U7s get back to 
winning ways against Valley

The lads from the hill got off to a shaky start and were 2-0 down after five minutes of play, but this seemed to add to the spirit and determination of this young team.

With Calum Travers and Luke Rooney starting to patrol the defensive third of the pitch, their reading of the game improved, as one allowed the other to make attacking runs and flood the midfield. One of these runs led to Tommy McGivern starting the comeback, as he calmly slotted home Rathfriland’s first from 7 yards out.

The second period started as the first ended; with Mark Gracey’s boys controlling the game, and within five mins of the restart their endeavour had paid off with the equaliser coming from Mark Pokojski, and then took the lead when Calum Travers finished after a precision pass from his defensive partner Luke Rooney.

But the local lads didn’t have it all their own way, only for a series of fine saves from Jake Gracey, they might have fallen behind. It’s was young Gracey’s vision that led to Rathfriland’s fourth, after a long kick out from the back, the St Mary’s keeper could only parry midfielder Lorcan Gormley’s fantastic half volley and Tommy McGivern was on hand to put the ball in the back of the net with a real poachers goal.

As Rathfriland starting the third and final period 4-2 up, Lorcan Gormley really came into the game and started to make some excellent runs and could have added to the score line but for the heroics of the opposition’s keeper. Rathfriland conceded their third when a thunderous strike from the St Mary’s forward took a wicked deflection of Rooney and even the outstretched hand of Jake Gracey couldn’t keep it out.

The game was settled after an excellent counter attacking move that seen Mark Pokojski score Rathfriland’s fifth and final goal to give the boys their third win of the season.