Castlewellan had to dig deep to produce a winning display against neighbours Liatroim in this thrilling Down SFC quarter final at St Patrick's Park, Newcastle on Sunday 7th September.

With ten minutes remaining, it looked as if Castlewellan were headed for a comfortable victory when leading by seven points. This was not to be the case as Liatroim in a final flourish clawed their way back with sterling peformances from Aidan O'Prey, Patrick Pearse McCartan, Collie McCrickard and Declan Burns. Their supreme effort brought them back to within three points of Castlewellan with three minutes of play remaining.

Castlewellan keeper, Mickey McVeigh helped to guide his side to the next stage of the competition when he denied Liam Doyle a goal from a penalty with a brilliant save.

Liatroim opened much the brighter with Liam Doyle and Paul Burns hittig points. Castlewellan levelled affairs by the tenth minute with Tony McAtamney and Gregory McCartan registering points. McCartan with two further points and one from Fintan McGreevy gave them a half time lead of Castlewellan 0-6 Liatroim 0-3.

Five minutes into the second half, Damien McGrady finished a Finbar Rice cross to the back of the net to put his side on the road to victory. Liatroim had their penalty chance midway through the second half but Mickey McVeigh was equal to the task, saving brilliantly from Liam Doyle.

Despite the trojan efforts by Liatroim in the final ten minutes, Castlewellan held out to see them make it into the semi-final.

CASTLEWELLAN: M. McVeigh, M. McKibeen, S. Trainor, L. Lennon, S. Poland, B. McAleenan, N. McArdle, G. McCartan (0-3), C. McCabe, F. McGreevy (0-2), C. McAlarney (0-1), T. McAtamney (0-1), F. Rice (0-1), D. McGrady (1-1), C. McCann. Subs: N. McAleenan (0-1), for D. McGrady, P. Keown (0-1) for C. McCann, T. Jennings for M. McKibben.

LIATROIM: B. Bradley, J. Brown, A. Rice, P. Middleton, D. Morgan, E. Middleton, C. Bannon, T. Armstrong, L. Doyle (0-3), P. P. McCartan (0-1), C. McCrickard (0-1), J. P. Owens, A. Brown, A. O'Prey (0-2), P. Burns (0-1). Subs: D. Burns (0-2) for P. P. McCartan, S. O'Higgins for J. P. Owens.

Referee: C. Brannigan (Clonduff).