‘Islanders no match for Burren

‘Islanders no match for Burren

10 September 2025

BURREN underlined why they are regarded among the front runners for the Down Senior Football Championship title with a powerful and polished display against Loughinisland in Clonduff on Sunday evening. 

Despite a spirited showing from the Blues, particularly through the efforts of Rory Mason and Oisin Savage, Burren’s greater belief, physicality and efficiency in front of goal told, as they ran out convincing winners in this round two winners’ group clash.

From the outset, Burren imposed themselves. Wing-back Harry Magill strode forward to clip the opening point, setting the tone for what was to follow. 

Loughinisland did create chances, with Mason and Savage working hard, but wides in the early stages proved costly. 

Burren, by contrast, were ruthless, with Ryan Cunningham, the outstanding Odhran Murdock and the clinical Ryan Treanor repeatedly punishing any indiscipline with frees and well-taken scores.

Loughinisland’s best moments in the first half came through Mason, who struck a superb two-pointer from distance and a well-struck free, after the industrious Savage had been fouled. 

However, Burren’s response was emphatic. Treanor’s accuracy from placed balls, coupled with scores from Murdock and Ronan McGrath, gave them a healthy cushion of eight points at the break. 

The second half followed a similar pattern, as Burren looked composed and assured when points from Dara Mussen and Donagh Murdock extended their lead. 

Mason produced another moment of brilliance with a long-range effort worth two points, and Savage fired over from play to keep the game alive. 

A pair of scores from the imperious Murdock stamped Burren’s dominance on the game. However, when Dean McLaughlin blasted into the net after clever work from Savage, who was being held off the ball incessantly, there was a flicker of hope for the Island. 

For a brief spell, they had momentum and it looked like a contest might develop, but Burren simply shifted up another gear. 

McGrath added a fine point to his tally, underlining his class, while substitute Aaron Laverty fisted over to stretch the gap. 

Mason converted a free when he was impeded and Savage added another after another cynical foul. 

Loughinisland’s task became near impossible when midfielder Johny Flynn was shown a second yellow card. 

The dismissal not only left them numerically disadvantaged, but seemed to sap the energy from their challenge. 

While Savage clipped over frees to narrow the margin late on, Burren’s strength off the bench and control of the tempo ensured there would be no way back.

The game, although one sided, was not without its talking points. Loughinisland supporters will feel aggrieved that, despite persistent holding and off-the-ball challenges, not a single Burren player was booked. 

Still, there were plenty of positives for Loughinisland. Mason’s scoring return was notable, Oisin Savage led by example throughout and McLaughlin’s goal showcased the potential in their attacking play. 

With a little more composure in front of the posts, and by cutting out avoidable frees at the other end, they can make life difficult for any team in this championship.

For Burren, this was business-like. They played with the confidence of a side which believed victory was inevitable, while Loughinisland, at times, merely hoped. 

The difference in mentality was stark, but the Island men showed enough heart and flashes of quality to suggest their championship journey is far from over.