The Allianz football league finals were held at St. Patrick’s Park Mayobridge this year and attracted a large attendance of parents and school children. St. Dallan’s Warrenpoint and their neighbours Carrick P.S contested the opening game in the 11 aside final and what an exciting encounter this proved to be. Right from the throw in both teams revealed their keenness for this game. After a frenetic display of end to end football, Carrick were first on the score sheet with a well taken point from their captain Ryan Treanor. Down the field came St. Dallan’s , Aaron D’Arcy caught the ball, his accurate pass found Eamon Burns . He in turn passed to Blain McGrath who scored Warrenpoint’s only goal of the match. What a start ! Frank Aitken, who was outstanding in defence, began another sweet move for St. Dallan’s. His pass to Ruairi McGivern was quickly released to Sean Gallagher, he passed to Ardal Murray and the latter gave Aaron D’Arcy the opportunity for his first point. The Burren boys now took control and wasted several chances to reduce the margin before Ryan Treanor popped over a point from a long free. St. Dallan’s increased their lead with further points from Blain McGrath and Patrick Murdock while points from Shay Murdock and Ryan Treanor helped to keep Carrick in touch.
| Half Time Score: | | | |
| St. Dallan’s Warrenpoint | 1-5 | Carrick P.S. | 0-5 |
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During the interval, the reserves from both teams played for fifteen minutes in keeping with the Go Games ideals.
Into the second half and from the throw in, Carrick set about reducing the arrears with a well taken distant point from Ryan Treanor. It was now St. Dallan’s turn to squander their chances and indeed, the Carrick goalie Cillian Burns did well to save from the boot of Blain McGrath. Scores were now hard to come by from both sides but Shay Murdock increased Carrick’s total with the help of a super pass from Ronan Fegan. Carrick were now bent on getting a goal and after a fierce goal mouth scramble, the threat was cleared by the ever alert Frank Aitken in the Warrenpoint defence. After a couple more scores from the Warrenpoint’s Ardal Murray and Blain McGrath, they seemed to be coasting. However, a wonderful point from Ryan Treanor and an opportunist goal from Declan Murdock left the result in doubt until the final whistle.
| Final Score: | | | |
| St. Dallan’s Warrenpoint | 1-10 | Carrick P.S. | 1-8 |
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St. Dallan's Warrenpoint 11 aside Football League Champions 2008
After the game, Ms Nuala O’Connor, Business Development Executive from the sponsors Allinaz, presented the league trophy to St. Dallan’s captain Sean Gallagher. Mr Collie Bell Cathaoirleach Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin praised both teams for the excellent display of all the skills of Gaelic football and for the sporting manner in which the game was played.
'Point keeper Callum Magill saves from Carrick's Ronan McGrath
St. John's Glenn & St. Mary's Barr winners of 7 aside league.
The 7 aside final was contested by St. Matthew’s Maghermayo and a combined team from St. John’s Glenn and St. Mary’s Barr. From the start the Barr/ Glenn team ,who were physically bigger than their opponents, laid siege to the Maghermayo goal and their captain Gerard Bagnall had two points and a wide to his credit before the Leitrim boys raised a flag. However, the St. Matthew’s captain Pearse Ốg McCrickard rallied his team with a fine solo goal. His colleagues hit the post and had a wde and a point from Ruairi McCoey before Pearse Ốg repeated his magical touch with a second goal. With Barr/Glenn captainGerard Bagnall now well subdued by the efforts of Joseph Morehead and Aidan Doyle, it was left to Joseph Sands to increase their tally with a well taken goal and another point.
| Half Time Score: | | | |
St. Matthew’s Maghermayo | 2-1 | Barr/Glenn | 1-5 |
Into the second half and Joseph Sands increased the Barr/ Glenn lead with a fine point. However, St. Matthew’s still had plenty of fight left and a sweet move involving Pearse Ốg and Ruairi McCoey produced a goal and the lead for their team. This was short lived as goals from Sean Boyle, Joseph Sands and Oisin Goodman appeared to seal the fate of the Maghermayo team. The never say die spirit was still there in the Leitrim boys and McCrickard, McCoey andd Gary McAleenan combined well with two goals and a point. What a tremendous performance by both teams.
| Final Score: | | | |
St. Matthew’s Maghermayo | 5-2 | Barr/ Glenn | 4-9 |
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Gerard Bagnall receives cup from Nuala O'Connor
After the final whistle, Ms Nuala O’Connor, Allianz’s Business Development Executive, presented the 7 aside league trophy to Gerard Bagnall captain of the winning team. Mr. Collie Bell thanked both teams for a wonderful display of attacking football which augured well for the future of football in the county of Down.
The 9 aside final completed the programme of events and after all that went before it was quite a tame affair. St. Malachy’s Kilcoo have been the kingpins in this league for some time and indeed their reputation was never in doubt throughout the match. Their swift passing and clinical finish in front of goals left the Holy Family trailing right from the start. This was not helped by the poor finishing by the Teconnaught team and their sometimes absent minded approach to defending. Eugene Brannagan, Cáelán McEvoy and Reagan McClean all had points while Ceilúm Doherty scored a goal. For Holy Family. Joseph Larkin and Caolan Magee had points.
| Half Time: | | | |
| Holy Family Teconnaught | 0-2 | St. Malachy’s Kilcoo | 1-8 |
In the second period, St. Malachy’s swarmed all over the beleaguered Teconnaught boys and only supreme efforts on the part of goalie Ryan Brennan and defenders Niall Forrest and captain James Greene prevented an avalanche of scores. When Teconnaught did escape this onslaught, they reduced the margin by three points thanks to the accuracy of Caolan Magee and Joseph Larkin. However the respite was short lived and further scores from Dylan Ward and Ceilúm Doherty rounded off a wonderful display from the Kilcoo boys.
| Final Score: | | | |
| Holy Family Teconnaught | 0-5 | St. Malachy’s Kilcoo | 2-11 |
9 aside League Champions 2008 - St. Malachy's Kilcoo
Ms Nuala O’Connor from Allianz presented the 9 aside league trophy to Tony O’Hare captain of the St. Malachy’s Kilcoo team. Mr Collie thanked Allianz for the sponsorship, their representative Ms O’Connor for attending our Finals Day. He commended all those schools , their coaches and their pupils who had ensured our leagues were so successful this year. He specially appreciated the Mayobridge GAC for the use of their excellent facilities and the volunteers who were present at the finals.
Kilcoo captain Tony O'Hare with trophy.
Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin encourage all Primary Schools in County Down to participate in our coaching and organised activities for both boys and girls.
