The best teams in Moree’s indoor soccer competition lined up with the mighty ‘Chawks’ snatching two late goals to win the grand final 4-2 and claim the CQR Cup. 

Chickenhawks captain/coach Chris Heterick, who was out of action after dislocating his ankle, said his side’s “bone rattling defence” prevailed against the “tiki-taka” passing of the Shamrocks.  

“Luke Morrison was MVP,” Heterick said. “He scored two goals and he used his head in defence … literally, he just got belted twice by the ball which stopped a goal both times.” 

The game got off to a frantic start with defence being order of the day but both sides showing how deadly they can be with the ball. There were plenty of chances though poor finishes keeping the scores level after 10 minutes. 

Chickenhawks’ leading goal scorer Luke Morrison broke the deadlock, stealing the ball off the last man back and slotting one past the keeper. 

Morrison scored more than 50 goals in the 18-game season and was a significant contributor to the team’s +90 point goal differential. But while the ‘Chawks’ finished the season on top of the table with 30 points, the Shamrocks had 24 points and a +65 goal differential, and were always going to put up a fight in the final. 

They scored next, putting together a great team play which ended up with Adam Ha one-on-one with only the goalie to beat. 

The Shamrocks had two chances to go to the half time break in front with great play leading to wide open shots by the youngest player in the competition, Tomasz Kowalski. 

With the goalie beaten on both occasions, Morrison’s battered face was the thing keeping peggings level. 

The second half started much the same as the first until Alex Madden swooped on a deflected save to toe poke the Chickenhawks to the lead. 

The Shamrocks turned to long shot specialist, Ha, who obliged with a screamer from half way which took three deflections on its way to turn the goalie inside out and level the score 2-2. 

As the pressure mounted, Madden swooped on a poor pass to put his side back in front. 

Morrison then sealed the win, scoring from a counterattack to put the Chickenhawks in front 4-2.