Author: Laura Hillen

Proud supporter and PRO at NCAFC.

Newry Sink The Swifts

Newry City booked their place in the semi-final of The Mid Ulster cup with a single goal victory over Dungannon Swifts at The Showgrounds on Tuesday night. While, once again, it was a goal from their talisman Decky Carville which sealed the tie it was the team performance which again pleased manager Darren Mullen “Although we are only into the semi-final at this stage it’s still a big result for the club in terms beating a Premiership team for the first time since our reformation. We’ve played Premiership teams before and had shown progress but ultimately falling short. Admittedly Dungannon made some changes but we also did the same with five changes from the Knockbreda game.

“The message to those players coming in was to give me a headache for Friday night’s game and they certainly did that. We knew Dungannon would have spells of possession, but we just needed to maintain our shape and then punish them in the right areas. Defensively we were very solid and limited to them to very little in terms of clear cut chances. At the other end only for two brilliant saves from Andy Coleman we could have won by more but I’m more than happy with the 1 0 win. That’s four wins in a row and sets us up for another difficult game this Friday night but one that we are looking forward to.”

On a rain drenched evening it was the visitors who had the first chance, Jack Heaney producing a smart save to deny Nathaniel Ferris in the opening minutes. With Thomas McCann settling into his holding role in front of the back four Newry quickly got into the game, Jackie Cunningham pushing forward to create an early chance for Carville, his shot fizzing over the crossbar. With play swinging from end to end it was the Swifts with the next chance, a long ball into the Newry box momentarily appearing to have taken out the entire Newry defence, the home side saved by the back-pedaling John Boyle who’s glancing header was enough to take the ball away from the waiting Thomas Lockhart.

Newry’s reply came from Thomas McCann, bringing the ball out of his own half to the edge of the Dungannon penalty area before trying his luck with the outside of his foot, the ball always curling the wrong side of the post. On the half hour mark it was the home side again going close, Dungannon failing to properly clear a free kick, Darren King shooting over from an acute angle.

35 minutes on the clock Newry grabbed what turned out to be the winning goal, Keith Johnston working hard to close down Andy Colemans escape route after he was put in trouble by a back pass, Coleman for once misfiring with his clearance finding Carville on the edge of the penalty. In his current form there was only going to be one conclusion, Carville taking a touch to compose himself before shooting into the bottom corner of the Dungannon net despite Colemans valiant attempt to retrieve the situation.

The Swifts immediately put pressure on the Newry goal, the sticky pitch helping to cause confusion in the home box, the ball finally falling to Ferris who once more brought a save from Heaney. There was still enough time for a chance at either end, John Boyle using the greasy surface, sliding to clear a whipped cross from Coyle while for Newry Johnston swung a cross into the Swifts penalty area, Carville with a difficult chance swiveling on the penalty spot but unable to keep his volley from sailing harmlessly over leaving the half time score 1-0 to Newry.

With the rain refusing to stop the second half was played in increasingly sloppy conditions. That however didn’t stop an end to end game with the teams swopping similar chances in the opening minutes, Boyle again getting his head to a dangerous ball into the box while minutes later it was Dermot McCaffrey cutting out a super ball from Johnston to the back post with Marcus McKeown waiting. The visitors began to enjoy a period of possession but were simply unable to make any inroads against a stubborn Newry defence. And with the Swifts heavily committed forward it was the home side who next troubled the keeper, Carville and Johnston setting up the industrious Marty Havern to shoot across goal, Coleman diving to push the ball wide.

10 minutes left it finally looked as though Dungannon were about to get back into the game, a neat passing movement on the right wing opened a path for Tommy Roscoe to bear down on goal. With the Swifts man about to pull the trigger a perfectly timed challenge from Paddy Mooney knicked the ball away for what turned out to be the visitors last chance for an equalizer.

The home side were however were far from finished and with Stephen Hughes introduced from the bench and still full of running Coleman was to be called into action in the final minutes, first to stop a pile driver from Hughes from 30 yards which appeared destined for the top corner were it not for a top drawer save from the Swifts keeper. That pair were to do battle again in the final minutes, Carville holding play on the edge of the box before slipping the ball into the path of Hughes who’s first shot on the run was blocked by Coleman, Hughes first to the rebound only to find Coleman back on his feet to make a second save to leave the final score 1-0 to Newry.

Newry City AFC: Heaney, King, Cunningham, Mullen, Boyle, McCann, McKeown, M Hughes, Carville, Havern, Johnston. Subs: S Hughes, T Hughes, Mooney, Crooks, McArdle.

Newry City AFC 1-0 Knockbreda

A single goal secured Newry City’s third league win in a row on Saturday at home to Knockbreda. And while a solitary strike from Decky Carville was enough to secure the points it really should have been a much more comfortable victory for the home side who dominated all bar the opening 10 minutes at a soggy Newry Showground’s. Indeed, it was only during those opening minutes that Knockbreda posed any real threat, the visitors coming closest to opening the scoring with a Mark Cooling free from outside the box which Stephen Maguire elected to meet with both fists to punch clear while minutes later Mark Hughes put his body on the line to block a fierce drive from Lewis Irwin to keep the Newry goal intact.

From there Newry took over with Stephen Hughes, Jimmy Walker and Carville pulling the strings. While it took the home side until the half-hour mark to score they really could have been out of sight by then with several chances missed with others blocked on the way to goal. Newry’s first chance came after 13 minutes, Carville releasing Mark McCabe with a quick throw, McCabe in turn flicking the ball into the path of Stephen Hughes who skipped past a defender before curling a shot for the far corner, Knockbreda keeper David Ferguson diving full length to push the ball wide. The first of those goal line clearances came from the resulting corner, Carville rising highest to meet Walkers cross unfortunate to see his effort cannon off a defender. Chances came and went for Newry, on 25 minutes Keith Johnston found Thomas McCann on the edge of the penalty area, quick feet from McCann making room for a shot on goal, Newry denied this time by Mark Cooling on the goal line.

The winning goal after 30 minutes came courtesy of the hard work of Keith Johnston, tracking back to the middle of the park to win the ball before releasing McCabe on the right side of the penalty area. Double marked McCabe immediately lobbed the ball to the penalty spot for the arriving Carville who made the finish look simple, passing the ball past the advancing Ferguson and into the bottom corner of the Knockbreda net to put Newry a goal up. Knockbreda almost had a half chance to equalize straight away, aided by a strong breeze a long ball into the Newry box looked likely to reach Knockbreda centre forward Michael Halliday were it not for a sliding challenge from Darren King knocking the ball for a corner.

If there was anything lacking in the Newry display it was that they didn’t finish off some super passing moves, Johnston unfortunate before the break to have his shot cleared off the goal line while after the break it was Stephen Hughes again denied, Mark McCabe leaving his marker for dead with a clever turn on the edge of the box, McCabe taking the ball to the end line before pulling the ball back for Hughes who’s first shot was saved by Ferguson, his effort from the rebound cleared from the line by a covering defender. On the hour mark it was John Boyles turn to be denied, the central defender ghosting unchallenged into the box to meet a Walker corner, Kris Pike doing his job on the post diverting Boyles header wide.

Newry City Goal Scorer Decky Carville & Man of The Match Thomas McCann

For their part Knockbreda never really looked like getting past a Newry defence superbly marshalled by Boyle and protected by holding midfielder Thomas McCann who hardly put a foot wrong throughout. However, a single goal is a precarious lead and in most games the chasing team will get at least one chance, Knockbreda’s coming on 85 minutes when substitute Ricky Rutherford found space to shoot, Maguire able to push his effort back out with Neil Mullen on hand to clear up any danger, Newry running out comfortable one goal winners. After the game Newry manager Darren Mullen was clearly content with his sides current form “’This was a game that we should have had finished by half time. We were dominant from early in the game and had numerous good chances to score before we eventually did. At 1-0, especially in this league, there’s always a chance you could pay for not taking those chances but thankfully we got another 3 points. That’s 3 wins in a row and we are now adding results to the performances that our play had deserved. As I said when we weren’t winning games there was no need to panic as we had been playing well without getting our rewards. It was only a matter of time before the results started to change and we need to keep building on this run of good form. Hard work is the minimum requirement for any successful team and the players deserve great credit for the effort they have been putting in. It’s easier to do that with the ball but the shift they put in to win the ball back was especially pleasing. We now have 2 really tough games this week which will test us even further but they are the games that the players, coaching staff and fans look forward to. Hopefully the fans will come out in their numbers both home and away for what I’m sure will be 2 entertaining games.”

Newry City now turn their attention to those 2 games scheduled for this week. On Tuesday night Newry welcome Premiership side Dungannon Swifts to The Showgrounds for a Mid Ulster Cup tie, kick off 19:45.

Then on Friday Newry make the short journey to Shamrock Park for a league match against Portadown, kick off 19:45. Newry City travel club bus will leave The Stonebridge at 18:30.

BBC Barry Flynn interviewed Newry Manager Darren Mullen on Radio Ulster Sportsound after the game.(3:14:00) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0999swy

We were delighted to have Match Day Mascot Eoin Hartigan at The Showgrounds yesterday, check out the photos below:

Newry City: Maguire, McMahon, M Hughes, King, Boyle, McCann, Walker, Carville, McCabe, S Hughes, Johnston. Subs: Mullen, McKeown, Cunningham, Crooks, TJ Hughes.

World Mental Health Day

Newry City AFC as part of the football community are passionate about mental health awareness. Today on World Mental Health Day we are excited to be part of the Irish FA Foundation’s #Take5 video launch. Watch as our international players explain how we can all take five steps to wellbeing. #Connect #KeepLearning #BeActive #TakeNotice #Give

Limavady 1-3 Newry City AFC

Two goals from Keith Johnston and another from Jimmy Walker won the points for Newry at Limavady on Saturday. While the goal scorer’s will always grab the headlines this was a complete team performance from Newry not least from Jack Heaney who was solid on his league debut in goals, Darren King and John Boyle who have forged a strong partnership in the centre of the Newry defence and Thomas McCann who seemed to be in the right place any time there was any hint of danger to the Newry goal.

It could however have been a very different story were it not for an excellent save from Heaney in the opening minute, quickly off his line to get the better of a one on one with Robbie Hume, Heaney giving the Limavady top scorer little sight of goal before blocking Humes shot with his legs.

NCAFC Goal Scorers Keith Johnston & Jimmy Walker along with MOTM Thomas McCann.

An important stop for Newry and one which they never looked back from. With five minutes on the clock Newry created a good chance of their own, Stephen Hughes releasing Johnston on the right wing, his cross taking the home defence out of the game giving Mark McCabe an aerial battle with Limavady keeper Paul Well’s, McCabe bravely getting his head to the ball a second before he was clattered by the keeper, referee Chris Morrison inexplicably waving away vociferous Newry claims for a penalty. McCabe’s movement was causing real problems to the Limavady defence, the Newry striker holding the ball up and winning repeated free kicks on the edge of the penalty area. With 25 minutes on the clock Newry finally made the home side pay for these infringements, free kick maestro Walker stepping up to curl a dead ball around the wall, the pace of Walkers shot together with the wet surface too much for Well’s, the ball squeezing under the keeper’s dive and crossing the goal line despite his attempt to claw it back. Newry continued to dominate possession, their patient passing game creating decent scoring chances for Johnston and McCann, both players narrowly shooting wide. Newry’s superiority had to pay off and with time running out in the first half they doubled their advantage. Starting with a super tackle from McCann deep inside his own half Newry broke forward at pace, Stephen Hughes bringing the ball to the edge of the Limavady box before cutting the defence with a pass into the path of Johnston. From an acute angle Johnston still had lots to do but made light work, drilling a fierce drive across Wells into the far side of the goal for a clinical finish leaving his side 2-0 up at the break.

With Newry content to hold their two-goal advantage the second half began slowly, Walker, McCabe and Johnston all involved in Newry attacks while defensively the visitors were rarely troubled with King and Boyle rock solid in defence. With 70 minutes gone Newry sealed the points. Pressing high up the pitch the visitors forced Limavady’s Ryan Logue into a poorly executed back pass. Similar to Newry’s last game Johnston was again alert to such an opportunity latching onto the loose ball. While his first effort was saved by the advancing Well’s Johnston was not to be denied, picking up the rebound before expertly lobbing the ball over the keeper and into the back of the Limavady goal to put the game out of the home sides reach.

3 League Debutants Robbie Mackin, Jack Heaney & Aaron Casey

To their credit Limavady refused to give up and pulled a goal back on 80 minutes, for once a crossed ball catching the Newry defence out allowing Gerard Gillan a free header at the back post, Heaney with little chance to save from close range. It was however too little too late to stop Newry running out comfortable winners which pleased Newry manager Darren Mullen “The message to the players before this game was to start getting some consistency in our play rather than just in certain phases of games. Apart from their chance in the first minute I thought it was probably our best performance this season in terms of dominating a game. The work rate throughout the team was exactly what’s needed in this league and thankfully we got our rewards. Considering the amount of injuries we have and losing Kevin McArdle in the warm up it’s a testament to the squad that players are doing so well, especially those playing out of position. It’s also pleasing to be able to give three young lads their Irish league debuts and what they need to do now is continue to work hard to make sure it’s not their last appearance for the senior team. Their inclusion is a testament to the great work Barry Trainor, Gary Redpath and their coaches are doing with the young players at the club. We now have a two-week break which will give us a chance to get some players back from injury.”

Limavady United: Paul Wells, Marcus O’Kane (Jordan Thompson h-t), Andy Devlin, Graham Crown, Johnny Watt (c.), Gary McFadden, Paul Owens, Gerard Gillan, Glenn Law (Aaron Mullan), Ryan Logue (Shane Jennings), Robbie Hume. Substitutes not used: Ray Kelly, Joel Bradley.

Newry City: Jack Heaney, Mark Hughes, Darren King, John Boyle, Chris McMahon, Stephen Hughes (Martin Havern), James Walker, Thomas McCann, Mark McCabe (Aaron Casey), Declan Carville (Robbie Mackin), Keith Johnston. Substitutes not used: Neil Mullen, Kevin McArdle.

Newry City AFC 3-1 Larne

Newry City clinched a much-needed win under The Showgrounds lights on Friday night against Larne. A game of two halves but that is as close as the cliché gets to telling the true story of a game in which Newry dominated the first half but failed to make the most of the chances they created ending the half leading by a solitary goal.

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

The second half was a different story, the visitors drawing level straight after the break and dominating possession only to implode with time running out gifting a goal chance to Keith Johnston which the Newry man took with aplomb before Jimmy Walker sealed the points with a late third Newry goal.

In a game played under a constant downpour both sides attempted to play passing football with the home side getting the better of the opening exchanges, Decky Carville and Mark McCabe both with early attempts on goal. It did however take Newry until the 20th minute before they tested the Larne goal keeper, Darren King arriving late at the back post to meet a Jimmy Walker corner with a powerful header, unfortunately straight into the mid drift of Conor Devlin. Newry were well on top and had the chance to grab the lead minutes later, Chris McMahon winning the ball outside the Larne box before spreading play wide to Stephen Hughes. In a flash Hughes whipped the ball to the back post finding Carville who took a touch to control, allowing Larne defender David Abe to get a crucial block.

In reply Larne had their best chance of the half, Conor Downey swinging the ball into the box, Darren Stuart heading back across the Newry goal missing the far post by inches. Newry were presented with the perfect opportunity to open the scoring on the half hour mark when Thomas McCann nipped in front of Larne’s Julian Anou in the race for a loose ball inside the Larne box, referee Wilson immediately pointing to the penalty spot as McCann tumbled. And although Stephen Hughes sent Devlin the wrong way with his spot kick the ball sailed the wrong side of the opposite post for another wasted chance.

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

The home side refused to let their heads drop and deservedly took the lead after 38 minutes, John Boyle who along with Darren King was impeccable in the centre of the Newry defence picked out Kevin McArdle wide on the right. With space to run into McArdle pushed forward before bending a cross behind the Larne defence for Carville who timed his run perfectly sliding the ball home from close range to leave Newry a goal to the good at the break.

That lead was not to last long as Larne came out with guns blazing and equalized with a super goal, Darren Stuart setting the ball perfectly into the path of left back Jerry Thompson who smacked the sweetest of low drives into the bottom corner of the Newry net to level the scores. Newry attempted to hit back almost immediately. From a corner Boyle recycled the ball at the back post to McCann, his cross narrowly headed wide by King.

It was now the turn of the visitors to knock at the Newry goal. On 65 minutes they looked have found the key when Thompson curled a super free kick into the Newry box which Daniel Reynolds got a boot to but was unable to steer the ball on target. Five minutes later and a similar scene was played out, this time Reynolds got his head to another Thompson cross, once more unable to hit the target. Newry were living dangerously relying heavily on the central defensive trio of Boyle McMahon and especially King to protect their goal. Behind them Stephen Maguire’s handling was sure and he was also called into action, first to smother a dipping drive from Ralph Kottey and then to push a shot up and over his cross bar.

Newry Goal Scorers Jimmy Walker, Declan Carville & Keith Johnston.

With the game looking likely to end in stalemate Newry were gifted a chance on 83 minutes when the otherwise solid David Abe inexplicably attempted to pass the ball back from the half way line. While his pass was woefully short Keith Johnston was already alert to the opportunity quick to latch onto the loose ball knocking it around the advancing Larne goal keeper with his first touch before slotting the ball into the empty net to give Newry a slender advantage.

Larne were not finished and threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. They almost succeeded with time running out when Downey attempted to pick out Thompson at the back post, Jimmy Walker working hard to get back to help his defence heading the danger away under the crossbar. The Newry midfielder was rewarded for his hard work in stoppage time when, again with Larne heavily committed forward Newry broke out of defence, Stephen Hughes slipped the ball into the path of Walker as he crossed the half way line, Walker drawing the Larne keeper from his line before dinking a sublime chip into the back of the net to put some Newry gloss onto the score line.

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

Happy with the three points Newry manager Darren Mullen was clearly pleased with his players response “We demanded a reaction from the players after a poor performance last week and certainly got that in the first half. Our shape, movement and intensity of our play was exactly what was needed and we could have gone in more than 1 goal up at the break.

“The second half was a different affair and Larne can feel rightly aggrieved and not getting something out of the game. However we have had absolutely no luck so far this season in terms of decisions, injuries and playing well without getting results so I’ll gladly take these 3 points. Unlike last week there are plenty of positives to take from this game and the players certainly can’t be faulted for their effort or will to win. What we need to do is learn from the mistakes we made in the second half which we will work on in training this week and prepare for our trip to Limavady.”

Man of the Match Darren King receiving his award sponsored by Hughes BET from Chairman Martin McLoughlin.

Newry City now travel to Limavady on Saturday 8th October. Travel club bus will leave The Stonebridge at 12 noon.

 

Newry City AFC: Maguire, McArdle, M Hughes, Boyle, King, McMahon, Walker, McCann, McCabe, Carville, S Hughes. Subs: Johnston, Havern, Richmond, Irwin, McCullough.

 

Larne: Devlin, Fornah, Thompson, Abe, Bradley, Wilson, Kottey, Downey, Reynolds, Stuart, Anou. Subs: McLaren, McDonnell, Georgaklis, Henry.

 

 

 

Photos below of Match Day Mascot Cillian Rocks with the NCAFC Team.