Magic McStravick is final’s main man

Friday’s success at the Newry Showgrounds over Killeavey United by 6-2 involved McStravick walking away with the match ball following his hat-trick joy.

However, the Silverwood player was far from the only hero on the night as Pol Smyth, Kenny Devreaux and Kieran McAvoy increased the winning margin.

McStravick kicked off the cup final with a goal following neat play between Smyth and Michael Haughian.

McStravick’s moment of magic doubled the lead when the forward collected possession with his back to the target, flicked the pass over his marker one way, then another, before steering a volley into the net from distance.

Smyth stepped up to slot home a penalty kick that lacked the theatrics of McStravick’s second but proved important to killing off Killeavey.

Killeavey, however, managed goals before half-time either side of McStravick’s third of the evening.

McAvoy guided home a loose ball at the second attempt as Silverwood made it 5-2 before Devreaux attacked from right-back to complete the scoring.

“The boys played really well overall and the only disappointment, to be honest, came with conceding,” said Silverwood United’s Stephen Toman. “The goals were scrappy from our viewpoint but we don’t want to take away from a great win.

“To win any trophy is a plus, especially when it comes so early in the season.

“Now the goal is to use this lift to push on as a club and transform that positive form into a consistent run of league form.

“The hospitality put on by the guys at Newry Showgrounds was a real treat and now we can move forward as a club and focus on a strong season.

“The Gerald Kennedy Cup has some wonderful names listed on the trophy and it is a prize with a great history.”

SILVERWOOD UNITED: Michael Gough, Kenny Devreaux, John-Paul O’Hagan, Kieran McAvoy, Danny Magill, Shane Doran, Colm Rooney, Johnny McAlinden, Pol Smyth, Damian McStravick, Michael Haughian. Subs: Dwyer Lavery, Sean Haughian, Dermot Kearney, Gavin Gowdy, Liam Magill.