We travelled to Tyrrellspass on Friday evening last to take on Moate in Round 1 of the 2024 Junior Championship. On a fine evening for football, both teams served up an entertaining encounter with Bun emerging three point winners at the end.

Bun started this game brightly and had the first two points on the board courtesy of a pair of Barry O Mara frees. Moate replied in emphatic fashion and scored two quick goals to stamp their mark on the game. O’ Mara responded with a free and a fine effort from play after being set up by Aidan Finnan. Moate replied with a neat point from play then to stretch their lead at the mid way point in the first half.

From here, Bun really stepped up the pace and started to win key battles across the pitch. O Mara kicked another free after Noel Yourell was fouled, having made yet another surging drive forward. John Kiernan then kicked two fine points from play in quick succession to bring the game level.

Bun were dominating at this stage and added further scores. Aidan Finnan drove forward to score from play with a left footed effort after being put through by O Mara. From the resulting kickout, Enda Newman applied great pressure to turn the ball over before sending Finnan through on goal and he applied a neat left footed finish to push Bun clear on a 1:08 to 2:01 scoreline at half time. 

The second half started brightly for Bun and they had the first score of the half. Ken Conroy took a couple of men on and laid off to O Mara who applied the finish with the aid of the post to push Bun five clear. To their credit, Moate responded with two fine efforts to reduce the deficit.

Simon Moorehead ventured forward to kick over a brilliant score after been set up by Matthew Hope. This was followed by an impressive Finnan point. The key score of the half then arrived when O Mara had an effort come back off the post. His effort was gathered by John Kiernan who laid off neatly to the in rushing O Mara who applied a tasty left footed finish to the net. Moments later, Kiernan won a kick out from Liam Mitchell before laying off to Mark Donnelly who found Ken Conroy to fire over a sweet left footed finish from forty yards.

Once again Moate refused to wilt and they responded with a crucial goal and two points on the bounce to bring them right back into the game. O Mara kicked a free after Luke Kiernan was fouled to stem the tide but Moate replied with three points of their own from play. Darragh Lyons announced his arrival to the game with a brilliant fetch from a kick out before kicking a long left footed pass into O Mara who applied the expert finish to leave three points in it.

A disallowed goal for Moate for a square ball infringement left for a frantic finish to this game but Bun showed all their experience to come through. A late free dropped into the square but Lyons rose highest to relieve the pressure before Derek Heffernan sounded the full time whistle.

Team: Liam Mitchell, Joe Tormey, Dave Newman, Simon Moorehead, Noel Yourell, Andy Whitney, Matthew Hope, Brian Maguire, John Kiernan, Mark Donnelly, Aidan Finnan, Finian Newman, Ken Conroy, Barry O Mara & Enda Newman. Subs: Luke Kiernan for Finian Newman (5Mins), Conor Newman for Noel Yourell (29 Mins), Darragh Lyons for Brian Maguire (43 Mins), Fintan Finnan for Mark Donnelly (56 Mins), Kevin Mitchell, Eoin McGowan, Cian Tighe, Peter Tormey, Darragh McCormack, Jonny Nolan & John Casey.