Football
Mayobridge come good in SFC final replay
14 October 2007
Mayobridge senior footballers continued their dominance of Down senior football when they won their fourth senior football championship final in a row when they proved too strong for a gallant Longstone side in what was a very exciting and fiercely contested final replay at Pairc Esler, Newry on Sunday, 14th of October on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-9.
This game lived up to all its pre-match hype as both teams produced a great final replay before a big attendance with the outcome in doubt right to the final whistle.
Now the game was entering its final quarter and it was very much in the balance. It was then ’super sub’ Benny Coulter made his mark. A long ball into the Longstone defence was superbly fielded by Coulter who shot to the net. The momentum was now with the champions and they added a point from Brendan Rooney - and at this stage they seemed to be in command.
However, this Longstone side has great character and back they came with points from Barry Doran to leave two between the sides and time running out. They ’threw caution to the wind’ in the last few minutes of the game, but Mayobridge were not to be denied on this occasion and some admirable last-ditch defending saw them hold out for a narrow two points win in t
he end - 1-8 to 0-9.
Longstone have now put down a marker in this season’s championship that they are a team for the future. They showed in these two finals that they have the talent, ability and character to match the best around. The experience gained in these two games with Mayobridge will stand them in good stead, and if they keep their feet on the ground they are a side capable of making a senior championship breakthrough, sooner rather than later!