BANBRIDGE ACADEMY 2 – 0 ST JOSEPH’S BOYS HIGH SCHOOL

Banbridge Academy U13 football team won the South Down Football League after a 2-0 win against St Joseph’s Boys High School of Newry in the final at Cheney Park.

The boys started the game on the front foot and scored a brilliant goal through a direct free kick taken by Cormac McNally. The rest of the first half remained a tight affair, but the Academy boys slightly edged it in terms of possession and creation of some dangerous attacking situations.

In the second half, as expected, St Joseph’s came back strong. The Academy had to reorganise the defence with Matthew Spence coming off injured at right back. Keane Moran stepped into this position and Rory Hanna moved into the centre forward position with James Kelly moving to right wing. Pressure was building with St Joseph’s seemingly nearing an equaliser, but the Academy defence along with some great goalkeeping from Ben Walker were keeping the men from Newry at bay.

In the last five minutes, the Academy found a hero in Rory Hanna; picking the ball up in his own half during a counter attack and dribbling all the way into the box before curling an effort with the outside of his right foot into the top corner of the net. Mass relief!

The boys had done it. Mr Hanlon, the U13 coach was very proud of the players’ efforts and the Academy celebrate their first success in the competition since the 2008-2009 season.

Squad:

Ben Walker, Cormac McNally, Matthew Stevenson, Aaron Baxter, Caleb Briggs, Elliot Bradshaw, Keane Moran, James Kelly, Rory Hanna, Matthew Spence, Lucas Smyth, Ethan Kerr, Freddie Elliot, Joey Mackrell, Adam Logan