East Down U-16 Football League Section B Drumaness 3-07  Ballykinlar 1-06

The Kinlar travelled to St Colman's Park with a bare fifteen of a panel but unfortunately lost out to a bigger Drumaness offering. The size of the homeside's team was a huge factor in determining the outcome as the Kinlar fielded a team mostly made up of U-14's.

The first half was very scrappy with the inclement weather and a heavily flooded pitch hindering good play. Ballykinlar started strongly with scores from Anthony Mageean and Declan Kavanagh but the Ness fought back courageously to level the game.

Conall McKee momentarilly restored the away team's lead with a great strike but Drumaness restored parity with a hotly disputed penalty.

Ballykinlar responded well to the setback and with Shaun Cunningham and Conall McKee looking increasingly dangerous they clawed back to a draw with scores from the aforementioned duo.

Then just before the break Gavin McMullan combined with Declan Murdock to finish the ball to the back of the Kinlar net. Drumaness now held a three point advantage going in to the second half.

With the wind in Drumaness's favour two long range efforts extended their lead to five points but a goal out of nowhere by Laurence Smith sprang his team in to action and put two points between the teams again.

As the game went on the tired legs of the Ballykinlar fifteen started to show and Drumaness rallied to put the homeside to sleep with 1-04 without reply. This sucked the energy out of the away entity but a late score from Ballykinlar's best player Shaun Cunningham put a better look on the scoreline.

Overall, Drumaness deserved their triumph. Their greater height advantage in midfield and strength through the centre prevailed in a very exciting game. Paddy Morgan, Mark and Mickey Rainey along with Brian McGivern and Gavin McMullan were their best performers.

Ballykinlar had stars in all six forwards especially the full forward line of Smith, Cunningham and McKee.

Ballykinlar: B.Warnock, E.King, R.Fitzsimons, L.Grant, R.Melville, R.Cardwell, M.Mageean, D.Kavanagh (0-01), B.Melville, P.Curry, A.Mageean (0-01), M.Willoughby, L.Smith (1-00), C.McKee (0-02), S.Cunningham (0-02).