Resilient St. Dallan’s
win title
By Paddy Campbell,
PRO Cumann na mBunscol an Duin
Th annual boys’ Indoor Football finals
were held in An Riocht Sports Hall on
Friday 26 January. Ten teams qualified
for the finals viz. St. Malachy’s
Castlewellan, St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor,
St. Patrick’s Boys’ Downpatrick, St.
Patrick’s Newry, Attical P.S., St.
Colman’s Abbey Newry, Moneydarragh P.S.,
St. Dallan’s Warrenpoint, St. Mary’s
Newcastle and Legamaddy P.S. This
proved to be a most enjoyable and
sporting occasion in the superb setting
of An Riocht’s facilities.
First
Round Results:
Castlewellan 0-0
Rostrevor 1-2
Downpatrick 0-3 St.
Patrick’s Newry 0-0
Attical
0-1 Abbey Newry 0-3
Moneydarragh 0-0
Warrenpoint 0-3
Newcastle 2-1
Legamaddy 0-3
The
quarter finals produced some very
exciting and highly competitive
encounters with Warrenpoint overcoming
the favourites Rostrevor, Attical easily
accounting for Newcastle, St. Patrick’s
winning the battle of Newry and
Downpatrick narrowly beating an
energetic Castlewellan team.
Quarter Final Results:
Warrenpoint
2-3 Rostrevor
1-3
Attical
0-6
Newcastle 0-1
Abbey 0-3
St. Patrick’s 1-3
Downpatrick 2-1
Castlewellan 1-2
St.
Dallan’s Warrenpoint faced the underdogs
Attical in the first semi-final and what
a wonderful exhibition this proved to
be. This was a fast flowing game with
all the skills you would expect to see
and ended in a draw. Extra time was
required to separate these two vibrant
teams with Warrenpoint winning by the
narrowest of margins. In the second
semi-final, Downpatrick beat St.
Patrick’s Newry in a skillful but low
scoring game by a single point.
Semi-final Results:
Warrenpoint
1-5 Attical
1-4
Downpatrick 0-2 St.
Patrick’s Newry 0-1
The
final produced a novel pairing of St.
Patrick’s Downpatrick, hoping to regain
the title they relinquished to Rostrevor
last year and St. Dallan’s Warrenpoint,
making their first appearance in the
final. This game was even more exciting
than those of the previous round as both
teams seemed determined to be Down
County Champions for 2007. In a fast
flowing game both team had the
ascendancy and the outcome was very much
in doubt throughout the match. For
Downpatrick, Conor McMenamin was in
great scoring form, notching up a goal
and three points while Jack Collins,
Paudi McGrath and Ryan Magee replied for
St. Dallan’s. At the final whistle the
teams were level with a score of 1-5
apiece. Into extra time and Downpatrick
took the lead with a fine point from
Johnny Collins but try as they might
they were unable to take advantage of
this lead due the fierce tackling of
this rampant Warrenpoint team. On the
breakaway, St. Dallan’s notched two
quick points thanks to the efforts of
Paudi McGrath and Jack Collins and
sealed a magnificent victory from the
boot of Ryan Magee - truly a wonderful
goal. Both teams deserve special mention
for their displays throughout the
competition but particularly in the
final . Downpatrick team:
Johnathan Deeney, Gareth Robson, Johnny
Bell, Conor McMenamin, Johnny Collins,
Conor McCarron, Ruairi Quinn, Finbar
Curran.
Warrenpoint team:
James B O’Hare, Rory Lavery, Paudi
McGrath, Jack Collins, Ryan Magee,
Cormac McCartan, Aaron D’Arcy
After
the final, Mr Collie Bell, Cathaoirleach
Cumann na mBunscol an Duin, complimented
all those who had participated in this
year’s competition and in particular all
those present today for the high level
of skills and sportsmanship displayed.
He praised the resilience of this St.
Dallan’s team who came from behind in
both the semi-final and the final,
winning both games in extra time. Mr
Bell thanked An Riocht for the use of
their excellent facilities and in
particular Joseph Donnan who made
everybody so welcome to the Sports Hall.
He asked Benny Coulter, Down footballer
and Primary School Coach who had
refereed all the games, to present the
trophy to the victorious team captain
Rory Lavery. So St. Dallan’s are Down’s
Boys’ Indoor Football for 2007, the
first time they have won this title.
They now represent Down at the Ulster
Finals next month.
 |
