Battling Bun stage late comeback

Bunbrosna 2-19 The Downs 4-11

A thrilling game in Shandonagh on Sunday afternoon saw Bunbrosna make their way to a semi-final date with St Joseph’s after this phoenix-like recovery that saw them overturn a four point deficit in added time of normal time to dominate extra time and hold on for what was surely one of their most famous victories.

Some Bun fans were actually heading for the exits until they rose, Lazarus-like, and with wind in their sails they truly never looked back.

The Downs should have won this in normal time and butchered a goal chance when four points up – an error which they will have 12 long months to ponder. When they needed it most in extra time they were found sadly wanting and how they let it slip from their grasp will surely haunt them for quite a while.

That being said, in the end, Bun were worthy winners and their experience really shone in extra time with many lads rolling back the years.

The first half was cagey with tight defences on top for the most part and very little attacking football played.

Kenny Conroy opened the scoring for Bun before Daniel O’Callaghan equalised.

Four Barry O’Mara scores in a row - two frees, a mark and a fisted effort - saw Bun lead handsomely by that margin on 20 minutes but super points from Ben Harte and Jack Carroll and two beauties from Jack Carroll had The Downs level sevrn minutes later.

Bun finished the half strongly with Simon Moorhead scoring the point of the half and Finian Newman almost netting after a poor kick-out. At the break, they led 0-7 to 0-5.

The Downs resumed play as a renewed outfit and 90 seconds into the second half Dylan Carroll found Jack Carroll with a brilliant ball and he netted expertly to register the opening goal of the game. Ben Harte then extended that lead with two well-taken points and while Fintan Finnan narrowed that gap with a fine team score, Dylan Carroll restored the gap with an equally well-worked score following which a superb Aidan Finnan run ended with him netting at the second attempt to level the game once more.

This respite was short-lived though as Tadgh Nolan rattled the Bun net moments later with a quite brilliant goal that started on their own 14 yard line. Finnan (free) and sub Peter Tormey from play narrowed the gap to one again but after missing the target Jack Carroll pounced on the resultant poor kick out to lob the keeper from 30 yards and when sub Tom Tuite added a wonderful score shortly afterward the game looked done and dusted.

The Downs should have had another goal to completely finish matters, but inexplicably they failed to net and Tormey added a free to give Bun hope.

John Kiernan netted a marvellous solo effort for Bun but it was two minutes into added time and looked merely a consolation until Kenny Conroy levelled matters on 64 minutes and amazingly we headed for extra time.

Bun hit four in that first period of extra time through Finnan (free), Peter Tormey from a very acute angle, Finnan again from another parish almost and Noel Yourell from a fisted effort while The Downs’ only reply was a Tuite free. Bun solidified their advantage in the second period through O’Mara, from very tight to the sideline, Peter Tormey with a wonderful solo effort and O’Mara after a superb mark while The Downs’ only reply came from Tadgh Nolan on the break. In the final seconds, Jack Carroll netted his hat-trick goal from a 14 yard free that almost broke the net. But it was all too little too late and Bun had held on for a miraculous win that sees their season extended.

Scorers

Bunbrosna: Aidan Finnan 1-3 2 frees, Barry O’Mara 0-6 2 frees and 2 marks, Peter Tormey 0-4 1 free, John Kiernan 1-0, Kenny Conroy 0-2, Simon Moorhead, Fintan Finnan, Finian Newman and Noel Yourell 0-1 each.

The Downs: Jack Carroll 3-2, Tadgh Nolan 1-1, Ben Harte 0-3, Dylan Carroll and Tom Tuite (1 free) 0-2 each, Daniel O’Callaghan 0-1.

Bunbrosna: Liam Mitchell; Simon Moorhead, Joe Tormey, Ronan Scally; Luke Kiernan, Andrew Whitney, Matthew Hope; Aidan Finnan, John Kiernan; Mark Donnelly, Fintan Finnan, Enda Newman; Kenny Conroy, Barry O’Mara and Finian Newman. Subs: Peter Tormey for Enda Newman 28 mins, Shane McGovern for Luke Kiernan H/T, Noel Yourell for Whitney 44 mins, David Newman for Donnelly 55 mins, Luke Kiernan for Finian Newman 64 mins, Conor Newman for Joe Tormey 76 mins

The Downs: Senan O’Driscoll; Cian Carthy, Liam Faulkner, Gavin Murphy; Eoghan Murray, Keith Carroll, Cian McCourt; James Drumm, Daniel O’Callaghan; Taylor Daly, Shane Carroll, Tadgh Nolan; Jack Carroll, Ben Harte and Dylan Carroll. Subs: Tom Tuite for Shane Carroll 41 mins, Daniel Kenna for Daly 56 mins, Daly for McCourt 64 mins, Mikey Walsh for Harte 66 mins, Adam Conneely for Dylan Carroll 76 mins

Referee Mick Gordon