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 Canon Esler Trophy -15 aside Championship Final

Rampant Rostrevor Retain Trophy. & County Championship !

Mr Jerry Quinn present Canon Esler Trophy to Rostrevor captain Pearce Magee with Gerry Reilly Cumann na mBunscol an Duin also in photo.

St. Mary’s Boys’ Primary School Rostrevor retained the Canon Esler Trophy in a scintillating display of attacking football when they overcame a gallant St. Patrick’s PS Mayobridge side at St. Patrick’s Park Hilltown on Friday 14 October. Right from the throw-in, Rostrevor laid siege to the Mayobridge goals and only astute goalkeeping by Cathal Greenan in the Mayobridge goal prevented his team being over run in the early stages. For Rostrevor, James Rowland, Piaras Kane, Jordan Fegan and Blaine Morgan ably prompted by midfielder Paul Morgan, all had efforts repelled by the alert Mayobridge keeper. After some hectic defending by the Mayobridge rearguard, a poor clearance fell to the Rostrevor full forward, Jonathon Connolly and his deftly struck shot escaped the clutches of Cathal Greenan to open the scoring. Mayobridge responded quickly with a sweet move involving their two mid fielders, Barry Cunningham and Cory Quinn only for half forward John Poland to be thwarted by the sure handling of Gareth Caulfield in the Rostrevor goals. From the ensuing kick out, Barry Cunningham made some amends by opening the scoring for Mayobridge with a well taken point. Now Mayobridge were in the ascendancy and Barry Cunningham, Cory Quinn, Paul Lively and Darren Gribben combined extremely well but the resolute Rostrevor defence proved most capable of everything that came their way. At this stage, Conor Rooney and Barry Cunningham were lording the midfield area and Aaron Magee and Darren Gribben combined well to allow Barry Cunningham to reduce the margin to a single point. We were then treated to a frenetic period of end to end football when both sides revealed all the skills of gaelic football and with a wonderful attacking flair. Jordan Fegan was covering much ground to increase his team’s lead and was denied this opportunity by the brilliance of Cathal Greenan in the Mayobridge goals. However this resistance was soon broken by a wonderful flowing movement involving Jordan Fegan twice, Paul Morgan and Anthony Connolly with the latter finding the back of the Mayobridge net. More misfortune was to befall this gallant Mayobridge side as Jordan Fegan and then Blaine Morgan increased Rostrevor’s goal tally. A long range point from Mayobridge’s Kevin Fitzpatrick was the only reply but several goal changes were snuffed out by the determination of the Rostrevor defenders.

Haft Time Score:

St. Patrick’s Mayobridge      0-3                   St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor 4-0

Right from the throw in, Paul Morgan won the ball in the middle of the park and after a short solo run he released Jonathan Connolly who increased his own  and Rostrevor’s tally with a well taken goal.  Darren Mynes, Rory Hughes and Paul Lively combined well for Mayobridge but could not breach the Rostrevor defence. Cathal Greenan kept his team in the game but a poor clearance by Mayobridge allowed Paul Morgan to score another goal. There then followed a period of sustained pressure from the gallant Mayobridge team but this failed to reduce Rostrevor’s lead. Sean Cooper’s solo runs were a great cause of concern to Mayobridge and eventually a long ball from Paul Morgan fell to Piaras Kane who helped himself to a wonderful goal. At this stage the young Reds were really rampant and there seemed no way back for the Mayobridge young footballers. However their persistence soon paid off when a goal mouth melee, involving two superb goal line saves, allowed Kevin Fitzpatrick reveal his goal scoring ability and temporarily reduce the lead. For Rostrevor substitute Peter Eves released Jonathan Connolly for the latter to score his team’s only point. But Mayobridge never gave up trying and their best move of the game involving many players, including Darren Mynes, Rory Hughes Darren Gribben  and Cory Quinn , gave Barry Cunningham the chance to register his team’s second goal. Kevin Fitzpatrick completed Mayobridge’s scoring with a well taken point. Rostrevor were determined not to succumb and some brilliant teamwork enabled Blaine Morgan to score two further goals. So St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor, sporting their new kit supplied by John McMahon’s Accountants, let everyone know who going to be the team to catch in this year’s 15 aside league programme.

Final Score:

St. Patrick’s Mayobridge      2-4                   St. Mary’s Boys’ Rostrevor             9-1

St. Mary's Rostrevor Boys' winners

St. Patrick’s Mayobridge beaten finalists

After the game, Gerry Reilly, Treasurer Cumann na mBunscol an Duin thanked all those who had participated in this sporting occasion and in particular Allianz who sponsor all the competitions.  He also thanked Conor Lavery  who refereed the game and found to encourage both teams throughout. The Clonduff club were thanked for the use of their facilities and the many parents who showed their support for both teams. Mr Jerry Quinn Chairman Down County Board presented the Canon Esler Trophy to Pearce Magee captain of the victorious team. Mr Quinn praised both teams for the extremely high level of skills displayed throughout the final and stated how this augured well for the county in the years ahead. He reminded those present how this year’s All Ireland Championship Minor team had graduated from the ranks of past primary school teams and that those present too could reach such targets.