Swifts see off students

With a somewhat changed side from their previous display against Portadown they started brightly and were in front inside 10 minutes when Philip Johnston reacted quickest at the near post to head home a corner and open the scoring.

Queen’s then took control of the game and bossed most of the remainder of the half, managing to level the scores from the penalty spot after Johnston had upended the centre forward. Curran did well to stop the penalty but the taker reacted quickest and fired home at the second attempt.

The second half started with Scott making way for maginn. The line-up was shuffled and the lads seemed to adjust well and again began to take the game to their opponents.

The half was a scrappy affair with few chances created at both ends. Rathfriland stole the game with five minutes remaining when they hit their opponents with a counter attack.

From a Queen’s corner the ball was cleared as far as Gilmore who turned and watched McConville steam forward. he popped the ball down the right side for him to run through. He ran through towards the keeper and expertly slammed the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the net to settle the scores.

The season starts on Saturday with a tough home Marshall Cup tie against a strong Glenavy side who have already beaten Coalisland and last season’s Division One winners St. Mary’s.

Team: Curran, McConville, Murray, Johnston, Scott, Johnston, A. Megaw (capt.), K. Megaw, Gilmore, Hollingsworth, Toal, Maginn, Mark, McDonald.