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Cumann na mBunscol an Duin – Boys’ Indoor Football Championship 2007.

The 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.

Winners of 2007 Boys' Indoor Football Finals Warrenpoint	Benny Coulter presenting Trophy to the Captain of Warrenpoint