Morgan Fuels Down SFC round one: Mayobridge 3-10 Bryansford 1-4
Mayobridge boss Steven Poacher said that he was content to dispel the myth of bringing ultra-defensive tactics to the Sky Blues after their emphatic 12-point win over Bryansford on Saturday.
A brace from Shane Annett left the Newcastle side chasing a lost cause in what has been a difficult season for them, while Mayobridge looked the real deal, in control all over, with Adam Crimmins bagging the third goal in additional time.
Mayobridge finished in the top four of the Down all-county league whereas Bryansford were relegated alongside Glenn and that was something Poacher was keen to target.
“It is a good start, championship is just about winning, about getting over the line but doing it emphatically like we did it was obviously very pleasing,” said Poacher.
“We started the game really well, with Bryansford coming off the back of a lull, with getting relegated, it was important to put our foot on their throat early and we sort of felt that if we could get three or four points up early then maybe we could crack them, even physiologically.
“A team that is in the habit of losing during the year can find it hard to find that winning spirit, it becomes a trait. We have had a bit of an up and down league campaign but we have been building towards this from day one. We used nearly 40 players in the league and for a club like Mayobridge it is all about championship.”
The Sky Blues led 0-7 to 0-1 at the break with former county star Conor Maginn grabbing the sole point for Bryansford, while goalkeeper Charlie Smyth, the determined Conleth O’Hare, young Adam Crimmins, Caolan Gallagher and full-back Shaun McNamee among the points from Mayobridge.
Ryan O’Higgins’ goal was a touch of class but there was no time to herald a comeback as within 60 seconds Shane Annett had struck the Bryansford net on 38 minutes.
From then on, the Newcastle side dropped long ball after long ball towards the square looking for Luke Kelly and on almost each occasion CJ Barr punched away and set up a counter attack, with Crimmins, Gallagher and O’Hare impressive.
The second goal from Liam McManus came from a forward mark and Crimmins landed the third in injury time.
“We have done a lot of work defensively and I suppose I get tarred with the brush of being a defensive coach, but we have actually worked on the opposite this year. We have worked very hard on improving our ratio going the other end and we are one of the highest scoring teams in Division One this year with a plus 50 score difference ,” Poacher said.
Mayobridge scorers: Shane Annett (2-0) A Crimmins (1-1), S Annett (1-0), C Gallagher (0-3), C O’Hare (0-2), C Smyth (0-2 frees), R Brady (0-1) and S McNamee (0-1 each).
Bryansford scorers: R O’Higgins (1-1), D Savage (0-2 frees), C Maginn (0-1).
