MFC Final
Rostrevor produced a storming final quarter to lift their fourth minor title in five years despite the gallant challenge of a skillful young Saval team in this highly entertaining County minor decider at Pairc Esler.

TRAGIC
Tragically for Saval, this game turned on a an unforced error in a match which was distinguished by the skills displayed by both these fine young sides. Saval were winning 0-10 to 0-9 after 45 minutes play, and had funnelled back superbly to snuff out an intricate Rostrevor attack. But as they tried to pass the ball out of the danger area, Reds Sean Magee nipped in to intercept, and transferred to the alert Sean Mackin who quickly veered around the flat-footed defence and rifled an unstoppable cross-shot high to the far corner of the net!
MOULD
That score set the mould for the remainder of the game.Saval hurled themselves forward with increasing desperation, but all they could manage over the next fifteen minutes was a magnificent point from young half back Eamon Magee. Rostrevor, with Sean Mackin dropping deep to organise his teams break-outs, struck twice for points from Shane Murney and Dermot Morgan, and clinched the title in the 59th minute when Richie Reynolds cut through from the left to shoot their second goal. There was still a sting in the Saval tail, however. Niall Madine was fouled in the square a minute into added time, and Paul Faloon rolled a delicious penalty to the corner of the net to leave just a goal between the sides. But as Saval set in search of it, canny Reds picked them off in two further beautifully worked breakaways, Nicholas Mills and Christopher Magee knocking over the scores which left Reds with a five point final margin which did no justice at all to Savals impressive efforts to win their club’s first ever county minor title.
NOTHING BETWEEN THEM
The truth is that there was nothing at all between two attractive footballing teams for the first forty five minutes here.saval had been first into their stride with the exciting Paul Faloon unhingeing the Reds defence straight from the throw-in to place Ruairi Digney for the opening point. Rostrevor’s reply was immediate , Sean Mackin setting up his younger brother, Micheal, for a well-struck equaliser, but Saval continued to sparkle, with Paul Faloon restoring their lead, and Jarlath McCarthy bearing in on goal before being baulked by a great diving block from Christopher Magee. But Reds began to find their pattern towards the end of the first quarter, and went on to lead 0-4 to 0-2 as Christopher Magee, Richie Reynolds and Damian Magee shot three points in as many minutes. And then it was Saval’s turn again. Paul Faloon pointed a free. Ruairi Digney broke from midfield to set up the impressive Faloon for the levelling point and Faloon had two more, one from a free, another to demonstrate that he was equally adept off his right foot and help Saval lead by 0-6 to 0-4 after twenty minutes.
RICHIE PUTS HIS STAMP
Then Reds lively corner forward Richie Reynolds put his stamp on this final. He gathered a Sean Mackin free to shoot a fine point, then started and finished a right wing move in the 24th minute to bring the teams level. Paul Faloon cleverly worked the chance for Ruairi Digney to restore Savals lead from the right wing, but just before half time, Reynolds opportunism fittingly rewarded some very brave play by Christopher Magee and the sides went in level at 0-7 apiece at the break.
SWINGS
The initiative continued to swing tantalisingly from one side to the other in the third quarter. By the 38th minute, Sean Mackin and Richie Reynolds had put Rostrevor 0-9 to 0-7 up. But then Eamon Magee hooked over a delighful point from the left wing, and Paul Faloons free made it 0-9 each in the 42nd minute before good work from Mark Madine gave Calum Lennomn the chance to put Saval back in front. The match was so finely poised at this stage. But then that solitary and fatal lapse in concentration was so cruelly punished by Sean Mackin and Rostrevor were on their way.
WORTHY
Fortune may have been Rostrevors friend in the way that the turning point of this game presented itself to them, but they showed themselves to be worthy champions by the manner in which they reaped full benefit from the situation, in the quality of Sean Mackin’s finish, in the discipline of their defending for the final quarter, and the classic and lethal simplicity of their counter-attacking in that period. They were the better balanced team, and they benefitted from some good tactical decisions, notably the switch of Shane Murney and Eddie O’Hare in defence, the persistence with Michael Boyle on the brilliant Paul Faloon, and the deep deployment of Sean Mackin in the final quarter. There were no weak links, but worthy of special mention were the displays of Eddie O’Hare and Sean Magee at the back, the graft of the Magee twins at midfield , and the enterprise of the entire attack, with the work-rate of Nicholas Mills and Christopher Magee providing the platform from whih the Mackin brothers, and in particular Richie Reynolds, could strut their stuff. Young Reynolds had an afternoon he will never forget, his pace and shoot-on-sight confidence gathering a rich harvest of a goal and five points from play.
Saval, however, deserve nothing but praise for their input to a high quality county showpiece. In Ruairi Digney and Paul Faloon they had the two outstanding individuals on the park. Little behind this pair was young wing back Eamon Magee, who, alongside Daniel Clarke and Mark Madine made up the strongest line on the field. The day may have ended in despair for Saval, but the club has a lot to be proud of, and even more to look forward to.
Rostrevor scorers; Richie Reynolds [1-5]; Sean Mackin [1-1] 1 free; Christopher Magee [0-2]; Shane Murney [0-1]; Damien Magee [0-1]; Dermot Morgan [0-1]; Nicholas Mills [0-1]; Micheal Mackin [0-1]
Saval scorers; Paul Faloon [1-6] 1 penalty goal, 3 frees; Eamon Magee [0-2]; Ruairi Digney [0-2]; Calum Lennon [0-1]
Rostrevor team; Brendan O’Hare; Ciaran Mooney, Shane Murney, Ryan McCartan; Eddie O’Hare, Michael Boyle, Sean Magee; Declan Magee, Damian Magee; Dermot Morgan, Nicholas Mills, Christopher Magee; Richie Reynolds, Micheal Mackin, Sean Mackin
Saval team; Frank Kerr; Michael Clarke, John McNally, Declan McNally; Eamon Magee, Daniel Carke, Mark Madine; Ruairi Digney, Jarlath McCarthy; Liam Turley, Paul Faloon, Calum Lannon; Niall Madine, Scott Rafferty, Philip Madine
Referee: Gabriel Tumilty
Man of the match; Richie Reynolds [Rostrevor]