Cumann Pheadair Naofa Footballers went into the final league game of the 2017 season knowing that they must win their clash with An Riocht to ensure that they secured 2nd position in the Down All County Football League.
Mayobridge chasing hot on their tails meant that the Blues had to win otherwise they would slip to third position if anything but two points were secured.
The game started with a quick break from the Blues and a great ball in from John Boyle saw Paul Traynor narrowly miss the back of the net with a fisted down call which came off the woodwork and over the bar for a point, a signal of intent from the point men from the get go.
The game ebbed and flowed until the Warrenpoint men found their groove and it was the Point men who came out on top in the early exchanges with points from Donagh McAleenan, John Boyle, Frank Aiken and Ruairi Cowan seeing the point men go into the break 0-10 to 0-06 in front.
The second half saw the point men continue to dominate proceedings but a goal from An Riocht on 15 mins saw the Kingdom only three points behind the blues.
Come the minute come the man, Ryan Mallon broke free from his own half to rifle a point over the bar to edge the point men ever further in front.
It was curtains for the An Riocht men when Aaron Darcy found the back of the net and with that the referee blew the full time whistle to see the 2017 season come to an end and second place in sight for the Blues should Mayobridge fail to pick up both points vs Bryansford 2 days later which they didn’t therefore the Warrenpoint men finished the season in second place. A fantastic achievement by new manager Niall McAleenan and his backroom team and the squad of players throughout the season, a credit to all involved.
