Down Minors v Donegal Best wishes to the Down minors who play Donegal before the Antrim v Cavan Ulster Senior Football championship game in Clones this weekend.  Especially the Mayobridge contingent of Kevin McClorey, Shane McNamee and selector Desy Kennedy. Mayobridge 2-14 Saval 1-12 (Senior Football) Mayobridge survived an early second half onslaught by their neighbours to retain the top spot in division one. Saval with Daniel Hughes on fire caused the county champions plenty of problems and will take great heart from their performance but will feel deeply disappointed in coming away from the splendid new pitch in Mayobridge empty-handed. Cathal Magee opened the Bridge s scoring with a great point against the breeze which was then cancelled out with a point from Hughes. Two points from the in form Ronan Sexton and John Quinn were followed up by a great goal by Sexton who rifled to the top corner of the Saval net. Saval though dug deep into reserve and played the best football in the remainder of the half which was helped by the substitution of star player Benny Coulter who retired with a hamstring injury. Daniel Hughes hit three points while Niall Devlin, Stephen Kearney and Fergal McConville also got on the score sheet while Sexton, Ryan Brady and Shane O Hare hit three points to leave the half-time score 1.6 to 0.7. Saval were playing against the breeze in the second half but opened the scoring through Niall Devlin. Danny Hughes scored two points to equalize the game but two Ronan Sexton frees brought the Bridge ahead again. Daniel Hughes then scored a screamer when he collected the ball thirty metres out turned his marker and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the bottom corner.  This brought the Bridge to life with points from John Quinn and Brendan Grant but Hughes cancelled them out with two of his own. Gavin Barry then turned the game on its head when he made the most of a defensive error to fire to the Saval net. From then on the Bridge was in control and two John Quinn scores and a point from Ronan Sexton ended the game. Best for the Bridge were Gavin Barry, John Caldwell and Ronan Sexton while Saval can be pleased with Daniel Clarke, Niall Devlin and man of the match Daniel Hughes. Mayobridge team & scorers: Liam Coulter, Gavin Barry (1.0), Brendan Grant(0.1), Seamus Grant, Shane O Hare (0.1), Conor Garvey, Micheal Lively, Eoghan Woods, John Caldwell, Conleth O Hare, Ronan Sexton(1.5), Benny Coulter, Ryan Brady(0.2), Cathal Magee (0.1), John Quinn(0.3) Subs used Kieran Bradley, Kealan Lynchehaun, Ronan Lively Saval team & scorers: Peter Murphy, Donal Murphy, Declan McCarthy, Daniel Clarke, Darren Quinn, Darren Cunningham, Jarlath McCarthy, Peter Turley, Colm Turley, Niall Devlin (0.2), M McCarthy, Gavin Quinn (0.1), Ferghal McConville (0.1) Danny Hughes (1.9), Stephen Kearney (0.1) Mayobridge 3-10 Castlewellan 1-13 (Seconds Football) Mayobridge seconds bounced back from the disappointment of loosing last weeks game with Rostrevor to a last minute goal and helped improve the mood within the camp in the lead up to next weeks championship encounter with Kilcoo.  The town opened the scoring in the first minute before Mickey Linden beat his man and scored a nice point.  Castlewellan added points again in the 5th and 6th minutes but a Mickey Linden free and a well worked Barry Garvey point drew the Bridge level again.  A Michael Butterfield free was then followed by a period of Castlewellan dominance in which they scored 3 points and a 16th minute goal to no reply leaving the Bridge 5 points adrift.  With ten to go to half time the Bridge sparked to life with two Mickey Linden points (1 Free) and an excellent Thomas O Hare goal which came >from a great ball across the square from Michael Butterfield.  Thomas still had work to do but some tidy foot-work allowed him to make a yard of space giving him time to shoot to the corner of the net from 15 yards.  Right at the end of the half Mickey Linden found himself through on the Castlewellan goal but the visitors keep got down to make a good save, Linden alert as ever was able to punch the rebound to the net to leave the half time score Mayobridge 2-6 Caslewellan 1-7 Barry Garvey got in for his second point for his second point of the game in the first minute of the second half but a Castlwellan free cancelled this score out a few minutes later.  Caolan Gallagher who was having a quiet enough game in corner forward found himself with the ball bearing down on the visitors goal and when most would have expected him to take the easy point he was able to launch an unstoppable shot to the corner of the Castlewellan net.  Wing back Ciaran Bradley then scored a 39th minute point to extend Mayobridge s lead.  Two pointed frees kept Castlwellan in touch but points from Damian Murphy and John Caldwell left the Bridge six points up going into the last 10 minutes.  Castlewellan did make the Bridge sweat for the remainder of the game, another free on 23 minutes was followed by their first point from play of the second half on 25 minutes and another point on 26 minutes to leave just a goal between the teams.  The Mayobridge defence stood strong and held out for a moral boosting three point win.  Stand-in keeper Cathal Caldwell put in a good hours work, he was solid under high balls and his kickouts were impressive, Darren Fegan and Kieran O Hare were the pick of the Bridge defence.  Thomas O Hare got through a tough hours work and took his goal well, Barry Garvey and Damian Murphy also played well but it was Mickey Linden who put in a man of the match performance. The seconds are faced with a tough task next weekend with an away championship tie with Kilcoo and we would ask that as many Mayobridge supporters come along and give the team their support.  This game will be played in Kilcoo on Sunday at 2.00pm.  Best wishes to the team and management. Mayobridge Team & Scorers: Cathal Caldwell, Patrick Murphy, Darren Fegan, Caolan Lynchaoun, Kieran Bradley (0-1), Kieran O Hare, Cathal Killen, John Caldwell (0-1), Declan Rooney, Michael Butterfield (0-1), Thomas O Hare (1-0), Barry Garvey (0-2), Cathal Killen, Caolan Gallagher (1-0), Damian Murphy (0-1), Mickey Linden (1-4) Mayobridge 1-5 Burren 4-11 (Thirds Football) Burren were simply too strong for Mayobridge in this league game played in Mayobridge.  Burren signalled their intent right for the start scoring a goal early in the game.  Konrad Fegan replied with a well taken goal midway through the half but Burren were able to keep tagging on the points.  The half time score was 1-2 to 1-8 in favour of the visitors. Another Burren goal in the first minute of the second half killed the game off but to the Bridge s credit they remained competitive until the last few minutes of the game when Burren scored two further goals.  The thirds play Darragh Cross in the championship Mayobridge Team & Scorers: Christopher McGivern, Jamie Barr, Michael Rogan, Patrick Tumelty, Brian Poland, Cathal Caldwell, Michael Kelly, Sean Rooney, Damian Murphy, Paudraig Gribben, Ray McConville, Bill Gorman, Konrad Fegan (1-0), Blaine Magee (0-5), Cathal McNamee   Rostrevor 3-17 v Mayobridge  0-4 (U16 Football) Mayobridge travelled to Rostrevor to take on an inform team who are absolute championship contenders and as the scoreline suggests Mayobridge simply weren t strong enough.  To Mayobridge s credit despite the beating they were taking on the scoreboard they didn t allow their heads to drop and kept battling right to the end. Team & Scorers: Gary Fegan, Rory Hughes, Cathal Greenan, Sean Magee, John Joe Gorman, Darren Mynes, Connal Poland, Jamie Barr, Johnny Taylor, Cormac Linden, Ronan Mynes (0-2),  Barry Cunnigham, Darren Gribben, Pete McGovern (0-1), Aidan Nugent (0-1) Subs used: Cory Quinn Tweet

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