Mayobridge's fifth in a row

Down SFC Final - Mayobridge 0-12 Loughinisland 0-8:MAYOBRIDGE CAPTURED their fifth county title in a row with a hard-earned victory over a gallant Loughinisland in Páirc Esler in Newry yesterday.

Played in ideal conditions before an estimated 7,000 crowd the football fell short of the standard expected in a county senior final. Mayobridge won because they had more penetration in attack, with Benny Coulter and Noel Sexton leading from the front.

Loughinisland, in their first final in two decades, suffered a major blow after just two minutes when county captain and midfielder Dan Gordon went over on an ankle. He played on for four minutes but had to be replaced.

Mayobridge, with limited possession, always looked dangerous. However, it was the half-time switches by manager Mickey Donnelly which eventually saw the O'Hare cup return to Mayobridge. He sent in tall midfielder John Caldwell and county star and team captain Michael Walsh and these changes had the desired effect.

They dominated the second half and restricted battling Loughinisland to two second-half points.

The losers insisted in playing the short passing game and time and time again hard won possession was given away as the winners tackled quickly and intercepted many passes, clearing their lines time and time again.

However there was no doubting the superiority of Mayobridge who demonstrated all their power, experience and finishing power.

MAYOBRIDGE:L Coulter; G Barry, C Garvey, S Grant; B Grant, S O'Hare (0-1), K O'Hare; E Woods (0-1), M Lively; N Sexton (0-2); R Sexton (0-1), C Magee; R Brady (0-1), B Coulter (0-4), A Barry. Subs: M Walsh (0-2) for C Magee; J Caldwell for K O'Hare.

LOUGHINISLAND:K Gordon; R Carville, Conor O'Toole, M Doran; Cormac O'Toole, J Doran (0-1), J Turley; D Gordon, A Molloy; B O'Reilly (0-1), R Stranney (0-4), J McCarthy; M Valentine (0-2), G Johnson, J O'Reilly. Subs: B Ward for D Gordon; N McCarthy for Johnson.

Referee:G Corrigan (Castlewellan).