5 Mile Challenge and Fun Run

 

Taken from Down Recorder 7th September 2006

 

Double Celebration for Killyleagh    

I have to say I’d be shocked if you haven’t yet heard about Northern Ireland’s 3-2 win against Spain in their Euro 2008 Group F qualifier last night. The match was played at Belfast’s Windsor Park and the home crowd certainly weren’t disappointed with the outcome.

Star player David Healy scored all three goals and this hat-trick of course hasn’t been the only recent legendary achievement for the twenty-seven year-old Killyleagh man.  A year ago, also at Windsor Park, he sealed the unexpected win against World Cup qualifier opponents England.

In last night’s game Spain took an early lead, with midfielder Xavi scoring the opening goal.  However their lead was short-lived with Healy levelling out the score in the 20th minute.  It remained 1-1 into the second half, until the 52nd minute when Cesc Fabregas pushed Spain in to the lead once again.  

Once more though, Northern Ireland weren’t far behind with their second goal by Healy when he hit the back of the net with a free kick just 12 minutes later.

The win was secured with the last goal of the hat-trick in the 80th minute.

The victory was certainly welcomed by the Northern Ireland team and its supporters after the disappointing result last Saturday with a defeat of 3-0 by Iceland.

To have come back after Saturday’s match and beaten the 7th best team in the world I think the Northern Ireland team deserves a lot of respect.  Utmost praise must go to the man of the match, David Healy.

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Healy was not the only Killyleagh lad on the pitch in the green and white strip.  Seven year-old Jack Brown and his brother, four year-old Joe were mascots at the game.