JOHN " SHORTY " TREANOR A DISTINGUISHED CAREER WITH DOWN AND BURREN Can he inspire the Mourne Champs to a sixth Ulster Title? One of the best known names in Gaelic football circles over the past ten years or so is that of John "Shorty" Treanor. The twenty-nine year old star has had a distinguished career at both club and county level and he has had a trophy cabinet filled to overflowing to prove it. From an early age it was clear that John Treanor was destined to be a footballer of top class proportions. As a youngster he was so good that he benefited little from playing with kids of his own age group. Hence, he played with the older boys but, of course, he was much smaller than them so they called him "Shorty." The name has stuck with him ever since and indeed he is much better known as "Shorty" than John. Years later "Shorty Treanor is still outclassing his peers. Only last week a local sports journalist had this to write following Burren's 1- 14 to 0 -2 annihilation of great rivals Downpatrick in a top of the table League clash. "More than 1,500 crowded into Dunleath Park to watch and anticipated thriller with the First Division Title at stake. They saw no thriller but at least the neutrals can console themselves that they witnessed one of the very special individual performances of the year. Fifteen minutes of "Shorty" brilliance was all it took to flush away Downpatrick's ambitions of retaining that League title. In that fifteen minute spell midway through the first half "Shorty" ran riot scoring 1-5, his goal coming when he retrieved a seemingly hopeless ball close to the sideline before beating three defenders and shooting an unstoppable shot to the net from the tightest of angles. When John Treanor is on form he is a treat to watch and this eel-like livewire is virtually impossible to mark, as he plays in no defined position and covers virtually every blade of grass on the park. This was one such occasion Before he had reached the age of sixteen John "Shorty" Treanor was the proud possessor of three All - Ireland medals. He won those medals at Vocational Schools level with St.Mark's, Warrenpoint and among the other well known names to have such medals in their collection are clubmates Paddy O'Rourke and Brendan McGovern. "Shorty" has represented Down at Under 16, Minor, Under 21 and Senior Football Championship medals. This came after an epic tussle with near neighbours Saval with Burren winning out in extra time in a reply. From 1983 to 1988 inclusive the "Burren Machine" won a record six consecutive Down Senor Football Championship titles with "Shorty" Treanor playing an instrumental role in many of those successes. Indeed, in the Championship Finals of 1986 and 1987 when Burren defeated Longstone and Bryansford respectively, "Shorty" won the Man of the Match Award for his outstanding performances in those finals. A further Down Senior Football Championship medal followed in 1992 Apart from his collection of Down (and, of course, Ulster and All-Ireland) Club medals, "Shorty" also has a couple of other Championship medals in his collection. Like many other well known footballers, "Shorty" has spent a number of summers playing in the U.S.A. and on one such period during the mid-eighties he won both Chicago and North American Board Championship medals while playing with the Wolfe Tones Club in Chicago. Burren's record in Ulster is second to none. Every year they have annexed the Down crown they have at least reached the final of the Ulster decider. No other Down club with the exception of Bryansford in 1970 and 1971 have ever played in an Ulster Club Final. Burren's first Ulster Final appearance was in the final. Burren's first Ulster Final appearance was in 1981. They defeated Antrim champions St. John's in a gripping semi final at Corrigan Park but they had to wait almost five months for the final to be played and unable to repeat their early campaign form Burren lost out to Ballinderry (Derry) in the decider. Two years later it was a happier story for Burren. A point in the last minute earned Burren a replay against defending champions St. Galls (Antrim) and second time around Burren made no mistake thanks to a Tony McArdle goal midway through the second half which set Burren up for a famous 1-5 to 0-6 victory. That day was a day of "mixed" emotions for "Shorty" as he was sent off by referee Damien Campbell for a second personal foul during that match. The Down champions proceeded to win three Ulster titles on the trot and following that third success went all the way to the ultimate glory. On a bitter cold February day at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, the Down and Ulster Champions completely outclassed their illustrious Leinster opponents and defeated Portlaoise by a whopping 2-13 to 0-6 final scoreline. Sunday 16th March 1986 is red letter day in the history of the G.A.A. in Burren. On that day on the famous Croke Park sward they won the first of their two All-Ireland Club titles and brought the Andy Merrigan Cup to County Down for the first time. Like their first Ulster Club title success Burren defeated the reigning champions in the final. Kerry and Munster champions Castleisland Desmonds were Burren's opponents on that famous 1986 day and inspired by Captain Tommy McGovern, Burren turned in a memorable performance winning by four points, 1-9 to 1-5. Burren's goal came in the eighth minute of the second half and was scored by none other than John "Shorty" Treanor. It was a goal right out of the handbook of classic goals, a scorcher from twenty meters which left the Castleisland Desmonds goalkeeper Charlie Nelligan helpless on his goal line. Two years later Burren won the Andy Merrigan Cup for a second time, Clann na nGael at Roscommon being their victims in the final. The loss of Paddy O'Rourke only inspired Burren to greater things though midway through the second half the sides were level with Burren playing into a strong wind. The character of the Burren team however, shone through and four late points won the day, one of them coming from an excellent long range free by John Treanor. The following year Clan na nGael got their revenge however. Burren had just won a record fifth Ulster Club title and were drawn to play the Connaught Champions in the All-Ireland semi-final. The game was played at St. Mary's Park, Burren but from the midpoint of the first half playing conditions became almost impossible. However, in almost blizzard conditions both teams served up a memorable game of football, in the end the Westerners winning through on a 1-6 to 1-5 scoreline. On Sunday Burren go for their sixth Ulster Club Championship success. Standing in the way of them are the Derry Champions Lavey, who won the All-Ireland Club title the year before last. This indeed, is the Battle of the Giants of Ulster Football, the All-Ireland champions of 1986 and 1988 playing the All-Ireland champions of 1991. John Treanor agrees that while many of the great Burren names of the eighties like Tommy McConvile have retired that some of the young Burren stars are showing the enthusiasm and character necessary to gain success at the highest level. Players like Jimmy McAlinden and Gavin Murdock have been tormenting defences all season with their great scoring ability - Jimmy for example scored 2-5 against Newry Bosco in the Down Championship semi final - while young half back Garret McFerran has been playing "out of his skin" all season. The twenty year old teaching training student who attends St. Mary, Belfast was voted " Man of the Match" in this year's Down Championship Final and only last weekend won the prestigious South Down Footballer of the Year Award. In both their Ulster Club Championship games to date Burren have looked most impressive. In their first outing at Casement Park they were always in complete control against Antrim champions Lamh Dearg and recorded a convincing thirteen point victory. They found the challenge of Scotstown (Monaghan) in the semi final a much more difficult assignment but with John Treanor once more in scintillating form, the Monaghan men finally had to bow out to the free flowing Burren men. Treanor scored a person tally of 2-3 on that occasion, his goal coming from a first half free from all of forty metres and a second half penalty. Lavey will be formidable opponents for Burren in Sunday's Ulster decider at the Athletic Grounds Armagh. They may have struggled for spells in their encounters against Ramor United (Cavan), Moortown (Tyrone) and Killybegs (Donegal), but they have reached the final on merit. Spearheaded by Henry and Seamus Downey and John and Colm McGurk they are a team who play the game in an uncompromising manner but with a lot of skill and precision. Having won the All-Ireland Club title twenty months ago, they know they have the ability to not only defeat Burren but to go on the lift a second All - Ireland But will they? The answer to that might well lie with one John "Shorty" Treanor, who incidentally is a son of current Down Selector and former intercounty referee Barney. If Lavey curtail "Shorty" on Sunday they might well go a long way to dash Burren's dreams of a sixth Ulster title. If however, "Shorty" is on song, then the chances are that Seamus McFerran Cup will be back in Burren on Sunday night and that Burren will be on the plane to London to play Tir Connail Gaels on 6th December Taken from Hogan Stand Magazine -20-11-92 Written by Brian McAvoy Tweet

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