St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor winners of Indoor Football Competition
The Finals of
the Annual Indoor Football Competition for Boys was held in St John Bosco Hall
Newry on Friday 2nd Dec with six teams qualifying from regional
heats held in Downpatrick, Newcastle and Newry. The following schools reached
the finals : St. Colman’s Abbey Newry, St. Mary’s Aughlisnafin, St. Mary’s Boys’
Rostrevor, St. Patrick’s Ballynahinch, St Patrick’s Boys’ Downpatrick and St.
Patrick’s Legamaddy. The finals were played as a ‘round robin’ with two sections
containing three teams. The top two teams in each section qualified for the
semifinals. In Section A, St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor won both their games
defeating both Aughlisnafin and Legamaddy . The vital game in this section being
that between Aughlisnafin and Legamaddy which the latter won after an exciting
tussle.
Section A Results:
Aughlisnafin 0-3 Rostrevor 5-5
Legamaddy 3-2 Aughlisnafin 1-3
Rostrevor 3-4 Legamaddy 1-3
In Section B Abbey Newry won their opening game against a
spirited Ballynahinch team before succumbing to Downpatrick in their second
game. Much depended on the Downpatrick and Ballynahinch outcome but Downpatrick
marched unbeaten into the semifinal after a keenly contested game.
Section B Results:
Newry 2-4 Ballynahinch 0-5
Downpatrick 0-8 Newry 0-5
Ballynahinch 0-3 Downpatrick 2-4
The semifinal pairing were as follows:
Abbey Newry v Rostrevor
Downpatrick v Legamaddy
The first game brought two local rivals into conflict and
it began at a ferocious pace with both teams determined to register plenty of
scores. Rostrevor opened their tally with a well taken point followed by a goal.
Abbey responded well and for a long period it appeared as if they might overcome
their illustrious opponents but it was not to be. The high fielding, quick
movements and superb blocking of the Rostrevor proved too much for the Newry
team. In the second semifinal, the favourites, Downpatrick, were rocked back on
their heels when Legamaddy opened the scoring with a well taken goal. However
Downpatrick didn’t panic and replied with five unanswered points before finding
the back of the net themselves. In the end, the Downpatrick boys booked their
place in the final with a comfortable victory.
Semifinal Scores:
Newry 2-4 Rostrevor 4-4
Legamaddy 2-1 Downpatrick 3-8
The final turned out to be a classic affair with both teams
having an attacking mentality while displaying a wide range of skills such as
high catching, wonderful blocking, swift passing and accurate scoring. Both
teams had the ascendancy, Rostrevor began much better with early goals but
Downpatrick were soon into their stride and were satisfied to take their points.
Damian Keenan in the Rostrevor kept Downpatrick at bay for a long period before
Conor McMenamin’s shot proved too much for him. For Rostrevor the swift
attacking flair of Paul and Daniel Morgan ably assisted by Jordan Fegan ensured
victory. What a pity that one team had to win this highly competitive game and
Downpatrick, as reigning Indoor Champions, tried vainly to defend their crown..
However it was not to be and the boys from Rostrevor won by the narrowest of
margins and became the County Down Indoor Football Champions for this school
year.
St. Patrick’s Boys’ Downpatrick runner Ups
Final Score:
St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor 2-3 St. Patrick’s Boys’
Downpatrick 1-5
After the final, Mr Collie Bell, Leas Cathlaoirleach
Cumann na mBunscol an Duin, congratulated all those who had participated in
this year’s competition and particularly both finalists who served up a most
exciting encounter with all the attributes and skills of our game. He also
thanked the Management Committee of St. John Bosco for the use of their
excellent facilities. Both team captains acknowledged the opposing players for
the sporting behaviour displayed and the keenly contested final.
