The championship was always going
to the topic of conversation on
everyone’s lips this week
but before that the seniors had
an impressive draw against An Roicht
in the league and everyone will
agree that this was a fantastic
game of football to which both team
could have won but a draw was a
fair result. The U12’s continue
to be the clubs hopes this year
as they advanced to the championship
final and also picked up more silverware
this week.
• Commiserations to the seniors
following their quarter final defeat
in the championship to Mayobridge.
This wasn’t a spectacular
match to watch but it was always
going to be about the result. The
lads started of slowly allowing
the bridge to take a two point lead
before they kicked in to action.
As they began to get in to the match
the speed of Conor Laverty up front
was causing the bridge problems
and on each occasion all they could
do was foul which allowed Donal
Kane to tap over and put the magpies
in to the lead 0-2 to 0-3 after
fifteen minutes. However a lapse
in concentration following a long
ball over the top allowed the bridge
to flick the ball to the net. From
then on they had to fight for every
ball and fight they did. In the
second half they showed glimpses
their true form and when they did
the Mayobridge were unable to hold
the forward line. In midfield Sean
Michael Devlin was catching some
superb ball but it looked like being
one of those nights as nothing would
go their way? Five points down with
just minutes left they put in a
strong effort to close the gap but
in the end they were unable to beat
the clock and as the final whistle
went everyone were left reflecting
on what could have been. Last year
the lads walked of the same pitch
after a demoralising defeat to the
same team, this year they will still
feel demoralised and gutted but
have showed that they are now in
a position to challenge the big
names in Down football and should
be proud of the progress they have
made over the last couple of years.
Hard luck but well done lads.
• There was some good news
in the championship this week. The
U12’s have made it through
to the east down final after a more
than impressive win over Bredagh
last week. While there were some
individuals who stood out it would
be unfair to name anyone above others
after a fantastic team performance.
Following this win they then participated
in the Edward Toner Memorial tournament.
After wins over Carryduff, Longstone,
Banbridge and Crossmaglen they advanced
as winners from their section and
took on Castlewellan in the semi
final. Following an easy win they
then had a rematch with Crossmaglen
in the final. The final proved to
be an exciting one with both teams
playing some free flowing football,
in the end though their could only
be one winner and it was the magpies
who came out on top and picked up
yet another piece of silverware
this season. Congratulations to
James McClean on winning player
of the tournament.
• Congratulations to Ryan
Mussen on coming second in the skills
tournament held at half time during
the senior championship match. Good
luck in the next round.
• Congratulations and well
done to all those who helped in
anyway to organisation Irelands
No 1 Comedy and Music spectacular.
I think everyone will agree that
it was a well organised and very
enjoyable night. Some people might
consider running in the Olympics
next time, given the speed that
some of them achieved dashing for
the toilets during May McFetridge
performance. Even some of the not
so young footballers showed that
they have still got good turn of
speed in their legs.
Brendan Gribben
Kilcoo PRO
