Mitchels win city bragging rights

By Tony Bagnall

Newry Mitchels 0-15 Newry Bosco 0-10

NEWRY Mitchels won city bragging rights after a magnificent second half fightback against fierce rivals gave them victory over Newry Bosco last Thursday evening.

In the opening 30 minutes Bosco looked set to shake off their recent dismal run of results as on 16 minutes they led 0-06 to 0-1. And in fact the team bossed by Aidan Mulvanney and Aidan Shields might have put the match beyond their opponents but they spurned three excellent goal-scoring opportunities.

Still at the break the Bosco were looking the business; they had played most of the football and were four points to the good at 0-09 to 0-05.

True they did have a wind advantage in the first half but were so dominant that it seemed they only had to reappear after the break to snatch the Division Three league points.

Mitchels, on the other hand, had scarcely been in the game: but things were to change. Manager Marty Lynch had lots to say at the interval and his team obviously took in his message, as in the second period Mitchels simply blew away their rivals with a powerhouse performance, indeed totting up ten points to Bosco’s single score.

Furthermore they had many of the game’s top players – Cillian McLogan, Shane Cooney, Kenny Murphy, Eamon Pollock plus the Man of the Match Ciaran Conlon, while Bosco’s best were Ciaran Murtagh, Ryan Lynch, Collie Keenan and Kyle Brennan.

Marty Lynch told the Democrat: We were second best in the first half; but we had discipline and never let our heads drop. We knew we could play better and our never-say-die attitude pulled us through.”

Second in command Collie Bell added: “I’m proud of the way we came out in the second half.”

To the match: Kyle Brennan and Collie Keenan gave the Bosco an early lead with Neil Mullan having a superb opportunity to make that five. But the Mitchels’ keeper Kieran McPolin made a brave point-blank block.

Meanwhile Conor Sweeney at the other end fisted over to halve the deficit. Though that Mitchels’ score only seemed to gee up the Bosco as they then fired over four unanswered points to lead 6-1, Niall Mulvanney, Collie Keenan (2) and Marty Carr finding the range. And in fact the last three points were magnificent efforts from way out on the right flank.

Gradually however, the Warrenpoint Road team cut down the Bosco lead with Kenny Murphy firing over three accurate frees and Barry McAteer adding another.

In between Keenan once again found the target with a radar-like point.

Just a couple of scores separated the sides after this latest batch of points but in the last few minutes of the half Keenan stretched the Bosco lead to four.

On the resumption Mitchels found their form with big Richard Troope halving the Bosco lead with a couple of neat scores. And then the powerful right boot of Shane Cooney took centre stage with the mid-fielder firing over three frees in quick succession.

Amazingly the game was transformed. Mitchels held the advantage on 41 minutes though two minutes later Niall Mulvanney squared matters at ten points apiece.

That however, was to be the last throw of the Bosco dice with the Mitchels knocking over five points in the final 14 minutes to run out comfortable winners. Two of these points came from Shane Cooney with Conor Sweeney, Neil Murtagh and the classy Ciaran Conlon also getting on the scoresheet.

In the final minutes Bosco came looking to save the match but Neil Mullan had a shot kicked off the Mitchels’ line and Richard Kimberley fisted wide.

Those two misses just about summed up the Bosco evening.

But there was no denying Mitchels their victory – or their bragging rights.

Newry Mitchels: Kieran McPolin, Gareth McGeeney, Cillian McLogan, Neil Murtagh, Neil Manley, Kieran McLogan, Nigel Allen, Shane Cooney, Ciaran Conlon, Kenny Murphy, Eamon Pollock, Barry McAteer, Conor Sweeney, Richard Troope and Aaron Grant with subs: Damian McLogan and Shannon Cooney.

Newry Bosco: Maurice Rocks, Cathal Carlon, Kenny Lynch, Ciaran Murtagh, Simon Taylor, Barry McParland, Ruairi Mulvanney, Neil Mullan, Mark Rooney, Ryan Lynch, Richard Kimberley, Niall Mulvanney, Marty Carr, Collie Keenan and Kyle Brennan with subs: Neil Tumilty, Conor Larkin and Brian McElroy.

ends