inspired Ballyholland turned in a superb second-half display to see off a skilful Burren side in this thrill-a-minute south Down under-14 A Championship final.

At Hilltown, for the first 15 minutes Burren, with star midfielder David McEntee dominant, almost totally ran the show and indeed at that stage they led by 2-3 to 1-0. But the battling Ballyholland lads showed they had an appetite for a tussle and led by their charismatic centre-half forward White, they began to slice holes in the opposing defence. At the interval just a couple of points divided the teams.

Then in the opening period of the second half the Harps levelled and indeed they really should have gone ahead but twice the Burren keeper Sean Garrivan made superb saves. Still in the final ten minutes Harps fired home two brilliant goals to ensure victory.

Burren stormed in front with McEntee pointing in the first minute and then Donal O’Hare blasted home a goal. Though Ballyholland forced their way back into contention with a Sean Anderson goal after Garrivan beat out a White drive.

However, Burren bit back with a David Gilfedder point and a then a Thomas Farrell goal. Though Harps kept in touch with a Rory Keenan point and a goal and a point from Connor Madden. At the interval, after McEntee scored for Burren and Ruairi Keenan did likewise at the other end, Burren led 2-05 to Harps 2-03, On the resumption Ballyholland laid siege to the Burren goal with Niall McQuillan and a Robbie White free kick squaring the match.

Though then the tall midfielder McEntee knocked over the bar twice to push Burren once more in front. There were a mere 10 minutes left and in those ten minutes the inspirational skills of Rory White won the match. He began running at the Burren defence.

Twice he danced through to set up goals. In his first foray White set up Sean Anderson who hit a screamer into the top corner of the Burren net to thus put the Harps in front for the first time in the game. And then he played in Conor Madden who only had to tap into the empty net.

In between Kealan Haughey and David McEntee had pointed at opposite ends and after the goals were scored Anderson and Ronan Magee also traded scores.

At the final whistle there was no doubt as to who were the Champions and it was a delighted Harps’ skipper Kevin McAteer who held aloft the south Down cup after Malachy Murdock from sponsors Newry Building Supplies presented it to him.