KILMACUD SEVENS/Bryansford (Down) 1-15 Castlewellan (Down) 2-11:THE BLUE September Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Sevens final was an all-Down affair and Bryansford prevailed after a cracking game to win the title for the fifth time at Glenalbyn.

The winners got off to a dream start as they worked the ball forward from the throw-in and Ciarán Brannigan rammed a low shot to the Castlewellan net with just 15 seconds elapsed.

Castlewellan came back strongly though and led at half-time by 1-7 to 1-6, with help from Kevin Duffin’s well-taken goal.

Bryansford lifted the tempo once again after the resumption, scoring the opening three points but a Colm Óg Crilly goal for Castlewellan put the game back in the melting pot.

Brendan Corrigan’s charges had a greater spread of scoring power however, and Chris Brannigan, Johnny Cunningham and Danny Savage kicked vital scores to help them become the fourth Down side to win the title since Castlewellan’s success in 2006.

The success also marked the seventh year in a row that an Ulster team claimed the title but there were some signs of a revival from the rest of the country, or Dublin at least, as the hosts and Ballymun reached the quarter-finals.

A quest for a fifth title by defending champions St Gall’s (and fourth in seven campaigns) ended on a 3-10 to 0-6 quarter-final defeat by Castlewellan.

BRYANSFORD: D Savage 0-1, S Tower 0-1, J Magorrian 0-2, C Cribben 0-2, C Clark 0-2, D McKibben, Ciaran Brannigan 1-2, Chris Brannigan 0-3, J Cunningham 0-2, M Brannigan.

CASTLEWELLAN: Colm Óg Crilly 1-0, B Trevors 0-3, D Morgan, F McGreevy 0-4, K Duffin 1-1, Cathal Crilly, D McGrady, C Flanagan, D McKibben, A Burns 0-3.

Referee: D Fahy (Longford).