Stone
claim Sevens Title -
15/09/03
Down Democrat/ O'Neill's International
Sportswear' sponsored 7's Football in Castlewellan
By Kevan Owens
Longstone win The 24th annual
invitation 7's. LONGSTONE, last years Down IFC winners wrote themselves into the
club's history records when they overcame All-Ireland Sevens winners Bellaghy
in the final of the O'Neills Irish Sportswear and Down Democrat sponsored Castlewellan
All-Ireland invitation sevens.
In this the 24th year of the competition
there was a record number of entries. Teams from Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, the
four universities in Belfast and Dublin as well as a combined British Universities
team made up the 26 teams taking part.
Played at three venues in six
groups on a round robin basis, there was eight hours of brilliant football, excitement
and entertainment. The winners and runners-up in the groups made it through to
the quarter-finals. However, some well known sides failed to come through including
Round Towers (Dublin), UUJ, Queens University, Walterstown (Meath), Emo (Laois)
and Blessington (Wicklow).
The first quarter-final saw Longstone overcome
former winners St Mary's Sligo after extra time by 3-12 to 1-16. An Riocht then
met Dublin side Thomas Davis and won by 4-10 to 1-4 with Down county star John
Clarke and Gary Cunningham getting two goals each. In the third quarter-final
former winners Loughinisland met an inform Dromintee (Armagh) who won by 4-6 to
1-4. The fourth quarter-final saw Bellaghy overcome Liatroim by 3-10 to 2-5.
The scene was set for the semi-finals which proved two real thrillers. Longstone,
with Barry and Mark Doran, Ambrose Rogers and Michael Higgins in brilliant form,
overcame Dromintee by 0-14 to 0-10. The second semi-final between holders Bellaghy
and An Riocht saw the Derry side well in control and canter to a 5-8 to 0-9 victory.
The final itself between hot favourites Bellaghy and Longstone was a
thriller all the way. Bellaghy powered by the four Doherty brothers Gareth, Fergal,
Kevin and Conor, found the Mourne side quite a handful.
The "Stone" tackled
quickly, harassed their opponents and never allowed them to settle into their
well-known style.
Points in the first half were exchanged at regular
intervals with Fergal and Kevin Doherty and Francis Glackin pointing for Bellaghy
and Adrian Traynor and Barry Doran for the "Stone" as the sides were locked at
0-5 each, seconds before half-time. With the last kick of the half Gavin Diamond
pointed for Bellaghy as they led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
Twice
within the opening minutes of the second half points were exchanged before Louis
McPeake put Bellaghy two ahead.
The turning point came midway through
the half when a defensive mistake let in Mark Doran for the Longstone goal to
give them a one-point lead. Although Gavin Diamond levelled it was Ambrose Rogers
who sent the Longstone followers into space with the winning point seconds from
the finish.
Pat Rodgers our club president presented the Pat Keown memorial
Cup to Longstone captain Michael Higgins and trophies to both winners and runners-up.
Castlewellan and Down keeper Mickey McVeigh handed over the player of
the tournament to Longstone's Barry Doran.
MATCH STATS
Longstone:
M Higgins, B Doran (0-5), A Traynor (0-1), E Trimble, A Rogers (0-1), M Doran
(1-2), J Traynor, P Traynor, J Cunningham.
Bellaghy: G Doherty, K Diamond,
F Doherty (0-1), F Glackin (0-4), G Diamond (0-2), K Doherty (0-3), L McPeake
(0-1), C Doherty, J Cassidy.
