St Mary’s Burren led where Kilcoo wish to follow with two All-Ireland triumphs in the eighties. John ‘Shorty’ Treanor speaks to Niall Gartland about their glory years.

EVEN if Kilcoo win this Saturday’s All-Ireland final against Kilmacud Crokes, they’ll still be one behind the legendary Down team that paved the way back in the eighties – Burren, who were crowned kings of Ireland in 1986 and 1988.

That’s not to diminish what would be a momentous achievement for the Magpies, but the facts are this: Burren were the first team from the province to win the Andy Merrigan Cup, and are only on of only nine clubs to have won the All-Ireland title on at least two separate occasions.

Like Kilcoo, they had to wait their turn – they won Ulster titles late in the twilight of 1983 and 1984 but came up short in All-Ireland semi-finals, most notably against a star-studded St Vincent’s team in early 1985.

Stylish forward John ‘Shorty’ Treanor was pivotal throughout that magical decade, and he says bad luck was a contributing factor to their St Vincent’s defeat.

“Every year we were either getting to the Ulster final or getting beyond that. We learnt from a defeat to Walterstown, who were managed by Jack O’Shea, but we came up against a very strong St Vincent’s team.

“They were an aging team but they still had a very good side with players like Bobby Doyle, Brian Mullins and (Jimmy) Keaveney. We played them in front of thousands of spectators packed in Burren which you wouldn’t get these days as the games are played in county grounds, you never forget memories like that.

“We were sorta robbed that day, they won by two points and scored a goal with 16 players on the field when there was a substitution made.

“We tried to appeal it but the referee didn’t notice it, there was a video but it wasn’t as clear as it would be these days.”

With Ray Morgan coming on board as manager, Burren made another big push in the 19856 season and they got the better of Scotstown by 0-6 to 1-2 in an arm wrestle of an Ulster final.

That was a game Treanor actually missed as he was suspended after picking up two yellow cards (or two notings, as it was back then) in a National League match for Down against Kerry

“Sometimes we got our hardest games in Down and we got this attitude that we’re never beaten until the final whistle.

“The second time we won the All-Ireland we played Loughinisland. It went to two replays and two extra times. We were behind by about 10 points in both those games at half-time. Those were really tight games.

“Whenever we played Scotstown, you didn’t get up in the morning afterwards without any pain. They’d a very formidable back-line of Eugene Sherry, Fergus Caulfield and Gerry McCarville so we were glad to come through it.

“I missed that game and it was harsh, we tried to appeal but that was the rule, it was a very stupid rule really.

“We played Kerry and a certain Mr Spillane went down holding his stomach as if he was half killed but that’s the way it goes.”

Burren had proven themselves as the dominant force in Ulster, but they had yet to do it outside the province. They smashed through the glass ceiling, however, as they made it third time lucky with a performance for the ages against Portlaoise in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Treanor said: “It was one of our best ever performances. Everything just clicked for us, scores were flying over the bar from everywhere.

“I remember taking a shot near the sideline, and some boy in the crowd shouting ‘where the hell is that going’ – it was a seriously windy day and the wind caught it and carried it over the bar.

“It was about -2 degrees, and it was actually snowing in Burren so we went down the road thinking was there any point, but we heard there was just a heavy frost. The ground was hard in fairness but we seemed to score from every attack.”

Their comprehensive 13-point victory over Portlaoise steeled them with confidence ahead of their final date with Kerry side Castleisland. On the eve of the match, the Burren team took the unconventional decision – even in those days – to have a couple of drinks to settle the nerves ahead of their big day.

“There was a big debate about whether to go down on the day of the match or to stay overnight. We ended up going down on the Saturday, we stayed in the airport hotel. We got there about 2pm or 3pm and walked about and had our tea.

“Then we’d a bit of a meeting and afterwards one of the players said ‘sure we’ll have a couple of pints’. Ray Morgan was old-school and down to earth and said ‘well if that’s what you want to do.’

“We sat and had two pints each and the craic was ninety. A Cork fella was brought over to meet us by Paul Fegan, and he said ‘what the hell are you all doing drinking pints’ and Paul said ‘sure that’s what they do every Saturday night’.

“When you win, there’s not a word about it, but if we’d been beaten, the whole story would’ve been that we were all drunk in the hotel.”

Their All-Ireland final opponents boasted players of the calibre of Charlie Nelligan (Kerry goalkeeper during the eighties), Dermot Hannafin and Donie Buckley (yep, the highly regarded coach). They were also bidding for their second title in-a-row, but it was to be Burren’s day on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-6.

Asked who stood out for Burren on their history-making day, Treanor said: “Tony McArdle got an awful heavy knock in the first half but he played on and had a great game. It turned out he had a broken jaw. You could go through the whole team, Brendy McGoven and Tommy McGovern brilliant and so was Paddy O’Rourke even though he was up against a fella who looked about six inches taller than him.

“I remember we’d a couple of free kicks and Paddy said ‘if you score this one, we’ll be four up and we’ll win the All-Ireland.’ I scored and then the next time he said the same again and I said ‘would you ever shut up and leave me alone, you’re annoying me’.

“There was probably no one outstanding player but it was a complete team effort, everyone did their bit. I scored a goal in the first half after a super pass from Vincent McGovern. That was a big shock as when Vincent was in the ’21’ he didn’t normally pass. When that happened I did think we’re gonna win this.”

So there we have it – the first ever team from Ulster to win the All-Ireland SFC at club level. Reflecting on the aftermath, Treanor said: “It was unreal, there were people waiting for us at Newry and then again at Warrenpoint.

“Even though they might’ve begrudged us a wee bit, GAA people still came out and welcomed us home. It was unbelievable really, you’re talking about a small area, Burren’s probably a bit like Kilcoo or Sleacht Néill are at the moment.”

There was also poignancy to their All-Ireland triumph as club stalwart Sean Murdock, who was part of the management team, passed away on New Year’s Eve, shortly before their All-Ireland semi-final against Portlaoise.

“I remember him saying to us on many occasions that ‘youse boys will win an Ulster Championship’ and if we managed that, we’d win an All-Ireland as well.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t there to see it. But after he passed away, we knew there was somebody looking over us. He was an awfully big man in the club, he took us to underage matches and cross-country matches in the back of the van, and we definitely were spurred on by what happened.”

It’s no great shame that they failed to retain their All-Ireland the following year, losing an unsightly Ulster final against Castleblayney by 0-4 to 0-3.

Treanor actually missed that game as he’d been in a serious car accident which sidelined him for four months (he broke his sternum and also got nearly 20 stitches in his head) but he was back the following year as Burren set about winning their second All-Ireland in three years.

The addition of talented young players like Larry Duggan, Tom Fegan and Ronan Fitzpatrick also made a big difference and they claimed a memorable victory on Nemo Rangers’ home patch in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“We went to Nemo and they had a great team at the time. They’d already won two All-Ireland finals in the early eighties and had players like Dinny Allen, Stephen O’Brien, Shay Fahy from Kildare in midfield and Billy Morgan was in nets.

“That was one of our greatest victories. Ronan Fitzpatrick had only come out of minor and scored the goal that day. We were big outsiders.

“They’d six Cork players starting for them and they lost Dinny Allen to a red card, he was that frustrated, Tommy McGovern wasn’t giving him a kick and he swung at him right in front of the referee.

“The weekend was some craic, there was about 58 on the players’ bus on the Saturday, it came back up the road on a Sunday evening and there was about 12 people on it.

“The rest stayed and got the train back home. Fair play to Nemo, lads like Dinny Allen came out with us when they heard we were staying.”

Burren finished the job in the All-Ireland final against Clann na nGael of Roscommon in March 1988, who were positively jinxed in that era, losing four final showdowns. That wasn’t Burren’s problem, however.

“I think we got a bit of luck that day, Clann na nGael missed a lot of chances and we got a fairly lucky goal and managed to stay in front.

“We were fairly friendly with that club, we’d played them in a few challenge matches. I’d have loved to have seen them winning an All-Ireland but it wasn’t to be for them. The second All-Ireland was unbelievable for us as it showed it wasn’t a fluke. And in fairness we arguably left one or two behind us as well.”

Fast forward to the here and now, and Treanor will keep a close eye on how Kilcoo get on this Saturday. They’re the favourites to take the trophy back to Down for the first time since Burren won their second All-Ireland all the way back in 1988, but ‘Shorty’ says there’s no guarantees on All-Ireland final day.

“It’s Kilcoo’s to throw away but everyone thought they’d ease past St Finbarr’s and look what happened. Paul Mannion is an awful loss for Crokes, but it’s an All-Ireland final and it comes down to who will turn up and take their scores. Kilcoo should’ve beaten Corofin two years ago but they missed some easy chances. That’s the pressure of Croke Park and an All-Ireland final.”

HISTORY MAKERS…The Burren team that won the All-Ireland title in 1986 with victory over Kerry side Castleisland Desmonds