The annual Boys’ Indoor Football final was held on Wed. 6th Feb in An Riocht Sports Hall Kilkeel. Eight teams qualified from the regional competitions viz.

St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor, St. Patrick’s Hilltown, St. Patrick’s Downpatrick, St. Malachy’s Castlewellan, Carrick P.S., St. Colman’s Kilkeel, St. Colman’s Abbey Newry and newcomers St. Joseph’s Carryduff.

The opening game in Group A set the tone for the entire competition with local rivals Rostrevor and Hilltown battling it out for a draw. Hilltown squeezed past Downpatrick in an exciting match by the narrowest of margins while both the Abbey and Rostrevor beat Downpatrick in a more convincing manner. In what should have been the final game in this section, Hilltown and Abbey had a fantastic contest with the latter winning due to their accuracy in front of goals. This then required a playoff between Rostrevor and Hilltown to decide who would accompany Abbey into the semifinals. Hilltown showed their exhaustion after the close encounter with the Abbey and a fast improving Rostrevor side ran out easy winners.

Group A Results
Rostrevor 2-0 Hilltown 1-3
Abbey Newry 0-3 Downpatrick 0-1
Hilltown 1-3 Downpatrtick 1-2
Rostrevor 0-2 Abbey 1-5
Downpatrick 0-3 Rostrevor 1-4
Playoff:
Rostrevor 3-5 Hilltown 0-3

In the opening game in Group B, the local team, St. Colman’s Kilkeel proved too strong for a gallant Castlewellan team. Next up were the Canon Esler Cup winners and favourites , Carrick P.S., facing the new kids on the block, St. Joseph’s Carryduff. This proved to be an enthralling contest with both teams having an attacking mentality but the more experienced Carrick team ran out winners due to their greater scoring potential. Carrick continued their progress by narrowly defeating Castlewellan through a goal against the run of play. This demoralized the Castlewellan who then succumbed to another defeat at the hands of Carryduff. All was now set for the top of the table clash between the local team Kilkeel and Carrick. However Carrick played their best football of the tournament to overrun the gallant Kilkeel outfit.
Group B Results
Castlewellan 2-0 Kilkeel 2-2
Carryduff 0-1 Carrick 0-3
Carrick 1-1 Castlewellan 0-3
Carryduff 1-2 Castlewellan 0-1
Carrick 2-4 Kilkeel 0-0

The first semifinal between Abbey Newry and St. Colman’s Kilkeel proved to be a torrid affair with the latter still smarting from the poor performance against Carrick. Indeed they certainly challenged the Abbey in all areas of the arena and were unfortunate to be beaten by the narrowest of margins.
Result: Abbey 0-5 Kilkeel 1-1

The second semifinal brought together the fast improving Rostrevor and the all conquering Carrick. What a riveting game this proved to be with Rostrevor bent on scoring goals while Carrick were content with their point taking. This proved to be decisive and they won the game by a single point.
Result: Carrick 1-4 Rostrevor 2-0

The Abbey P.S. became County Down Indoor Champions after beating Carrick P.S. by 4pts to 1 in a thrilling final. Niall Rafferty was their hero in this match getting all 4 pts but it was their teamwork throughout the competition which made them champions. Led by Killian McEvoy, who played a captain’s role, and Cathair Mc Kinney outstanding in defence this was a very hard working team. Every member of the squad from goalkeeper Aaron Byrne out contributed to their success.
Abbey Squad; Killian McEvoy , Aaron Byrne , Cathair McKinney , Niall Rafferty , Garrett Campbell , James McKevitt , Sean Maguire and Rory O’Hare.

But this was no one sided event and the Carrick team can be justly proud of their efforts throughout the competition. They combined well as a team while their slick passing and opportunist scoring eliminated four teams on their way to the final. In their game against Kilkeel they showed how they were to be respected as true contenders for the title but on this occasion it was not to be.

Carrick P.S. Panel: Pearse Kelly, Andrew McAteer, Steven Fegan, Cillian Burns, Shay Murdock, Declan Murdock, Ronan McGrath and Ryan Treanor.

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 at the finals, for the high level of skills and sportsmanship displayed. Mr Bell thanked An Riocht for the use of their excellent facilities and in particular Joseph Donnan who made everybody so welcome to the magnificent An Riocht Sports Hall.