MAYOBRIDGE and Bryansford will be more worried by the fact they each lost a key player to red cards just before the start of the SFC than the actual outcome of the game.
For a match in which there were no dirty tackles, referee Ciaran Branagan dismissed Mayobridge’s Michael Lively
and Bryansford’s Chris Brannigan for an off the ball incident three minutes into the second half.
The scoring was opened by Cathal Magee for the Bridge, but Conor Gribben hit back to level matters five minutes in and that was how the score stayed until a 16th minute score from Magee was followed by an outstanding Adrian Barry score.
Corner back for Bryansford, Aaron McDonald, then got his first ever senior score as he drove up the field, but the ever present danger of Cathal Magee was highlighted again when he shot to the net, making Bryansford pay for a number of missed goal chances.
After Jim Magorrian’s point for the visitors, another from Magee and then a Kevin O’Rourke point had Mayobridge coasting and only for three quick Bryansford points from Chris and Ciaran Brannigan and Luke Byrne the game may well have been over by half-time.
Wing half back Ronan Sexton revealed his class twice in the dying stages of the opening period firing over two beautiful points to widen the gap to four.
Cathal Magee had just brought his personal tally to 1-4 in the second half, prior to the double dismissal, and then the sides each pointed twice, with Ciaran Brannigan’s brace keeping Bryansford hopes alive.
Ronan Sexton, Barry Garvey and Caolan Gallagher all added Mayobridge points between which further ‘Ford goal chances were missed by Ciaran and Marc Brannigan.
As the game moved into the last six minutes, a couple of runs from Timmy Hanna at half forward reaped rich reward as he scored a point and then a goal soon after.
Conor Gribben’s second point of the night left only a goal in it and the sides exchanged additional scores before the game was finally wrapped up by Cory Quinn’s injury time goal.
Mayobridge 2-14
Bryansford 1-11
ACFL DIVISION 1