Dawson pleased with higher intensity

Burren manager Frank Dawson

BURREN manager Frank Dawson feels his side fully merit their position at the top of the division one table as the second half of the season begins.

Despite missing “eight or nine” first-team players through county duty and injury, the St Mary’s men possess the best scoring difference and can boast the meanest defence after 11 league games.

The latter was evident on Monday night as they defeated Ballyholland 0-12 to 0-2, and Dawson is hoping for a similar performance away to Clonduff on Friday evening.

“We were 2-1 down to Ballyholland after five minutes and they didn’t score after that, so you can only be pleased with the defence,” said Dawson, who is chasing three Down championship titles in a row with the club.

“We played very well, conditions weren’t great, they were slippy, but we were pleased with how we performed.

“It was the first match back after the two-week break, and we raised the intensity of training in those two weeks. The boys hadn’t touched a ball in those two weeks, so we were delighted that they looked as sharp as they did.”

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday July 26. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here