Author: Sean McKevitt

Sean is an avid supporter of Newry City AFC and will be bringing you all the latest news from the club.

Fans in focus: Mo Ruddy

moruddyName: Mo Ruddy

Age: 25

How long have you supported Newry? I started going to games when I was 8, which would have been the 1997/98 season, so 17 years now.

How did you come about supporting the club? I tagged along with my cousins and a group of mates. Was hooked instantly and we still go every week.

Your favourite ever player? It’s difficult to choose. There have been many great players at the club while I have been supporting the team. Deserving a mention would be: Richard Clarke, Emmet Friars, Ray Byrne, and Dessie Gorman. Ollie Ralph would have been before my time but we all know how good he was. Being forced to choose I think I’ll have to go for Robbie Casey, he’d kill me if I didn’t!

Favourite current player? So many of the current squad have given their all from the beginning of last season. Another difficult question, but I’m going to pick someone who has a massive impact on a lot of games this season whether it be from the bench or from the start of a game. I think Mark Lowry has given nightmares to an awful lot of defenders across Mid Ulster this season.

Best memory supporting the club? Reaching the final of the CIS Cup in 2009 was pretty good but unfortunately we couldn’t go all the way. Deserving a mention would be the home game against Duisburg in the Inter-Toto Cup. But without a doubt it has to be representing the club on Soccer AM four years ago and scoring on the “Road To Wembley” game at the end. Not sure if I’ve ever told anyone that story.

Funniest moment supporting the club? This one is easy. Johnny Ferns, while slightly merry shall we say, taking part in the Carling Skills competition at half time away to Institute, making himself dizzy and ending up on his backside in the middle of the pitch. Priceless.

Favourite ground you’ve visited and why? Overall it would have to be either Old Trafford or the Municipal Stadium in Poznan. Locally without including our own Newry Showgrounds it has to be Mourneview Park. Glenavon have probably the most fitting ground for Irish League football. Excellent set up down there.

What is it you like most about following Newry? A lot of people just dont get “it”. The banter is brilliant, seeing the same faces week in, week out. The highs and lows you just dont get sitting on a bar stool. And you certainly wouldn’t get to share a pint or two with your favourite Premier League stars and managers. Local players, playing for the pride of the city!

Hopes for the future? Most certainly for Darren and the lads to bring more success back to the club. With a great manager and super bunch of players it would be great to move back up the footballing pyramid. We will take each challenge as it comes. No point in getting ahead of ourselves but another league title this season would be superb!

Newry City U14 6 – 1 Valley Rangers U14

by Colm Murphy, Newry City U14 Manager

Newry City Under 14’s travelled to Kilkeel on Saturday morning to play local side Valley Rangers. This was Newry’s seventh league match and sixth away game due to unavailability of the back pitch at Showgrounds but the team were to put in their best display of the season in almost storm like conditions against a strong Valley Rangers line up.

Right from the start Newry were playing some close controlled football and kept the ball on the ground, making some fine passes against a strong wind. Around 15 minutes into the match Newry were in front after a great through ball from Shea Morgan released Tiarnan Murphy through on goal and he slotted the ball past the ‘keeper to put Newry one up. Soon after it was again the same two players linking up in a carbon copy move with Murphy hitting the ball low and hard to the far corner to make it 2-0. The third goal came right from the back and started with Newry keeper James Keenan passing the ball to Right back Matthew McGinn. He sent Midfielder Joe Connolly surging forward who in turn set a neat ball through to Sean Mc Conville who shot to the back of the net in true striker fashion, 3-0. Valley responded with some fine play and James Keenan was called into action a few times making some fine saves. Eventually their pressure paid off and after a neat pass to their front man they pulled a goal back to make it 3-1. This spurred Newry back to life and again after some fine passing Connolly sent Murphy running through again only this time he lobbed the ball over the advancing Valley keeper to make it 4-1 Newry and complete a first half hat-trick.

Both teams were glad of the half time break and the second half started the same as the first with Newry attacking right from the kick off. Shea Morgan was having a fantastic game in midfield and after winning the ball he sent Joe Connolly on a run, who in turn sent a neat pass to Murphy again who beat the defender to rattle the best of his goals into the top corner to make it 5-1. A few moments later Murphy was to finish off a fine individual performance by striking an excellent free kick over the Valley Rangers wall into the net to make it 6-1 and 5 goals for the little winger. Newry made a number of substitutions and one of these Nathan Crudden was unlucky on a number of occasions not to add to the Newry tally. In defence Newry were strong with Russell and Oveson controlling the centre and Mc Ginn and Murphy doing well in right and left back positions. The midfield pairing of Connolly and Morgan really showed their ability throughout. The front line of Trainor and Mc Conville worked hard to create openings assisted by Caolan Reavey and Tiarnan Murphy who ended up with one of his best performances to date in a Newry Jersey with five goals.

A big thanks must go to the parents who helped with transport and weathered the elements to support the team. It was also great to see our top goal scorer Tiernan Reilly who is out injured at the moment, shouting his team mates on. All in all a good day out and a great team performance from a vastly improving group of lads. Well done all!!

NCAFC agree sponsorship deal with Newmay Electrical

Photo: Newry City AFC Commercial Manager Gary Wilson (left) is pictured here with Newmay Electrical Services Director Paul Mulholland. Photo courtesy of Louis McNally.

 

newmay

Newry City AFC has agreed a sponsorship deal with Newmay Electrical Services Ltd which will see the London based firm come on board as an associate sponsor of the club for the next three years.

Commenting on the deal, Newry City AFC Commercial Manager Gary Wilson said, “This is a great boost to have Newmay Electrical Services on board as an associate sponsor of the club and will help give us stability over the next three years. I know Newmay Director Paul Mulholland and his Dad Gerry very well, they are both life long supporters of the club. Newry City AFC is very grateful to Newmay Electrical Services – we will hopefully repay the faith they have shown in us with success on the pitch.”

To find out more about Newmay Electrical Services and the services they have to offer, you can visit their website at www.newmay.co.uk

Meet the players: Keith Johnston

Name: Keith Johnston

Age: 27

Occupation: Electrical Estimator

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: Youth – Midway United. Senior – Warrenpoint Town, Orchard City & Newry City.

Honours:
Midway Utd – Umbro International cup and a few league and cup trophies throughout the youth years, too old to remember them all!
Orchard City – AOH cup and Bessbrook cup
Warrenpoint Town – Mid-Ulster Intermediate A league, Premier cup, Marshall cup, Irish League Championship 2, Irish League Championship 1 runner-up, Irish League Promotion Play-Off winners.

Footballing Hero: As a striker and Man United fan I loved watching players like Andy Cole and Ruud Van Nistelrooy..lethal finishers!

What is the best ground you’ve played at? I’ve been fortunate enough to play in most Irish League grounds but its hard to beat Newry Showgrounds, the pitch is always in top condition!

Who is the joker of the team? There’s a few..Mully, Curran and Crilly are good for cutting through people with one liners!

Apart from yourself who is the best player on the team? We have a solid team throughout, but Jimmy Walker is a different class on the ball..not so sure about his defensive side though!

Who is the worst at training? Again there is a few contenders, a few boys only turn up once a week if you’re lucky..namely Paul Donegan, maybe it’s just old age!

Who has the worst dress sense? Hard to say because we normally wear the same to matches but Peter Murphy rocks out some crazy boxer shorts!

Your toughest opponent? Probably Chris Walker from Glentoran a few years ago when I played for Newry Reserves, took a few elbows and kicks from him!

Best player played you’ve played with? Hard to pick one player but the team we had at Warrenpoint when we won the Mid-Ulster league and then Championship 2 the year after was full of great players. A special mention for Mully who was my strike partner over them years, he took the kicks for me!

If you had a super power what would it be? To be able to fly, would make life so much easier..plus it would help me get a few extra goals from headers as I wouldn’t be the tallest!

Interests outside football? I like to play golf now and again, although my game needs a lot of work!

Hopes for the future? My main aim is to win the league this year but long term I hope to help get Newry back in Irish League football where they belong.

Annalong U14 0 – 3 Newry U14

by Colm Murphy, Newry City U14 Manager

Newry U14’s traveled to Annalong on Saturday to play their 5th away game in the league. The away side had to make do with a depleted squad due to holidays and injuries.

Newry started very slowly and despite the majority of possession were unable to crack open a stubborn Annalong defence. Indeed had it not been for a fine save from the Newry ‘keeper James Keenan they could have found themselves behind going into the half time break.

After the break things looked better for Newry as they gathered themselves up and started to play some fine free flowing football. After some great work in defence by Aidan Ovesen the ball made its way to Tiernan O’Reilly on the wing who crossed in for Matthew Trainor to stab the ball into the net and make it 1-0 to Newry. Newry were really boosted by this goal and shortly afterwards made it 2-0 after some fine individual skill by O’Reilly who hit a blistering shot to the far corner of the net. The work rate of Tiarnan Murphy was evident throughout the match and it was Murphy that set up Newry’s third goal to finish off a fine second half performance.

This was a fine second half display by a depleted squad but a number of players stood out and deserve a special mention. James Keenan in goals was alert throughout and handled all fantastic when called upon. Aidan Ovesen in defence had one of his best games in a Newry jersey as did Tiernan O’Reilly who has now scored 7 goals in 6 games. Caolan Reavey stepped up to the mark and played some fine passing football creating many openings for the forward line. Tiarnan Murphy, Newry’s representative on the Northern Ireland elite squad stamped his authority on this game right from the start with some fine individual play and passing and was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match by the referee. This win keeps Newry top of the league and has really intensified competition for starting places amongst a hard working squad.

Newry Under 14 team would like to take this opportunity to wish Youth Academy Manager Conlon Morrison a speedy recovery from recent illness and hope to see him back shouting us on very soon.