Image source, Inpho Image caption, As they lifted the trophy, co-captains Stephen McConville and Charlie Carr held up a number two jersey for Clonduff's Lorcan Branagan, who died in 2024 ByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI journalist at Pairc Esler Published 10 minutes ago Clonduff ended 26 years of hurt to finally get their hands back on the Frank O'Hare Cup, beating Burren 1-14 to 1-10 in the Down Senior Football Championship final at Pairc Esler.
It was a cagey affair across the hour in Newry as both sides were looking to end famines of their own, Burren losing their third final in four years, while Clonduff were appearing in their first decider since 2016.
The Mourne county has been under the stranglehold of Kilcoo dominance for what feels like an eternity, with this final the first without the Magpies in 15 years, as their bid for eight titles in a row came to a crashing halt in the last four.
As both sides looked to impose themselves, it was captain Charlie Carr's goal that gave the men in yellow an early advantage.
A couple of two-point frees from Eamon Brown ensured a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at the break, and the forward put the success down to the words of Mayo All-Ireland winning boss Andy Moran.
"I was actually listening to Andy Moran's podcast during the week, and just one thing he said, just don't stop swinging whatever happens, just keep shooting and just keep shooting," Brown told BBC Sport NI.
"It's unbelievable.
The fans throughout the whole game were actually unbelievable, we had a 16th man, any time we scored, the roar was just incredible.
Any time Burren made a mistake, it was our roar.
"You know, finals...you can think of the occasion or whatever, but our whole thing was, as long as we work harder than them, we want it more than them.
That's what it comes down to, and that's what we've done." 'You can see what it means to so many people' Image source, Inpho Image caption, Clonduff celebrate the win with the fans Carr's goal was a real captain's contribution to settle any early nerves, while his composure was key as Niall Toner's 41st-minute goal threatened to stir a comeback.
"It's very hard to put into words, you can see what it means to so many people.
It feels like there's thousands and thousands out on the field here," Carr told BBC Sport NI.
"Just to finally get over the line, it's more a sense of relief because I feel we've probably left a couple behind in the last few years.
I mean, finals are just all about winning and thankfully we did that today.
"You know, it's ten years since we were in a final and I think there's seven people playing that are involved today that were involved then.
So, caginess was probably to be expected.
"The first week back after the Carryduff game in the semi-final, training was cagey.
So, maybe training translated right on to the field.
But nerves are normal.
No matter how cagey it was, I'm just glad we came out to the right side of it." The season doesn't end here for Clonduff, as they'll go to represent the county in the Ulster Club Championship starting with a preliminary clash against the Tyrone winners on the weekend ending the 1 November.
Their opponents will be known after next Sunday's Red Hand decider where Errigal Ciaran take on an Edendork side appearing in their first senior final.
"I was reminded there of an Ulster campaign that never came into anybody's head.
So, it'll be back down there on Wednesday night.
Get back to the tactics board and ready to go," said Carr.
"It's a massive honour.
A massive honour for me and Stephen (McConville) to be up there on behalf of our players lifting the Cup.
"But to represent the county in Ulster is a massive honour for the whole group.
Hopefully, we can give it a bit of a run, we'll take it one game at a time.
