St. Mary’s Kircubbin win indoor hurling title 

St. Mary’s Kircubbin became 2008 indoor hurling champions after clinical display in the

  final, beating arch rivals St. Mary’s Portaferry 3 – 1, at Portaferry Leisure Centre on Wednesday 12^th 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 

hard to breach. Kircubbin wrapped the game up with two quick strikes with 2 minutes

 remaining from the stick of Savage again 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.