Saturday 10th May 2008 @  at Bells Bridge, Dromara.

The Britton Rosebowl Trophy

Northern Ireland AFL  1.  Scottish AFL  0.

Goals -
Declan O''''''''Connor (47th )

The Northern Irish team retained the trophy thanks to a goal scored just two minute into the second half. It would be local boy  Declan O''''''''Connor who converted at his home ground when he gained easy possession after some dithering in the Scottish defence. The goal son early in the second half gave the Nothern League the cushion they needed and the defence marshalled by Downpatrick''''''''s Jim McStravick and Newington''''''''s Sean Adams were able to hold out.

The first half was competitive bruising encounter as both teams rolled up their sleeves and in the visitor''''''''s first excursion up field Alan Lister would test the Irish resolve with a neat header that went wide.

Then Greg Maitland got involved when he had to punch clear a diagonal cross from Thomas Dickson but the only real chance in the half fell to the Scots in the 17th minute when Alan Lister collected in his stride and with the goal at his mercy he squandered the chance.

Then into the second half and the all important first goal, and while the visitors kept up the pressure an irritating amount of free kicks awarded against them served to break up play. Still the Scottish Select would have two other reasonable chances through Domonic Ruane and Chris Beaton, but goal keeper Liam Hartley was on top form.

His save from a Beaton dipping shot the more memorable when he managed to finger tip the ball over the bar when equalisers looked likely. Then with minutes to go the visitors were denied a penalty kick when Chris McVeigh was pushed to the ground but the referee failed to notice in what was a crowded penalty area and as the history books will now record it was the Irish team would run out winners.

After the match the team manager Hugh Carswell had nothing but praise for the player''''''''s efforts and their stirring performance in a game that brought them little or no breaks when required given the quirky decisions of the match officials.

Match Officials -
S Creaney
C Floyd
G McIlwraith
E Boyce.

 [All Ayrshire AFA]

Select Team -
Greg Maitland - Bannockburn AFC
Jamie Daily - Colville Par
Alistair McKerral - Knockentiber AFC
Paul Bell - St Patricks FP
Graeme McNeill - Colville Park
Domonic Ruane - St.Patricks FP
Willaim Nicolson - Drumchapel Utd
Mark Brown - Eddlewood AFC
Jamie Dunbar - Eddlewood AFC
Alan Lister - Eddlewood AFC
Steven Radzynski - Leith Athletic
Subs -
David Grant - Milton AFC
Derek Colquoun - Falkirk AFC
Craig Beaton - Leith Athletic
Craig Johnstone  - Kennoway AFC
Kevin Connor - St.Patricks FP [Sub GK]