St. Mary’s Kircubbin
became 2008 indoor hurling champions after
a clinical display in the final, beating arch
rivals St. Mary’s Portaferry 3 –
1, at Portaferry leisure centre on Wednesday
12th March. With 13 schools from across the
county qualifying, all present witnessed great
skill and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
The group results were as
follows
Group1
Portaferry 4 2 Maghermayo
Attical 2 1 Ballyholland
Portaferry 3 2 Attical
Maghermayo 1 2 Ballyholland
Portaferry 3 1 Ballyholland
Maghermayo 4 2 Attical
Group2
Ballygalget 4 0 Loughinisland
Balyygalget 4 1 Loughbrickland
Loughbrickland 2 1 Loughinisland
Group3
Kircubbin 2 0 Banbridge
Kircubbin 6 0 Bunscoil Castlewellan
Bunscoil Castlewellan 5 1 Banbridge
Group4
Warrenpoint 2 1 Kilkeel
Warrenpoint 0 0 Castlewellan
Castlewellan 2 1 Kilkeel
Warrenpoint 0 3 Castlewellan
After the group stages were
completed , the group winners; Portaferry,
Ballygalget, Kircubbin and Castlewellan qualified
for the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
Ballygalget 1 3 Portaferry
Kircubbin 2 0 Castlewellan
In the first semi-final saw
the clash of in form Ballygalget and hosts
Portaferry. Both schools served up a cracking
match which saw Ballygalget take the lead
through a Drew Coffee strike. This was quickly
cancelled out by Chris Ennis for Portaferry.
The game swung to and fro but in the final
minute Barry Trainor struck twice to take
the hosts through to the final, 3-1.
The second semi was another
super game with Kircubbin just edging out
a gallant Castlewellan side who had held their
own against the Ards school with some impressive
goalkeeping from Sean Hardy. But for all young
Hardy’s great work, he couldn’t
keep out goals from Liam Savage and BJ Hughes.
Kircubbin reaching the final on a 2-0 scoreline.
Final
Kircubbin 3 1 Portaferry
With Portaferry beating Ballygalget
and Kircubbin just beating Castlewellan in
the semis, the form book was suggesting that
Portaferry should have gone on and retained
their indoor title, but the young Kircubbin
hurlers had a script of their own and produced
their best game to last. Kircubbin played
most of the hurling in the opening minutes
and were rewarded with a great goal from Liam
Savage. Portaferry tried ever so hard to find
an equaliser but found the Kircubbin defence
difficult to breach. Kircubbin wrapped the
game up with two quick strikes with 2 minutes
remaining from the stick of Liam Savage and
B J Hughes. Portaferry did reply but it was
only a consolation with Barry Trainor scoring
for the runners-up. The final whistle was
greeted with great cheers and Kircubbin now
go forward to represent Down in the Ulster
championship next month in Fermanagh.
At the presentation, Brendan
Rice, Runai Cumann na mBunscol, congratulated
the winners, Kircubbin and all the other 12
schools which took part, for their sportsmanship
and great skill. Mr Paddy Brannif and his
referees were thanked for the slick organisation
smoothness of the tournament while Portaferry
Leisure Centre was appreciated for the use
of their fabulous facility.
