Walsh hoping for new memories

THOMAS WALSH takes a timeout from the nine-to-five in the Bryansford Caravan Park and rewinds his mind back to the day he first saw a Cork team in action.

It was September 1956 and the Munster champions travelled to Croke Park where they were expected to account for Galway and claim the Sam Maguire for the first time in 11 years. They didn’t. Galway won 2-13 to 3-7 and that unwanted dose was doubled the following year when Louth edged them out by two points in a lower scoring game.

“Pádraig Harrington’s father was on those teams,” recalls Walsh. “They had a great side that time but those boys never won the medal they deserved. Their current team have been close as well. I hope they win one. Just not on Sunday.”

Walsh’s knowledge of the game makes him a useful barometer this week and, though he is nervous of Cork “breaking out”, he has detected a strong air of confidence in Down this week. All-Ireland fever has reached epidemic proportions, accelerated by a succession of promotional events that ended with a pre-final breakfast in the Canal Court on Wednesday.

Over 700 people attended the function and Walsh and a handful of other Bryansford members were among those who paid for the privilege of hearing the guest speakers and meeting some of the players.

Club secretary Catriona Rice described the atmosphere on the day as “mad” and Walsh is of the belief that the excitement around the county has surpassed that of 1991 and ‘94.

Back then, Bryansford were represented on the Down panel by Eamon Burns on both occasions and by Brian Burns in the latter. That contribution has grown by 50% for the 2010 campaign.

Kalum King will be the man to carry the parish’s flag onto the pitch at the start on Sunday afternoon and the influential midfielder is joined on the panel by substitutes Conor Maginn and Luke Howard. It is only right that the club should be so intimately involved in the county’s latest stab at the ultimate honour because they have been one of the chief storytellers in the illuminating history of Down football.

Founded in 1926, the club won four senior titles during World War Two but folded in 1954 due to emigration.

Reformed in 1962, they won half-a-dozen more county championships from the late-sixties to the mid-seventies, added two Ulster titles and reached the first All-Ireland club final in 1971. Donie O’Sullivan’s East Kerry side got the better of them that day but the result prompted the GAA authorities to pass a rule preventing such divisional outfits competing in the competition again.

Bryansford’s domination in Down finally came to an end in 1977 and it was another 26 years before they secured the 11th title which sees them sit atop the roll of honour alongside Burren. How long they remain there is a moot point as Mayobridge’s recent dominance has moved them up alongside Castlewellan and to within one title of the competition’s market leaders.

“Burren did so well for so long,” says Walsh who has held a variety of posts in the club down the years including three spells as secretary. They had a wonderful team under Ray Morgan and won a couple of All-Irelands.

“We’ve lost a few finals in the last 30 years although we won the one in 2003. Kalum played on that one even though he was 18.”

The 80s may have been barren on the pitch but it was a time of progress off it with work on an access road, fields, lighting, terracing and press facilities throughout the decade.

The low point came in 1989 when, at the height of the Troubles, the social club at the premises on St Patrick’s Road in the coastal town of Newcastle was burned to the ground.

That is all in the past. Former Down manager Pete McGrath delivered a league title last year and plans are in place to move address from the town to two miles out the road and into Bryansford itself.

Onwards and upwards.