Following last weeks disappointment in the championship this week was a different story. The seconds finally got to play their match against Rostrevor and won in impressive style. While the U12s stole this weeks headlines when they put in a superb performance to win the East Down Championship title. The seniors where also back in action. This time they were up against Warrenpoint and looking to confirm their place in the top four play offs.

• Congratulations to the players and mentors of the U12 team on winning the East Down Championship Final in Ballykinlar. Up against Bryansford and playing some of the best football seen at underage level this season the lads where 2-4 to no score up after fifteen minutes thanks to two goals from Cillian Laverty. Four minutes later and Laverty had his hat rick. In fact he made it four a few minutes before half time while Ryan Johnston just before that made the half time score 5-6 to 0-0. In the second half they never eased up Laverty hitting the net in the first minute for his fifth and Kilcoos sixth. As the impressive James McClean and Jerome Johnston added further points the mentors began to make changes and amongst those changes was Oliver McClean making his comeback following a broken leg. Further goals from the Johnston brothers made the tally eight before Kilcoo where awarded a penalty after Mark Rogan was brought down in the box. It was Rogan who stepped up to take it and with the slickest of kicks the ball hit the back of the net for the loudest cheer of the day. Nine minutes from time Laverty made it ten goals, with the last score of the game, and his personal tally had reached 6-2. It would be wrong to single out any individual above another. This us an inspiring team performance from the goal keeper to the full forward line with everyone playing their part. They all played exceptional and therefore they all deserve the plaudits. Final score 10-11 to 0-4

• The seconds made it two championship wins out of two for the club this week when they travelled to Rostrevor and came away with an impressive victory. The team got of to a nervy start before settling and getting in to form. With Damian Grant playing some very good football at midfield the lads began to take control. With points from Colm Devlin, Paddy Kelly and Ryan Morgan they led 0-4 to 0-2 after fifteen minutes. However a lapse in concentration saw Rostrevor hit the net and take the lead. This however shook the team up and a goal from Alponsus McEvoy set the game on its way. Just before half time Micky Kane tapped the ball to the net before Rostrevor got their second to leave the half time score 2-8 to 2-3. The second half was clinical football, points from John A McEvoy, Paddy Kelly, Damian Grant, Alphonsus McEvoy and Darren Morgan given Rostrevor no chance of getting back in to the game and for good measure Micky Kane slotted home his second goal of the match to leave the final score 3-16 to 2-4.

• It was back to the league this week for the seniors and they clearly hadn’t shaken last weeks championship performance as they struggled to get to grips with the game. Home to Warrenpoint the visitors went in to a 0-6 to 0-2 lead with two minutes left of the half, Conor Laverty and Donal Kane the scorers. However a Kane free closed the gap to five before he blasted the ball to the point net in injury time to level the match. Warrenpoint however picked themselves up and went up the other end to point and lead 0-7 to 1-3 at half time. The second half was a little better as the home side began to assert themselves. Two points from Donal Kane and a point from Phlem McGreevy put them in front but Warrenpoint added two of their own scores to level the match with fifteen minutes to play. In the final ten minutes of the match Kilcoo began to show some form and points from Conor Laverty and to inspirational points from Anthony Morgan put them in control and went on to win 1-10 to 0-10. This wasn’t an inspiring performance but the objective was to confirm their place in the top four and they did that. A missed penalty and a ball rebounding of the crossbar could have made the game easier but it takes a good team to win a match when not playing well and they did just that.

• All players, mentors and committee members are reminded that all outstanding monies from last weeks function MUST be returned to the club NOW.

Brendan Gribben
Kilcoo PRO