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: Gary Wilson

Name: Gary Wilson

Age: 29

How long have you supported Newry? I’ve been going regularly to games for about 25 years.

How did you come about supporting the club? It’s in the Wilson blood!

Your favourite ever player? Many great players have turned out in the famous blue and white stripes over the years. Some that spring to mind include – Dessie ‘The Dundalk Hawk’ Gorman, Gary McPhee, Johnny Kenny, Stuart McLean and Willy Crawley but without doubt the greatest is Oliver Ralph! He scored a club record total of 305 goals at Newry – is it any wonder he is still idolised at the Showgrounds?!

Favourite current player? I have great admiration for many of the players at Newry at the moment but the one that stands out for me is the wee man from Omeath – Jimmy Walker.

Best memory supporting the club? My best memories supporting the club would have to be our European adventures in the late 90’s to Croatia and Germany in the Intertoto Cup. I traveled to both the games with the team and it’s something I will never forget.

Funniest moment supporting the club? The funniest thing I have seen supporting the club was at an away game at Crusaders a few years back. A Crues’ player called Jeff Spiers attempted to get over the fence to confront myself and my mate Nelly. I’ll have to leave it to Nelly to explain why though!

Favourite ground you’ve visited and why? It would have to be Mourneview Park in Lurgan. The work that Glenavon FC has put into it over the years is incredible. No matter where you sit in the ground, there always seems to be a great view of the game.

What is it you like most about following Newry? I love the friendly banter among fans and players, it isn’t something you see at many clubs. Newry City AFC is also a cross community club, which is something I am extremely proud of.

Hopes for the future? For Darren to lead us back into the Premiership where we rightly belong and to bring those European days back to the Showgrounds! Also, I have to say it is great to see the work that Conlon Morrison is putting into the new Youth Academy at the club. Hopefully the senior team will reap the rewards in the years to come.

 

Newry U14 3 – 0 Ballyvea U14

by Colm Murphy, Newry City U14 Manager

On Saturday last Newry Under 14’s had a home match against Ballyvea in the U14 league championship. After a heavy nights rain the pitch was surprisingly in good condition.

Newry started the game slowly but eventually got their foot on the ball and started to pass the ball around. Despite 70% of possession Newry found it hard to break down the Ballyvea defence who had come with a game plan of trying not to concede any goals. Just before half time Newry opened the scoring with a Joseph Connolly goal after some great work from fellow team mates.

The second half opened brightly for Newry after a stern team talk from the management and it wasn’t long before Shea Morgan added Newry’s second goal with a well placed shot. Newry’s passage of play seemed to falter after this goal and trying to break down the Ballyvea system was frustrating for the Newry boys. However just rewards came near the end when Tiarnan O’Reilly slotted in Newry’s third and final goal to ease the concerns of the good home support.

While it was nice to get another win Newry have a lot of work to do if they are to keep up a good start to the season. A number of areas were identified that need working on but all in all a win is a win and its down to hard work on the training pitch that improves mistakes. There were some fine performances but again teamwork is what eventually got the win for Newry.

It was nice to see former Team Manager Lee Kirrane in attendance and watching how his former players are progressing.

Meet the players: David O’Connor

DSCF7149Name: David O’Connor

Age: 29

Occupation: Financial Advisor

Position: Right Back, Left Back, Centre Mid, Physio table.

Previous Clubs: Warrenpoint Town. Ballybot United.

Honours: Championship 2. Intermediate A a few times, Bass Bowls and a couple of other Mid Ulster cups back in the day. Fr Davies Cup with Ballybot a couple of years ago too.

Footballing Hero: Shaun Goater. Feed the Goat and he will score.

What is the best ground you have played in? Played in a few decent ones with the ‘Point and The Showgrounds is a great pitch, but nothing comes close the home of football, The Barley Field.

Who is the joker of the team? Ian Curran’s good for cutting boys to pieces with his one liners.

Apart from yourself who is the best player on the team? The most consistent is probably Chris McMahon. I played against him a couple of years ago too and rated him then. Jimmy Walker is very good too. With them two and Kenny Kearns, I’ll not be holding out much hope of getting a run in centre mid this year.

Who has the worst dress sense? The dress code is pretty standard with either a suit or tracksuit, but Darren Mullen has a pair of skin-tight black tracksuit bottoms he wears an odd time that give me trouble sleeping at night.

Have you got any pre-match rituals? Take the dog for a walk in the morning to loosen out the legs and then eat a couple of bananas in the hour before kick off.

Who is the best player you have ever played with? I used to enjoy playing right back at the ‘Point with Franco Trainor on the left and John Boyle and Jonny Cowan in the middle. The three boys have been about and fairly keep you right.

If you had a super power what would it be? The ability to score flying scissor kick volleys from 20 yards, Paolo Di Canio style. I keep hitting it a couple of inches too high at the minute.

What are your interests outside of football? Golf. I’ll soon be hanging the boots up and looking to lower the 20 handicap.

Tell us something about yourself not many people know: I’m a closet Michael Bolton fan. Nothing better than belting out a few classics when I’m in the car on my own!

 

*Thanks to Brendan Monaghan Photography for the cover photo.

Meet the players: Peter Murphy

DSCF7150

Name: Peter Murphy

Age: 33

Occupation: Scaffolder

Position: Goalkeeper

Previous Clubs: Glenview, Bessbrook United

Honours: I’ve won 2 x Mid Ulster Shields, 3 x Carbane leagues(I think!), a couple of Bessbrook cups and a few AOH and Fr Davies trophies. Also runner up in 2 Irish Junior cup finals!

Footballing Hero: Stevie G

What is the best ground you have played in? The Showgrouds by a mile.

Who is the joker of the team? Ian Curran. He’d cut you in two with some of his one liners.

Apart from yourself who is the best player on the team? I’d better say Jimmy Walker or he’ll take the hump.

Who is the worst at training? Donegan. He comes once a week and spends the first hour with the physio!

Who has the worst dress sense? Me! Shocking, just shocking.

Who is the best player you have ever played with? Philly Hughes at Bessbrook. Also the laziest player I’ve ever played with!

If you had a super power what would it be? Extendable arms, for obvious reasons!

What are your interests outside of football? I like golf. I don’t get to play as often as I’d like though. I’ll play more when I retire which will be soon enough I’d say!

Finally, tell us something about yourself not many people know! I like to wear colourful and crazy boxers. Darren Mullen will be able to tell you all about them. He thinks they’re amazing!

Newry U14 6 – 0 Tullyvallen U14

by Colm Murphy, Newry City U14 Manager

Newry City U14’s played their third away match to Tullyvallen on Saturday past in Newtownhamilton. Conditions were great and Newry continued their recent fine form by starting quickest and piled the pressure on the Tullyvallen defence from the first moments. With some fine football Newry scored two quick goals within 10 minutes after some great attacking football. The forward line of Matthew Trainor and Sean Mc Conville were quick to latch onto some great passing from the two wingers, Tiarnan Murphy and Tiernan O’Reilly and this was to be the theme of the whole match as Newry totally dominated play right throughout the first half. Numerous chances were created and only for some fine saves from the Tullyvallen keeper, Newry could have gone three or four more goals to the better before half time.

The midfield partnership of Shea Morgan and Joseph Connolly really stepped up their game and created many openings for the attack and were ably assisted by the defence. Matthew Maginn playing at right back looked more like a winger as he tormented the Tullyvallen defence time after time.

Newry started the second half still only 2 goals up despite all the play in the first half but after a good team talk from management they added 2 more quick goals. Tiernan O’Reilly got on the score sheet for the 4th match in a row and Matthew Trainor added his second after some great passing.

Another 2 goals later on from Sean McConville and Shea Morgan completed an excellent day for the Newry team. Overall this was one of the best all round team performances from an ever improving squad. Most of the squad got a run out which is great for team morale and competition is really stepping up for places.

One other point to note was the discipline of this young team which shone throughout this match and they should be proud of the way that they conducted themselves.

The next game is at home this Saturday to Ballyvea at the Showgrounds at 10am.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those parents, players and friends who came down to help with the Academy bag back at Tesco on Saturday afternoon after our match. It was great to see the community give generously to the Academy fund and help build a future for soccer in the Newry region. Well done to Academy Manager Conlon Morrison who had the task of organising it all. It turned out to be a very successful day.