Battling Teconnaught secure divisional title

Battling Teconnaught secure divisional title

13 August 2014

TECONNAUGHT’S U-12 boys were crowned East Down League Division 2 champions after beating Carryduff B in Ballykinlar last Friday night.

With Carryduff able to call on a huge squad of players it was feared this could end up a mismatch, but over the last few months this Teconnaught team has shown a toughness and defeat was never on their minds.

In what was to turn out a fantastic game, Teconnaught opened the scoring with a lovely point from half forward Shaun Kerr.

After an exchange of points and a first point of the match for Oran Gormley, the Carryduff lads threatened to take control with Teconnaught at times struggling with their size and range of passing, but some dogged defence from John Flanagan, Adam McPolin and keeper Ruaudhri Drummond kept the lads in it.

A great spell of pressure cumulating in a couple of points from Oisin Mulholland and Myles O’Hare was followed by a lovely goal from Oran Gormley to put Teconnaught right back to within a point at the break.

Teconnaught started the second half with a point from Oisin Mulholland and the game swung back and forth, Carryduff scoring some fine points, including a lovely one from what looked like an impossibly tight angle on the right hand side and a lovely bit of interplay from the forwards that finished with a fisted point.

A goal from Carryduff looked like it had put them firmly in control, but the Teconnaught boys kept going with Michael Beatty and Oran Gormley working tirelessly in midfield and Oisin and Dillon causing all sorts of problems for the Carryduff defence.

The pressure paid off with two goals in succession from Oisin and Dylan and a point from Conn Murnin giving Teconnaught a four-point lead.

With only five minutes to go Carryduff came back within two points and when they scored a goal it looked like Teconnaught’s hearts would be broken, but when Conn Murnin fed the ball into Dylan Boyle he weaved his way through the Carryduff defence to put Teconnaught back in the lead.

With only minutes remaining Carryduff piled the pressure on, but Kyle Strain and Niall Goodman coped like a couple of old pros for what was only a couple of minutes, but seemed like a lifetime for Teconnaught fans.

Both sets of players have to be congratulated on their play and conduct on the field. Teconnaught would like to thank the Carryduff players for the magnanimous way in which the defeat was taken, with the lads lining up straight after the final whistle and clapping the Teconnaught boys before the handshake.

It may not have felt it for the Carryduff lads on the night, but, in truth, everyone was a winner for witnessing such a great display of football and sportsmanship.

Well done to our lads who undoubtedly deserve this for their performance over the course of the season and all players in the squad have to take credit for this win.

Teconnaught coach Simon Kerr commented after the match: “Every sport has its highs and lows and we’ve all had our fare share of them, but it was my privilege to be a part of the management team of the U-12 boys this year.

“For all who attended the game they were definitely not disappointed as both teams played good, attractive football and I would like to thank all for your support.

“It is these moments in life when you realise that it is all worthwhile. These achievements are not possible without dedication, discipline, desire and team spirit. To all the management coaches, pa Gillian, mums and dads, kit washers and whoever I have failed to mention deserve credit. There is a healthy future in the club. Success is an addiction.”