Bangor 2 v 4 Cookstown

It was a glorious afternoon, the sun-filled, cloudless sky accompanying six  teams though 3 finals in all. The 4ths started a little late, the McClements Cup final having to be settled by penalty strokes. Perhaps it was the relative lateness of the hour, or the degree of nerves amongst a young squad for there was a degree of hesitancy in the Bangor play early on. True, Cookstown represented stern opposition and their line up was particularly strong but the fifteen minute lead was as much due to Bangor's generosity as it was Cookstown play.  

They had started the better, the speed of their forwards providing particular nuisance value. McEvoy in the Bangor goal had to clear from 2 short corners and he made one especially astute intervention when a cross bypassed his defenders. But it was a distinctly errant pass which allowed Cookstown to move ahead, their most potent forward being allowed a straight run on goal.  His evasion of McEvoy was a particularly svelte move and he had but a simple tap in thereafter. 

Bangor were however, were finding something of a stride. Halliday and Tweed were beginning to prompt with confidence. At times the final pass was not as accurate as might be, but sufficient ball was finding Harper and Ferguson to allow them the opportunity to run directly. Their pace is disconcerting and after both had been thwarted by well timed tackles, a move on the right brought reward. Parker combined with Tweed and the industrious Campbell before sending a cross close to the keeper. Harper, ever alert, pounced with decisive speed to deflect home.  

Suitably buoyed by this, Bangor continued to push but as has been the case all season, their ambition was betrayed by error. Cookstown regained the lead courtesy of a short corner switch and so to half time. The urgings of Messrs Shields and Mairs were considered in that they argued for patience and emphasis on ball retention. But within ten minutes of the restart it was 3-1 to Cookstown, yet another break away resulting in a conversion. 

Bangor then launched a concerted response, asking some pertinent questions of the Cookstown defence. They did come close on a number of occasions and had they scored , a 3-2 scoreline entering the last 10 minutes might have effected the psychological balance of play. However, it was their opponents who scored a fourth goal, again on a break. Of course it was then that Bangor did score, Campbell firing home confidently from the circles edge.  

Final score –

Bangor 4^th Xl – 2

Cookstown 4thXl – 4 

Man of the Match – Niall NcEvoy