Bunninadden are nearly caught out by rivals’ revival

BUNNINADDEN got their Connacht Gold Intermediate Football Championship campaign back on track last Sunday although they were given a severe fright in this Group Two fixture by Enniscrone-Kilglass at Tubbercurry’s Kilcoyne Park. Enniscrone-Kilglass made a stirring recovery in the last 15 minutes but ended up losing by a point – this was a second narrow defeat of the campaign for the team managed by John Paul Carden as they were beaten by two points by arch-rivals Easkey in round one.

Bunninadden were six points up at half-time, 2-7 to 0-6, thanks to first-half goals inside the opening 15 minutes from Michael Gormley and Cian Brett.

Last year’s county semi-finalists were nine points in front – 2-9 to 0-6 – and looking comfortable by the 42nd minute.

But Willie Gormley’s charges only scored once more over the next 18 minutes – teenager Luke Marren’s pointed free – as they were almost beaten by a ferocious comeback from the west Sligo side.

Enniscrone-Kilglass’ revival began with a goal from wing-forward Robert Jacob. The Duffy brothers, Gavin and Brian, got more involved as well. After that Luke Marren point made it 2-10 to 1-8, Enniscrone-Kilglass tacked on four points without reply, including three scores from Brian Duffy, and Bunninadden were not only sweating, they were just waiting for the full-time whistle from referee Michael Conway.

Given Bunninadden’s first-half dominance, there was little to suggest that they would make such hard work of getting the result.

In that first-half, alongside their two goals, there were good points from Ronan Doherty, Barry Cafferky, Jonathan Hodgins and Oisin Gorman. Enniscrone-Kilglass scored half a dozen points in the opening period thanks to Gavin Duffy (3), Robert Jacob, Ciaran O’Dowd and Brandon Fitzgerald.

Next up for Enniscrone-Kilglass is Sunday’s game against fellow strugglers St John’s at Seamie Donegan Memorial Park (2pm), with Bunninadden playing Castleconnor on the same day in Tourlestrane (4pm).