The Sun has just set on 2018 Down ACFL Football League but what a fantastic year it has been for the Senior Footballers of Cumann Pheadair Naofa. Another top 3 finish for this group of players the future is bright in Warrenpoint under the leadership of Niall McAleenan and his team of Ollie Sloan, Eamon McEvoy, Gary Boyle and Ruairi McCartney.
2018s ACFL began on a cold May morning in Mayobridge where a tight affair ended in a first win of the season for the Blues vs a strong Mayobridge outfit. Next up for the Seasiders was a trip to RGU Downpatrick which the Blues led right up to the end but were pipped at the post by a hungrier RGU side giving us a first loss of the season. The next two games of the season saw McAleenans men pick up teo out of two vs Saval and Ballyholland, teo very tough games that saw the young side build resilience and character which would stand well for them in the next four games, which saw a six game winning streak strung together.
Next up were neighbors Burren, the blues were extremely impressive in this game and showed great resolve to win the game by 6 points. A well deserved win and a solid performance by the Blues.
Kilcoo have been a thorn in the Point mens side over recent seasons and a ill tempered finish at Moygannon saw the Blues lose in the last minute of the game with a well placed goal by the Magpies, this the closest the blues have got to Kilcoo in recent seasons.
At the mid season break the Blues led the way at the top of the 1st division however loses against Bryansford, which notably saw the loss for the rest of the season of on form Caolan McLoughlin due to injury, and another defeat to Poachers Ballyholland saw rivals Burren, Kilcoo and Mayobridge gain some ground on the Blues.
An away win to Rostrevor saw the Warrenpoint side set themselves up well for the following weeks 1st round of the Senior Championship well.
Pairc Esler was the venue for the Rostrevor clash and a slow start by the Blues saw the Reds get the upper hand but as the game progressed the Seasiders came back into the game and saw them come out the victors setting up a clash with Glenn in Mayobridge.
Glenn were very tough opponents and nearly caused a huge upset taking the game to extra time but steady nerves by the returning from injury Alan Davidson saw the blues progress into a Quarter Final clash with Loughinisland. Loughinisland in the quarters took the Point to replay in which the blues were taken to extra time in that but held out for the win to return to Pairc Esler to play Down kingpins Kilcoo in the clubs first ever Down SFC Semi Final since 1986.
The week prior to the Semi Final vs Kilcoo the Blues played Kilcoo away from home in what would act as a warm up for the Semi Final with the Blues narrowly beat.
The Semi Final clash vs Kilcoo was a titanic struggle between two sides determined to reach the Semi final however the experience of the Magpies and some with some decisions during the game going against them saw McAleenans men bow out at the Semi Stage.
The League ended for the Blues on a high with the early season losses costing them first place and only narrowly being pipped into 2nd by Kilcoo with a final game of season win by the magpies.
2019 is only around the corner and is shaping up to be a cracker of a season with the Warrenpoint side poised to challenge for the league and a final appearance in the SFC. The future is bright, the future is blue!
