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Bradley returns to grassroots
02.09.11
From the wide open
spaces of Croke Park to the claustrophobic confines
of Crampsey Park, Ryan Bradley will return to the
grassroots this weekend when he lines out for
Buncrana against Urris in the Donegal Intermediate
Football Championship on Saturday night (throw-in
6.30pm).
Other than the injured Brendan McGee (knee),
Buncrana manager Mark Crossan has a fully fit panel
to choose from, and the club’s county star will be
playing in only his fifth club match of the season.
“There’s a savage commitment needed at county level,
with Ryan and the boys training three and four times
a week,” Crossan, who himself had a distinguished
intercounty career, said.
“We’re glad to get him back in the club colours, but
he will have to adjust his game a wee bit. It will
be a bit slower paced that the county game and it
might take him a while to get back in sync with his
teammates.”
Bradley is expected to line out at midfield, a
position he played in against Urris in the league
three weeks ago when Buncrana won by 2-5 to 0-8.
Urris manager Michael Doherty is keenly aware of the
threat posed to his team by Bradley, but insists
that his team can’t be overly focused on the county
number 12.
“We can’t be overly focused on Ryan Bradley. He’s in
super shape and has had a tremendous season with
Donegal, but we have to make it as hard as possible
for him and make him earn everything he gets.” |
“There was nothing
between us in that recent league match, we kicked
some wides and made some mistakes at the back,”
Doherty continued. “We expect it will be very tight
all over the pitch, but we’ll have to be better able
to take our scores this time around.”
Crampsey Park, Urris’ home venue, is a notoriously
tight pitch, and in training Buncrana have narrowed
their Scarvey pitch to try and recreate that.
“We’ve had great numbers at training – championship
always creates a buzz around a club and I’m very
happy with the effort the players have shown,”
Crossan said.
In addition to Bradley, Buncrana’s key players
include Christy Bell, Caolan McCann, Oisin Doherty
and Odhran Doherty, while the veteran McGonigle
twins Paul and Stephen are also influential.
Michael Doherty was full of praise for his midfield
partnership of Eddie Kelly and Liam Diver.
“Kelly and Diver have been doing very well at
midfield and they dominated in a game we won down in
Naomh Bríd a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
Work commitments in Dublin meant that Eddie Kelly
was withdrawn from Jim McGuinness’ county squad
earlier this year, but Doherty says he is back to
top form again.
Urris scoring burden is shared between Kelly, Alan
Friel and Darren Grant. Joe Grant is suspended,
while the influential Donal Kelly suffered a
hamstring injury and isn’t available for selection.
Saturday’s match has a 6.30pm throw in, and if the
attendance at the league match three weeks ago is
anything to go by, another big crowd will be
travelling down to Crampsey Park to see this local
derby first round, first leg clash.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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