On Thursday afternoon the Boys’ under 14 football team played in the preliminary round of the Northern Ireland Cup against a strong Clounagh JHS team.
The Clounagh team started brightly and took the lead after 5 minutes when a right wing cross was turned into the net by their centre forward. They doubled their lead halfway through the first half when a half clearance was volleyed home from the edge of the penalty box. Half-time Clounagh Junior High School 2 Kilkeel HS 0.
In the second half, Kilkeel started to put the pressure on the home defence and pressed the Clounagh boys back into their own half. Kilkeel almost scored from a corner when Tommy’s header was cleared off the line. But from the very next corner, a quickly taken one by Aaron and Tommy resulted in Tommy running into the left hand side of the penalty box and lashing an unstoppable drive to the roof of the net, to half the deficit. Clounagh 2 Kilkeel 1. It was all Kilkeel now as the Mourne boys pushed for the equaliser. It duly came from a free kick. The initial effort was saved, but Edward was on hand to calmly lift the ball over the stranded keeper into the net. 2-2.
The game was even now, and either side could have won it. The game went into extra time, and both teams traded chances. But it was Clounagh who got the winner with a brilliant 25-yard free kick curled over the wall and into the corner of the net. Final score Clounagh JHS 3 Kilkeel HS 2.
The Kilkeel boys can take a huge amount of credit for their efforts and ‘never say die’ attitude as they go into the Plate competition now and South Down Knockout Cup in a few weeks time. Well done, boys!!
