MFC
decider ends in a draw - 18/09/2003
Down
Minor Football Championship Final: Rostrevor 2-09 Kilcoo 2-09
There was a dramatic ending to the MFC Final between Kilcoo
and Rostrevor at Hilltown on Sunday 14th September when a pointed free one minute
into injury time gave outsiders Kilcoo a second chance in what was a very interesting
and high-scoring decider. Final score 2-9 apiece.
In the opening half,
Rostrevor lived up to their pre-match favourism and led by 2-6 to 0-3 after 25
minutes play. However, Kilcoo were given a life-line just before the half-time
break when Phelim McGreevy got through for a goal - leaving the score at the break
2-6 to 1-3.
And things didn't seem to be improving for the Kilcoo side
when in the opening minutes of the second-half Sean Parr increased the Rostrevor
lead with a point. It was then we saw the true character of this Kilcoo side who
battled back strongly for the remainder of the game, and in an amazing transformation
they dominated the last 25 minutes play. However, Rostrevor were defending well,
and with five minutes remaining of the game they still held a four points lead.
At this stage Kilcoo 'threw caution to the wind' and with minutes remaining
in the contest they were rewarded when Conor Laverty goaled from a penalty. A
minute into injury time Conor Laverty became the Kilcoo hero when he pointed a
free to level the game, and Rostrevor were hanging on in a tense finish.
In the end a draw was a fair result, as it would have been a travesty of justice
if either side had lost this thrilling encounter.
The replay should be
interesting to say the least!
Kilcoo - S. Kane; D. McCusker, R. Morgan,
N. Brannigan; C. Ward, M. McEvoy, P. Greenan; P. McGreevy 1-1, P. Grant; C. McEvoy
0-1, C. Laverty 1-6, J. McGreevy; A. McEvoy, B. Devlin, P. Kane 0-1.
Rostrevor
- J. Parr; L. Morgan, P. Mooney, M. Farrell; J. Keogh, A. Cousins, A. Magee; R.
Watt, E. McConville; S. Parr 0-1, C. Mackin 0-2, A. Mackin 1-6; P. McEntee 1-0;
C. Clerkin, C. Farrell.
Sub: K. Clerkin
