PREVIEW: ​Burren aim to topple Magpies and reclaim the Frank O’Hare Cup

Burren are the only team to take a Down Senior Football Championship title off Kilcoo in the past 12 years and they aim to do so again this Sunday. That win was five years ago in 2018 when Burren beat the Magpies 2-12 to 2-9.

Since then the St Mary’s side reached the final in 2021 but lost by two points.

Last year was a hugely disappointing one for Burren who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Warrenpoint after extra time and penalties. Many felt that Burren used the wrong strategies in that game – trying not to lose rather than win – but lessons were learned and Jim McCorry’s men were on the lips of many to contest the kingpins of Down and claim back the Frank O’Hare Cup this year.

Young guns

That opportunity has come to pass, with Burren building since the tail-end of the league as a number of players involved with Down either at senior or U20 level in the first half of the year, as well as Armagh defender Paddy Burns returned to strengthen the team.

Young players like Odhran Murdock, Danny and Ryan Magill, Paddy McCarthy, Liam Kerr and Dara Mussen who have made their way through successful underage teams and are now mainstays of the side, alongside experienced players such as Kevin McKernan and Conaill McGovern

Victories over Warrenpoint and Loughinisland moved the St Mary’s club into the last eight, where they saw off Ballyholland and then had a comfortable 2-12 to 0-9 victory over Glenn in the semi-final.

McKernan, who has cemented his place from outfield the last time Burren beat Kilcoo in the final to netminder, agrees that one of Burren’s biggest pluses this year is the conveyor belt coming through and a strong bench – something that has stood to them throughout the competition and will be most likely needed against Kilcoo on Sunday.

“We're very lucky in the club that the structures are there to allow the development from minors right through to seniors,” McKernan told the Newry Reporter.

Conveyor belt

“And we're very lucky with the hunger that a lot of our young players have and you know they want to be part of that senior team."

Burren’s Primary Reserve team played in the county final this weekend and were victorious against Kilcoo Reserves.

"Our reserve team played in the county final and won it, so you know the conveyor is there and we're trying to provide the level of football for all of our players, which aims to get as many players through to here.  And exactly what you're seeing in terms of our bench, when you know you have them men to call on, you know you have extra legs coming into a really crucial part of the game.”

Usual suspects

McKernan didn’t know if they would be playing Kilcoo or Clonduff at that stage, but he said the focus would be the same either way. “It's exactly the way Down football has been for the past six or seven years – between Clonduff, Kilcoo, Mayobridge, Warrenpoint and ourselves that's always been the sort of final pairings and semi final.  We’ll look forward to whoever comes through. 

“We've two weeks now, two weeks to improve and two weeks to look at that game tonight,” said McKernan in reference to some mistakes he felt were made during their victory over Glenn. “It wasn't perfect. I would say we butchered six or seven chances from the tip of the D, which you know in terms of what we’ll face in the final they're huge scores. So we have plenty to work on."