By Michael McMullan

BURREN retained the Ulster League title and captain Ryan Treanor said it was important step into the new season.

The league will kick into gear this month with the bigger picture to follow of hitting the championship phase ready to rock.

Treanor kicked half a dozen points, including the winner, in a one-point win over Mayobridge in the recent Ulster League final. Burren were winners last year too, over a decade after their last foray into the competition.

“We beat Gaoth Dobhair in the final last year. We had five games in total last year and there seemed to be a big uptake last year with the new rules,” Treanor said.

With Ardara pulling out of their game, Burren won this year’s title after playing Castlewellan, Eglish and neighbours the ‘Bridge.

“They are recorded fixtures and there’s a wee bit more meaning to it than a challenge game,” Treanor said.

“We played Mayobridge, it’s a local rival and there is a full team of officials. It was all set out as if it was a proper game, not just a friendly, and it has that wee bit more weight.

“It’s nice that there’s a cup, we won it the year before and it was nice that we were able to retain it.”

“Ultimately, you don’t read too much into it,” added Treanor, now in his 11th season of senior football with the club.

“It’s a good opportunity to blood young lads coming through. It’s good, it’s certainly superior than friendly games.

“If you look at young lads coming up, particularly from minors or u-20s who maybe haven’t had an opportunity to play in much league football, much championship football, it’s a good chance for them to play.”

Burren are under the management of Collie Holmes who has Lorcan Martin and Frank Dawson as part of the management team.

They’ll now be gearing up for league action without a handful of their Down players and Armagh defender Paddy Burns.

“Last week against the ‘Bridge, there was a decent wee crowd there and it was under lights,” Treanor said of their preparations for the Down campaign.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to get competitive football. There’s something behind it, rather than just going out and play a challenge game that nobody wants.”