen was denied a goal by an unbelievable Peter Travers save which turned the game despite the fact that Martin Clarke pointed the 45 that resulted. Ciaran Brannigan (2), Chris Brannigan and Conor Gribben all got points to wrap up the scoring but without doubt the key to Bryansford’s success in the last ten minutes was Kalum King catching every ball at midfield. It led one supporter to remark at the final whistle that “Kalum beat the King-dom”. While not strictly true as it required immense teamwork from Bryansford to overcome their opponents – one could see where he was coming from. This magnificent match ended in a Braynsford victory on a scoreline of 1-13 – 1-10. Bryansford; P. Travers, J. Magorrian, P. Bonny, B. King, D. McKibben, L.Howard, N. Murray, T.Hanna, K.King (1-0), C. Clarke (0-1), C. Maginn, D.Savage (0-1), Ciaran Brannigan (0-7), C. Gribben (0-1), Chris Brannigan (0-3). An Riocht scorers;xa0xa0xa0M. Clarke (0-4),xa0C.Killen (0-3), D. White(1-0), J.Clarke (0-1), P.Murney (0-1), P.Cole (0-1).]]>