Newry Olympic 2s 6-2 Kilkeel 3s

The Seconds picked up their first win of the new season in emphatic style on Saturday as they hit local rivals Kilkeel for six; though they had to come from behind to do so.

Despite dominating the vast majority of the game, Olympic found themselves a goal down in the first quarter as the visitors broke the deadlock from a short corner. The ball was switched back to Lindsay Beck on the left-hand side of the circle and the ex-Newry player scored against his former club with a neat finish. 

However, it didn’t take the hosts long to get back on level terms and the equaliser came courtesy of a slick team move from defence and through midfield that resulted in Simon McCafferty slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to make it a goal apiece.

Newry were always in the ascendancy, but it took them until the stroke of half-time to go in front. With everyone up for a short corner, which was the final action of the opening period, centre-back Eddie Graham played in his fellow defender Gareth McCullough and he made no mistake with the finish to give Newry a deserved 2-1 lead at the break.

However, that advantage was wiped out early in the third quarter as Kilkeel got their second to draw level again, but from that point on, it was all Newry as the home side turned on the style to run away with the victory. 

They regained their lead when David Andrews crashed home a fine short corner to make it 3-2 before sub Keith McWilliams blasted in a fine reverse stick effort before the game entered the final quarter to give Newry a cushion they would never relinquish. In fact, they extended that lead when, after a period of keep ball, they spotted an opening that allowed Man of the Match Gareth Moffett to burst through on goal and he was coolness personified to beat the Kilkeel keeper one-on-one and make it 5-2.

There was still time for a sixth late on when McCafferty got his second goal of the game as he cut into the circle from the left-hand side and made no mistake with a classy finish.

After an opening day draw away to South Antrim 4s and a harsh home defeat to a strong Instonians 3s outfit, the Seconds eventually got the win their performances this season have deserved and will go into this Saturday’s clash, away to Cookstown 4s, in confident mood. 

Newry Olympic 2s

Andrew Marks, Gareth McCullough, Eddie Graham, Jake Boyd, Daryl Barlow, Gareth Moffett, David Andrews, Scott Blakely, Corey Large, Simon McCafferty (Capt), Michael McCullough, Jonny Gregg, Keith McWilliams, James Niblock, Jordan Whiteside