Brannigan recalls Kilmacud glory

Bryansford celebrate winning last year’s Kilmacud sevens

BRYANSFORD’S Ciaran Brannigan has recalled with delight the moment when he helped to win his club’s fifth Kilmacud sevens title. Last year’s victory was their first since 1995, and was perhaps made all the sweeter by the fact that they beat neighbouring rivals Castlewellan in the final.

The Kilmacud sevens has long been a crucial part of Bryansford’s calendar, having won their first title back in 1994.

“For our club it is a traditional thing to go down,” Brannigan said.
“We have won it five times, so it is really important for us. I have been going down to Kilmacud since I was eight or nine.”

Last year was Brannigan’s first title. He won it on a team that included Chris Brannigan, Chris Clarke, Johnny Cunningham and Danny Savage. They were managed by Benny Corrigan, who had won four Kilmacud sevens titles as player (1984, 1991, 1993, 1994).

“Last year was one of those teams that we sent down that had four or five solid players and four or five players who made themselves available for selection. We only had two or three training sessions, and we never really gave ourselves much hope. But after the first game [against Skryne from Meath] we were very confident because we won it comfortably. We felt that we could win it after that.”

Bryansford’s group also included St Mary’s Saggart from Dublin and Galway side Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

When they emerged from that group, they were paired off against Glenullin, who had reached the final in 2007, in the quarter-finals.
“That was tough the whole way, they had a couple of county players. It only got harder from then on in,” said Brannigan.