Bun' bounce back
April 30, 2011Twelve months after they suffered an agonising relegation playoff defeat to The Downs, Bunbrosna celebrated their return to the senior ranks following an intermediate championship final victory over local rivals Ballynacargy at Cusack Park.
Installed as favourites to lift the Peter Geraghty Cup at the start of the year, Bun' certainly didn't disappoint as they put behind them the heartbreak of 2009. Under the guidance of Longford native and Edenderry-based schoolteacher Tom Rehill, they went through the campaign unbeaten, though they did come perilously close to losing that record when they drew with a relegation-threatened Moate All-Whites side in the group stages.
But overall, Bun' were the best team in the championship and Rehill was quick to pay tribute to the club's stalwarts after the 1-12 to 2-6 victory over perennial bridesmaids Ballynacargy.
"It's men like Paddy McCormack, John Walsh (both selectors) and Eddie Newman who have put in the work that got us there," he said.
"We went down last year after being probably caught out a bit near the end of the season. We had to have a good hard look at ourselves this year and make as many improvements as we could. This was our goal from the start of the year - to win the final."
Admitting that complacency could have crept in after they took a six-point lead into the break, Rehill was delighted that his players stuck to their task and never lost focus during the second half.
"We were six points to the good at half-time, but we knew the game was far from over because Ballynacargy had the wind in the second half. They were going to throw everything at us, which they did, and we knew it was going to be a tight finish," he added.
"Our backs tightened up a lot in the second half and our goalkeeper Damien McCormack made two super saves, one in the first half and a double save in the second. Aidan Finnan and Kieran Murphy have played well at midfield this year. Aidan is our captain and Kieran is a young player coming through. He's after playing very well.
"Padraig Walsh came on in the last 15 minutes. He's been away for most of the year, but he put in a great last 15 minutes."
Back in the intermediate championship after a five-year lapse, Bun' opened their campaign with a 1-14 to 1-8 victory over Ballynacargy in an early season dress rehearsal for the final. The blue and whites were superior all over the field and their winning margin would have been greater but for the fact that they kicked 10 wides compared to Bal's one.
Bun' recovered from the concession of a fourth-minute Willie Murtagh goal to go into the break on level terms, 0-7 to 1-4, and they took a firm grip on proceedings after Kevin Mitchell scored a breakaway goal eight minutes after the restart. Peter Tormey had a particularly good day at the office for the winners, finishing with a personal tally of 0-8 (0-5 from frees).
Tom Rehill's charges made it two wins from two when they accounted for Kilbeggan Shamrocks by 1-11 to 1-5 at Rochfortbridge. The scoreline didn't reflect Bun's dominance as they appeared to ease up after Brian Maguire's early second half goal propelled them into an unassailable 12-point lead.
With Andrew Whitney excelling at centre back, Bun' enjoyed their best spell in the second quarter when they scored nine unanswered points to lead by 0-10 to 0-1 at the break. Maguire's goal ended the game as a contest before Kilbeggan got in for some consolation scores, which put a better complexion on the scoresheet.
Caulry provided a far sterner test for the Longford-border side in their third outing at a rain-lashed Shandonagh. After another slow start, Bun' picked up the pace to lead by 0-6 to 0-1 at half-time, but Caulry came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half and scored six points on the trot to lead by 0-7 to 0-6 going into the final quarter.
But Bun' awoke from their slumber and levelled through Finian Newman before further scores from Peter Tormey (two) and Fintan Finnan gave them a 0-10 to 0-7 win.
Bunbrosna needed an injury-time point from former county player Tormey to avoid a shock defeat at the hands of Moate in their next game. Point-less after their first three matches, the All-Whites looked set to record an unlikely victory when they led by 0-8 to 0-6 with five minutes remaining. But after a Fintan Finnan free brought the margin down to the minimum, Tormey cut in from the right wing to send over a last-gasp equaliser and give Bun' a share of the spoils.
Bun' made sure of top place in the group and automatic qualification for the semi-finals when they powered to a 3-15 to 2-10 victory over Shandonagh in Kinnegad. The losers got off to a flying start when Kevin Boyle fired past Damien McCormack after only 10 seconds, but Bun' refused to panic and hit back with goals from Barry O'Meara and Fintan Finnan to take a 2-8 to 1-3 lead into the interval.
A Kevin Boyle goal cut Bun's lead to five points midway through the second half before Andrew Whitney responded in kind to seal a comfortable win.
Bun' renewed their rivalry with Caulry in the semi-finals and laid the foundations for a 2-14 to 1-10 victory in the first half when they outscored the 2009 junior champions by 1-8 to 0-2. Andrew Whitney had a point after just 45 seconds and while Peter Smyth and Alan Fitzpatrick responded with scores for Caulry, Bun' completely dominated the remainder of the half with Brian Maguire's goal helping them to a nine-point lead at the break.
A Finian Newman goal early in the second half effectively ended the game as a contest, but Caulry battled to the end and were rewarded with an Alan Fitzpatrick goal.
Having had the benefit of two tough outings against Rosemount and Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, Ballynacargy were confident of reversing their first round defeat in the final at Cusack Park on October 10. But another dominant first half display, which left them 1-7 to 1-1 in front at the break, put Bun' on the road to their second Peter Geraghty Cup success in five years and condemned Bal' to their third final loss in-a-row and their fourth since 2005.
With Fintan Finnan in fine form from placed balls, Bun' dominated the early exchanges and a wasteful Bal' had to wait until the 23rd minute for their first score from a Liam O'Reilly free. The losers' task became even more difficult when Bun' centre forward Andrew Whitney scored the opening goal in the 27th minute, and while Bal' responded immediately with a similar score from Dwayne Maher, they still trailed by six points at half-time.
Danny Sammon's Ballynacargy improved after the restart and they were back in contention when county player Willie Murtagh blasted their second goal after fielding brilliantly on the edge of the square. A fisted point by Maher had left just three points between the sides, 1-9 to 2-3, before Bal' were twice denied equalising goals in the same passage of play by brilliant blocks from Damien McCormack and Conor Newman.
Dwayne Maher made it a two-point game from a free before Peter Tormey restored Bun's three-point advantage. Andrew Whitney and Maher exchanged points before Finian Newman gave Bun' a four-point lead. Maher slotted over another free to leave a goal in it again, but the Bun' defence held firm with substitute Padraig Walsh's superb catch in the dying moments bringing both relief and delight for the blue and white brigade.
Bun' had high hopes of emulating Tubberclair's 2009 achievement in reaching the Leinster intermediate club football final but, after recording a fine 1-13 to 1-6 win away to Offaly champions St. Rynagh's, they bowed out at the quarter-final stage to Nobber of Meath, who snatched victory (2-10 to 1-11) from the jaws of defeat thanks to an injury-time penalty from county star Brian Farrell.
Bunbrosna's 2010 IFC winning line-up was: Damien McCormack; Conor Newman, Noel Kiernan, Sean Walsh; Kevin Tormey, Liam Mitchell, Simon Moorhead; Aidan Finnan, Kieran Murphy; Finian Newman, Andrew Whitney, Fintan Finnan; Peter Tormey, Brian Maguire, Barry O'Meara. Subs used: Conor Lyons, Padraig Walsh and Ronan Scally. Tweet
