RFC FINAL
Bryansford 1-14 Clonduff 1-14
What a match! That was the general consensus of Gaels leaving Pairc Esler following this third tier level of football. Despite one’s preconceptions of Thirds football this game had everything one expects of a Championship Final – skill, excitement, controversy and above all the sheer determination not to fall at the last hurdle writes Michael McCartan.
The skill of high fielding was admirably displayed by Clonduff’s Oliver Brannigan who dominated the midfield. If he failed to catch the ball it was cleverly palmed down to a waiting colleague and the Ford struggled throughout the game to deal with this. BUT, Brannigan also had the skill to make the perfect delivery once he had the ball. His distribution was exemplary and he perhaps claimed Man-of the-Match ahead of the Ford’s Peter Brannigan.
The young Ford half-forward dazzled with a series of solo runs and was the catalyst for the Ford’s fight back. He linked well with those around him and created opportunities for Colm Kearney who gave a masterclass in free taking, when Brannigan was upended; the only way it appeared to be able to stop him. When they didn’t stop him he cheekily slipped the ball passed Clonduff’s keeper, Paul Gribben for the Ford’s goal.
In defence , Clonduff’s captain Jamie Fegan was outstanding especially in one to one situations and Gribben was rarely troubled apart from late in the second half when he managed to block Mark Brannigan’s goal-bound shot with his foot.
At the opposite end of the park, the Ford’s Paddy Baker pulled off two amazing saves… the first diving full length across goal to push Aaron Sherry’s low drive around the post and the second to parry Rory Mc Greevy’s point blank rocket, over the bar.
For excitement, the nervous tension saw the fingernails bitten to the quick. Until the fiftieth minute, Clonduff had maintained a lead, which they claimed after only ninety seconds of the throw-in. The final ten minutes saw the Ford go ahead only to be pegged back and Clonduff retake the advantage. The last gasp ‘Hail Mary’ ended with Bryansford sending the game to a replay when, with the final act, Brendan Ward fisted the dropping ball over the bar. Wow! Fans expressed the view that they “couldn’t wait for the replay.”
Controversy is never far from any game and the story of the game added to this. Ten seconds in and a black card was issued to Clonduff’s Darragh Sherry. While most pundits thought it the correct decision they were amazed that this should happen literally from the throw-in. Clonduff management looked stunned and rushed to send Noel grant into the fray. Stung by this early set back it was the Hilltown men who settled quickest and within three minutes had registered four points as the Ford dithered. It wasn’t until the seventh minute that Marc Brannigan opened the East Down lads account. In the ninth minute he worked his way through the heart of the opposition to create a shot at goal but miscued and hit it straight into the arms of a thankful Gribben.
For the remainder of the half it seemed like a game of ping pong. Clonduff would score and the Ford reply with one or two and by the interval had preserved the deficit to two, the score reading 0.09 to 0.07. Highlight of the scores was Oliver Brannigan’s and his opposite number Ciaran Keenan’s solos to tap over, and Kearney’s four frees.
The first twenty minutes of the second half was a Bryansford affair. They fired over six points, to just two from their opponents, to level the game. But another incident blighted the South Down men. Peter Brannigan picked up the ball in his own half and sprinted forward on another of his runs. He jinxed passed two players but the ball was knocked out of Brannigan’s hands in an attempted tackle and trundled along the ground. Cathal Trainor moved to intercept the nippy Ford forward who put on the afterburners and toe-poked the ball ahead. Trainor wasn’t quick enough and appeared to deliberately trip Brannigan sending the young lad sprawling. The referee had no option but to issue ‘Red’ though some seemed to be of the opinion it was only a late tackle.
However, the dismissal of Trainor only seemed to galvanise the South Down men and Oliver Brannigan took another point. Committing men forward however they were caught out when Corey Laverty intercepted a cross-field pass. His run and distribution was inch perfect to Kearney who noticed Peter Brannigan ghosting in. A clever fist into the space and keeper Gribben was helpless as the ball found the back of the net.
Ahead by two, only seven minutes remaining and playing against fourteen, it seemed that the advantage had finally swung the Ford’s way. Three unanswered points however, all involving Oliver Brannigan, including one he scored, left the Ford shell-shocked and a point in arrears, with less than a minute to play.
With the seconds rushing away a needless free was given away just inside Clonduff’s half of the park. Kearney jogged out to take and the Ford team packed the large rectangle. When the ball left his boot it appeared to be drifting towards the equalising score however it lacked the energy and fell towards the throng. A fist lashed out at it and Brendan Ward was deemed the Ford’s saviour as the ball flew over the crossbar just before the referee signalled the game was over and a replay was required to separate the teams.
Overall a fair result but both teams will be annoyed not to have put this game to bed. Bryansford for their part will be annoyed at the poor first half, of wayward passing and failure to shoot, when the opportunities arose. Clonduff for a lack of killer instinct to finish the game when they had the upper hand. Nevertheless a thrilling encounter and the prospect of another with the replay.
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