Bryansford’s 1-19 to 1-11 win over Rostrevor last Friday could be a sign of a bright future ahead at St Patrick’s Park. The win put Bryansford into joint second place alongside Glenn, and one point ahead of Rostrevor. But perhaps more importantly, it is a sign that Bryansford are back on the move, following a poor start to the season when they lost their first two games to Rostrevor and St John’s.
Manager Jim Magorrian said this week, “We have had a bit of momentum. We beat the Kingdom to take their third spot. Last week we beat Rostrevor to take their second spot. The mood is quite good, but the boys are disappointed that we have not got as many points as we got last year.”
But Jim made it clear that the Bryansford team are far from the finished product, despite beating Rostrevor by eight points. “It was a good result, but the score was maybe more convincing than the game itself. Rostrevor went four up, then we pushed on and went three up. It was a draw at half-time. For 10 to 15 minutes in the third quarter, we just put the burners on and they couldn’t cope with us. It was a very good team performance.”
He highlighted the impact of several players. “Defensively, you are looking at the keeper Jack McLaughlin who did well. Aaron McDonald (joint captain) in our defence was very solid and got turnovers and set up attacks. Corey Lavery around the middle played well too.”
Jim also reflected on areas of improvement. “I think that we forced it too much. We were trying to get through the middle and we got turned over, and when that happened, they put it over the bar.” He noted that one of the issues Bryansford has faced this season is their scoring returns. In their opening game they scored just 0-8 points against Rostrevor and lost by eight. Then in round two they lost to St John’s by 1-17 to 1-13.
“Those first couple of games against Rostrevor and St John’s, we had the same number of chances and attacks as last year, but our forward line was just not as sharp. That was the big difference. Against St John’s, we were two or three up but we couldn’t get over the line. Against Rostrevor it was seven all after 45 minutes. We don’t normally score that. We were creating chances, but our forward line was just a bit off.”
The reason for that, he explained, could be the team changes this year. “At the start of the season we had a few retirements. A few boys headed off to America. The first league game came, and we ended up with none of our forwards who started the championship game. That was through injury and different things. Player unavailability has hampered us.”
Jim detailed key absences early on. “We did not have Conor Maginn, Danny Savage, Ryan O’Higgins (our captain), Andrew Watson, Eoin Murray (who was with the Down U-20s), Daniel McKibbin (went to America), and Davy McKibbin (retired). It has been unfortunate that we have so many defenders, but we are so shy up top at the minute, with those guys who have picked up long-term injuries.”
The loss of joint captain Ryan O’Higgins has been particularly tough. “Ryan O’Higgins played in a challenge game and scored 3-10. He played against Dreadnoughts and scored 5-8. He was centre half forward and loving the new rules, loving the space, loving running at teams—but then bang, he pulls a hamstring five minutes before the last pre-season game. We have not had him back at all.”
However, there have been some important returns. “Ruairi Wells is back from Canada and has been a revelation. He was a county senior player in his younger days. He headed off to Canada for seven or eight years. He is back round the middle of the field and is dominating. Tomas McInerney is another ex-county player. He was in London last year. He is back and playing really well.”
At this stage last year, Bryansford had lost just two league games, and Jim had expressed frustration about losing any. This time around, the challenge of competing in Division Two feels greater. “A lot of the players now sort of realise that coming from Division One two years ago, this is a real tough league to get out of. On any given night if you don’t turn up and perform then you are going to get beat. That is what happened against Saval—we hit a bit of form, then we met Saval. We had an off night and they beat us (2-13 to 1-15, May 22). So we say to the guys we need to keep performing every week.”
“Last year we were lucky. When we didn’t perform, we got over the line. This year, when we are not performing, it makes it more competitive.”
But Jim said that it was too early to consider promotion. “Our main goal was to get promoted, but I think every manager will tell you that your first goal has to be to get enough points to stay in the league. I think 14 points is going to be the magic number. We are on 12 and we just have to get another win, then we have guaranteed at the very least not to go down. After that, it is about driving on in the remaining games and trying to win as many games as we can. If it is enough to get promoted, then so be it.”
“The league doesn’t show any team any respect. I do believe that a big team could go to Division Three. Look at Liatroim last year—they went to Division Three.”
The management team this year is Jim Magorrian, assisted by Benny Corrigan and Ciaran Clifford, with a new addition in the form of former manager Frank Dawson. “It is brilliant working with Frank with all his experience and all his tricks of the trade,” Jim said.
Bryansford play St John’s on Friday, at home at 7.30pm.
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