Photo above: Jimmy Walker receives his Man of The Match award from Newry Coach Jervis McCaul. Photo:Brendan Monaghan

Wins in seven out of eight cup matches played so far this season will have pleased Newry manager Darren Mullen with the latest coming at the Showgrounds on Saturday when his team beat Loughall Reserves 3-1 in the Marshall Cup.

In an entertaining game Loughall went ahead against the run of play after 7^th minutes when Nathaniel Ferris latched onto a long pass into the Newry penalty before brushing off a challenge and dispatching his shot past Chris Davison to put Loughall a goal up. This came minutes after Newry had themselves gone close to scoring. Mark Patton, back in his familiar centre forward role, guided a knock down header to the feet of Keith Johnson who twisted one way and then the other before side footing his shot towards the corner of the Loughall goal, unfortunate to see the ball hit the post. Newry continued to dominate possession making a series of decent goal scoring chances. On the quarter hour mark Man of the Match Jimmy Walker chipped a centrally positioned free kick over the defence which Paul Donegan met with a side foot volley across the face of the Loughall goal, the cross cleared as the waiting Neil Barr was about to pounce. Minutes later it was Mark Lowrys turn to threaten. Receiving a pass from Niall Crilly on the edge of the box Lowry spun his marker and fired in a low shot which Robinson in the Loughall nets held at the second attempt. The home side had a great chance to equalize with 25 minutes gone. Graeme Edgar floated a high ball in towards target man Patton who was winning every ball which came his way. Patton nodded the ball into the path of Barr now with a free run on goal, the usually clinical striker unable to get control into his shot which went harmlessly wide. The only remaining threat to either goal came on the half hour mark, Lowry coming short to receive a free kick from Walker and setting up Kenny Kearns who from 30 yards out slammed his shot into the mid drift of the Loughall keeper to leave the half time score 0-1.

The defining moments of the tie came in the 46^th minute when Barr and the Loughall keeper Robinson were set in a race for the ball on the edge of the Loughall penalty box. When both players met with the ball at the same moment the ball spun to just outside the box where Robinson, perhaps in the belief that he had been fouled, picked it up. Awarding a free kick outside the box the referee was left with little option other than to show Robinson a red card. If Loughall felt aggrieved by this their hurt was doubled when Walker stepped up to curl the free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner of the net to level the score. Newry scored again on the 50^th minute when Lowry used his pace to run onto a Crilly through ball, shrugging off a challenge as he bore down on goal before shooting low into the near corner of the Loughall goal. Lowry was again involved on the hour mark when Kearns played a clever ball inside the corner back, Lowry cutting in from the wing to drill a low cross across the penalty area which was met by Barr who brought an excellent reaction save from the Loughall stand in keeper John McConville.

For their part even though a man down Loughall had moments when they looked dangerous, twice in successive movements Crilly was called upon to rescue the home side as he swept up some threatening positions.

The game also saw the introduction to the 1^st team of Newrys youth team player Gary Crummy who showed his potential getting involved in play immediately after coming onto the pitch with 20 minutes remaining. Released by Crilly, Crummy swung over a high cross which was met by Patton on the back post, his knock down header wasted as no Newry player’s had anticipated the chance. Crummy was again involved minutes later carrying the ball from midfield to outside the Loughall penalty area where he set up Johnston with a shooting chance, his effort alas wide of the post.

Newry wrapped the game up in the final minutes when a perfectly guided long pass from defence by Donegan gave Chrissy Fay a free run on the Loughall goal, the speedy winger making no mistake as he drilled a low shot into the far bottom corner of the net to send Newry into the next round as 3-1 winners.

Speaking after the game Newry manager Mullen said “We were frustrated at half time as we had enough chances to be in front but paid the price for some poor defending. They were a good young side but apart from the first 20 minutes we controlled most of the game but were wasteful in possession. The sending off of their keeper obviously had a bearing on the game but we had shown enough signs in the last 25 minutes of the first half that we were in the ascendency. It’s another cup win and we look forward to the next round. It was also pleasing to give young Gary Crummy his debut and he certainly did not look out of place. He showed up really well in training this week and at 17 looks a good prospect”

Newry City AFC: Davison, Crilly, Edgar, Donegan, McMahon, Kearns, Walker, Patton, Barr, Johnston, Lowry Subs: McMullan, Fay, Crummy, Brilly, Moan.

Newrys next game is on Tuesday 14^th Oct @ 8pm at home to Dromore Amateurs in the Mid Ulster Cup. On Saturday 18^th Newry travel to Seapatrick for a Premier Cup fixture with a 2:15pm kick off. NCAFC travel club bus will leave the Stonebridge @ 1.30 pm, all welcome.

With an Irish Cup tie scheduled for Saturday Newry manager Darren Mullen was presented with the difficult task of lifting his players spirits with the dark cloud caused by the passing of club stalwart Tommy O’Hanlon hanging over The Showgrounds.  And while Newry did secure their passage into the third round this game was perfectly summed up by Mullen after the match “The best I can say is that it‘s a win. It was a very emotional day for the club and maybe that affected our first half performance. Whilst we were solid at the back we struggled to create much against a decent and physical Donard Hospital side” Mullen’s words encapsulated a first half of stop start football which was punctuated by sloppy passing and poor decision making with neither goal keeper getting seriously involved in the opening 45 minutes.

Indeed it took a full 50 minutes before Newry threatened the Donard goal. Aaron Brilly worked hard to win the ball in the middle of the park and immediately looked for Newry playmaker Jimmy Walker who from just outside the box forced a decent save from the Donard keeper. Alas, that chance did not kick start the Newry offence and it was the away team who almost took the lead, Newry saved by captain Chris McMahon who scrambled back to clear a goal bound effort from the Newry line. This proved to be a turning point in the game as shortly after this scare, in a bid to add some impetus, Newry introduced Mark Lowry and Mark Patton from the bench.

With the Donard side tiring Lowry’s speed was sure to cause trouble, the first example of which came on the hour mark when he was scythed down on the edge of the Donard penalty area. Walker who was becoming more of an attacking influence on the game stepped up to curl his effort inches wide of the top corner of the Donard net. Newry’s task was made a little easier minutes later when the referee finally brandished his red card to a Donard midfielder for what had become repetitive fouling. With the Donard attacking threat now virtually nonexistent Newry pressed forward to secure the win they so dearly wanted on the day.

The elusive goal which eventually came on the 75^th minute was out of keeping with what had gone before. Niall Crilly picked the ball up in his defensive area. After making ground Crilly picked out Patton with a sweet pass midway inside the Donard half.  The big man spun on the spot and ran at the Donard penalty area. With everyone expecting a shot from outside the box Patton, who had spied the overlapping Lowry, played a reverse pass into the winger’s path. Lowry continued his run taking the ball to the by line from where he whipped in a low cross which was met inside the six yard box by Neil Barr who turned the ball into the net to put the home side one goal up.

Newry appeared content to win by the solitary goal passing the ball about as they counted down the minutes.  With Crilly now free to push forward the home side were also able to pick their moment to attack and with minutes remaining Crilly roamed into the opposing half from where he released Lowry.  With his first touch Lowry swung over a high cross which Patton did well to win beyond the back post nodding the ball back across the goal line. With the Donard defence struggling to get any distance on the clearance the ball fell to Walker on the edge of the box, the midfielder unfortunate to see his low shot skim the post.

With this the final scoring opportunity Newry progressed to the third round with the final score 1-0. Content to have progressed Mullen continued ”The introduction of Lowry and Patton gave us the attacking threat which we needed and apart from the chance which Chris McMahon cleared from our goal line we never looked overly troubled.  We now look forward to the next round draw”

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, Edgar, McMahon, Donegan, Brilly, Quinn, Walker, McMullan, Barr, Fay Subs: Patton, Lowry, Moan, Davison.

With a defence superbly marshalled by Man of the Match Paul Donegan Newry City finally got their league campaign up and running with a comprehensive five goal thumping of AFC Craigavon at The Showgrounds on Saturday. With only one point secured from the two league games already played this was just the result that the Newry boys needed to kick start their first season in Mid Ulster Intermediate A.

That said it took an early intervention from keeper Peter Murphy to stop Craigavon taking an early lead when Ryan Haddock wriggled free inside the box, Murphy quickly off his line to block Haddocks shot with his legs.

The Newry response was swift, Keith Johnston bursting down the right wing, his run only halted when he was hauled down wide of the penalty area. Quick of feet and thought Johnston took a short free to Jimmy Walker who forced the Craigavon keeper Geogheghan into a fine save from inside the box. The reprieve to the Craigavon goal did not last long as Newry opened the scoring with their next attack. Neil Barr controlled a long pass from defence, spun his marker and although forced wide of the goal as he skipped past the advancing Geoghegan, Barr composed himself on the end line to pick out his partner Sean McMullan who got free from his marker to side foot Barr’s cross to the empty net to put Newry 1-0 up.

Having now ended his five game goal drought McMullan had enough chances to grab a hat trick within five minutes. On 24 minutes Chris Fay worked hard to retrieve a ball which had gone across the face of the Craigavon goal and was heading for a throw in on the other side. Fay turned back on goal and picked out McMullan with a chipped cross which the big man did well to get power into but was unfortunate to see his header hit the underside of the crossbar. Two minutes later the striker had another chance, Johnston broke from the half way line showing Coleman a clean pair of heals. Level with the penalty area Johnston whipped in a cross which first evaded Barr at the front post but fell to the backing up McMullan who was unfortunate to find Geogheghan with his snap shot.

Newry doubled their advantage on 36 minutes in a sweeping movement which started with Graeme Edgar at left back and ended with Johnston on the right wing swinging in a cross for which Fay rose highest at the back post to bullet his header into the roof of the Craigavon goal.

Two nil up at half time Newry sealed the points 10 minutes into the second half. Taking a short corner from Fay, Jimmy Walker whipped in a low cross which went through a ruck of players and seemed to be heading out of the box only for Donegan to react quickest getting to the ball just before a Craigavon defender who, now committed to the challenge, took the Newry man down. With the referee having little option but to award a penalty up stepped Fay to blast his spot kick high into the top corner to put Newry 3-0 up.

With Newry completely dominant in possession and with Donegan and Chris McMahon urging against any complacency more goals looked sure to come.

Midfielder Ryan Quinn certainly looked to have got the message from his captain when he harassed a mistake from the Craigavon defence as they attempted to hold possession, the breaking ball falling to Newry playmaker Walker 30 yards from goal. As only Walker can he held up the ball before chipping a delightful pass which landed on the chest of centre forward McMullan who controlled the ball and turned away from two markers in one movement before shooting home from the middle of the penalty area to put Newry four goals clear with 25 minutes left.

Newry almost conceded a goal and also almost scored one of the goals of the season, both within 30 seconds on 80 minutes.

First in a rare break away Craigavon threatened to score only to be thwarted by Murphy who again was quickly of his line to spread his frame and smother the shot. Regaining his feet Murphy rolled the ball to Niall Crilly who in turn released the speedster Johnston. In a flash Johnston was down the wing and swinging over a cross which curled back to the edge of the box where David O’Connor met it on the run, his volley thumping of the crossbar with the beaten Geogheghan motionless. The final goal of the game came late on and appropriately it went to Johnston who had enjoyed an excellent performance. Aaron Brilly, keen to impress having been introduced as a substitute, came deep to pick up the ball and made ground into the Craigavon half before neatly finding Walker. Instantly Walker released Barr who’s first time shot could only be palmed up in the air by Geogheghan, Walker the first to react to the rebound controlling the looping ball and slipping a pass to Johnston who blasted his low shot to the net to seal a 5 goal win.

In all a thoroughly deserved victory for Newry in a game in which at last they turned the hard work and incessant passing into goals. Newry manager Darren Mullen had clearly sounded a warning to his players “We are gathering a big squad now and the players know that they have to be playing at the top of their game to be in the team. In recent games with the possession and the chances we have been creating I knew that it was only a matter of time before we had a big win and thankfully that proved to be the case.”

Newry City’s next game is next Saturday, 4^th October at home to Donard Hospital in the 2^nd round of the Irish Cup.

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, Edgar, McMahon, Donegan, Quinn, Walker, Johnston, Barr, McMullan, Fay. Subs: Brilly, Magill, O’Connor, Curran.

Man of the Match: Paul Donegan

Photograph courtesy of Louis McNally.

This was a game that had everything, ten goals, red cards, penalties, the woodwork hit, dubious refereeing decisions and to cap it off a Newry win which puts them into the second round of the Bob Radcliffe Cup and in the process gain some revenge on Hanover for a couple of cup defeats last season. With the sides having met five times last year, Newry shading those games 3 to 2 and with Hanover having made a good start to this season Newry would have been well aware that this had the makings of a tricky cup tie. And while it turned out that way much of Newry’s discomfort was of their own making.

Having got off to the best possible start after only three minutes when Ian Curran got his head to Chrissy Fay’s free kick to help the ball into the far corner of the Hanover goal Newry immediately allowed Hanover back into the game when indecision and slack marking at the back saw Hanover win two headers inside the home penalty area, the second of which belonged to Stephen Douglas who nodded the ball into the Newry net at the back post. The home side were creating chances with Paul Donegan unfortunate to see his half volley from the edge of the area fly the wrong side of the post after Joel Armstrong in the Hanover goal had flapped at a Fay cross. Armstrong was even more fortunate minutes later when David O’Connor played in Fay on the left wing. Fay who was giving his marker the run around with a Man of the Match display took the ball to the by line and whipped in a low cross which was met on the volley by Aaron Brilly who was unlucky to see his effort slam of the inside of the post and back into the arms of the grateful Armstrong.

Despite this pressure, Newry went a goal down on 27 minutes. Awarded a free kick inside their own half Hanover hit a long ball to Justin Bradley and with the home defence waiting for the referee to call play to a halt as Bradley appeared to have started his run from an off side position Bradley lobbed the ball over the advancing Peter Murphy to put Hanover 2-1 in the lead. The home side had a golden chance to equalize just before half time and again Fay was involved. This time he turned his marker inside out on the edge of the box before sliding a pass to Mark Lowry. Lowry took one touch before turning inside too quickly as it transpired for the Hanover centre half who tripped him, the referee pointing immediately to the penalty spot. Having missed a spot kick last week Newry changed the penalty taker trusting Ian Curran with the task. However, the result was similar, the Newry defender pulling his shot wide of the post leaving his team a goal down at half time.

The home side did however equalize straight after the break, Fay swinging in a corner for which Mark Patton rose highest to bullet a header into the top corner of the Hanover net. Although Newry were now on top they did not look like scoring and in an effort to change the game manager Darren Mullen introduced last season’s top scorer Neil Barr, Keith Johnston and Kenny Kearns from the bench. Niall Crilly was having success attacking down Newry’s right flank and on the hour mark he linked up with Chris McMahon and Lowry in a sweeping movement which ended with a Barr shot from inside the box being deflected wide. A Newry goal was coming with Crilly continuing to get forward. Released by Fay Crilly ran directly at the Hanover defence playing a one two with Barr before testing Armstrong with a shot from inside the box which the Hanover keeper did well to save. The goal however did come minutes later and this time it was from a penalty which was converted. With a loose ball waiting to be won in the middle of the park McMahon as usual committed 100% to the tackle, winning the ball which spun wide to Crilly. Crilly found Fay on the edge of the box and when his shot was blocked by the arm of a Hanover defender the referee again pointed to the penalty spot and perhaps harshly sent off the Hanover defender. Once more Newry changed their penalty taker this time Fay making no mistake shooting low into the corner to put Newry 3-2 up.

Yet again Newry contrived to make things difficult for themselves allowing Bradley to score two soft goals within five minutes of each other to turn the game on its head. And to make matters worse for the second of these goals Newry protested too vociferously against what appeared to be another dubious offside decision by the referee leading to a straight red card for Paul Donegan. With both sides now reduced to 10 men Newry pressed for the equalizer and got their reward with time running out when Barr went on a run down the left wing, cut inside the Hanover box and fired in a low and hard shot which Armstrong could not hold, the alert Lowry forcing the loose ball over the line to leave the final score level at 4-4.

The home side’s fitness played a major part in extra time as they looked much the livelier team with Murphy in the Newry goal untroubled in both periods. With the first period remaining scoreless it was only a matter if Newry could score to prevent the lottery of penalty kicks. And score the home team did, twice in fact, to win the tie. First Crilly took the ball out of defence and from the edge of the penalty area slipped a clever ball to the unmarked Kenny Kearns who took one touch and then drilled the ball into the roof of the Hanover net. Newry sealed victory with goal number six, Kearns intercepting the ball in midfield and passing to Barr who calmly took the ball around the advancing keeper and slotted the ball into the empty night to seal victory. While happy with the win Newry manager knows that his team can improve on this display “We couldn’t have wished for a better start with the early goal but defensive mistakes throughout the team made this a more difficult game than it should have been. Games against Hanover are never dull and this one proved no different. We actually played some good football but basic errors made it a hectic game in terms of chances and goals. If we can cut out the errors, which we will work on in training, then hopefully we can continue on this winning run. Having six different goal scorers shows the threat we have throughout the team including those coming off the bench”

Man of the Match, Sponsored by B.Wilson & Sons: Chris Fay

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, O’Connor, Donegan, Curran, McMahon, Brilly, Fay, Patton, McMullan, Lowry, Subs: Kearns, Barr, Johnston, Martin, Campbell, Quinn, Davison.

 Newry City AFC would like to congratulate one of our loyal supporters Johnny Ferns for completing the Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by Newry Manager Darren Mullen. Johnny completed the challenge outside Newry Social Club on Saturday after the match. Well Done Johnny!!

Photographs Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

“I thought it was going to be one of those days” was how Newry manager Darren Mullen summed up his teams Irish Cup 1^st round match in Strabane on Saturday. Having twice hit the woodwork before going a goal down just after the half hour mark and then spurning a series of good chances most present would have agreed with his assessment but that was not allowing for Newry’s battling qualities and Mark Patton’s equalizing goal in the 87^th minute after which there was only going to be one team progressing into the next round from this tie.

For the first half hour the game was fairly even with chances coming and going and both ends. After only five minutes Newry keeper Peter Murphy was forced to dive low to his right to make a fine save from a Jason McGrinder effort from inside the penalty area. Newry’s response was immediate, Chrissy Fay making space wide on the left wing and swinging in a cross which the Strabane keeper flapped at, the loose ball falling to Sean McMullan who with a wall of players in front of him lobbed the ball over the keeper only for a covering defender to head the ball up and off the underside of the crossbar and bounce to safety.  McMullan was soon to have another chance. Fay fed the over lapping Lowry who cut inside the box and pulled his pass back to McMullan on the penalty spot, the big man twisting and turning but unable to get a clear shot on goal.

On 20 minutes Murphy came to Newrys rescue once more when a sloppy pass out of defence was seized upon by Strabane who worked the ball into the Newry box, Murphy diving full length to save a goal bound shot. With play now end to end the next chance was Newry’s. Embarking on a mazy run Lowry was tripped in a central position some 25 yards from goal. Up stepped McMullan to whip the free kick up and over the wall only to see his shot smack off the crossbar.  Newry continued to press with Aaron Brilly breaking down the right wing before playing a cross field pass which found Lowry on the edge of the box, Lowry’s shot well saved by the home keeper.

Newrys hopes of a cup run were dealt a blow on 35 minutes when Strabanes McGrinder made his way inside the box and fired in a low and hard shot which beat Murphy’s dive, smacked the post and rebounded into the prostrate Newry keeper ricocheting into the opposite corner of the net to put the home team into the lead.

A goal down at half time Newry had a great chance to equalize straight after the restart. Niall Crilly aimed a long throw in to McMullan inside the box. Spotting the run of Patton cleverly McMullan stepped over the ball which fell into his partner’s path, Patton unfortunately unable to get enough force into his shot to beat the keeper. Newry kept making chances. Ryan Quinn who was having a major influence on the game having been introduced into the centre of midfield played a through ball to McMullan. Again McMullan twisted one way and then another to find room to shoot before attempting to curl the ball into the far corner, his shot once more finding the home keeper. And when a Fay cross from the left wing found an unmarked Lowry in space on the edge of the six yard box and the man who has been in such good form hit his shot off the top of the crossbar the omens were really bleak for a Newry cup run. However that was all to change with minutes left Patton battling for a long ball in the Strabane box, the big man using his physical presence to turn his marker and then plant the ball into the roof of the Strabane net to bring the tie to extra time.

Full of energy and buoyed by the late equalizer Newry completely dominated the extra period. As early as the 2^nd minute Lowry went on a mazy run and from the corner of the box curled a left foot shot towards the far top corner and with the home keeper stranded the ball hit the Strabane woodwork for the 3^rd time. This was only delaying the inevitable as minutes later Crilly and Lowry wove a pattern of passes down the flank before finding Keith Johnston who sped away from his marker and slipped a clinical finish past the Strabane custodian to put Newry in front. Newry had a chance to give themselves some breathing space soon after with Lowry once more weaving his way around defenders only to be chopped down inside the box, the referee with no option but to award a penalty kick. With the large travelling support holding its breath up stepped McMullan. Unfortunately the Strabane keeper got the better of the battle diving to his left to smother the spot kick. Again the let off was temporary. For this game Newry had an embarrassment of strength on the bench one of whom was captain Chris McMahon who was returning from injury. Normally a midfield dynamo McMahon was introduced in the first half at left back due to an injury to Conor McCaul. Whilst he did not look out of place defending McMahons two most important contributions were to be direct long balls which lead to goals.

With the first period of extra time running out McMahon hit a long pass over the top of the Strabane defence for speed merchant Johnston who had also been introduced from the bench. Although not winning the first ball Johnston battled back to secure possession. With Fay providing a decoy on the overlap Johnston ran direct at the Strabane rearguard taking the ball almost to the end line before firing in a low cross which was met by Lowry darting across the face of the goal to deflect the cross into the net with the deftest of touches. The second period of extra time was a keep ball exercise for Newry illuminated by another spot by McMahon seeing Lowry isolated on the half way line and playing perfect long pass which the Newry speedster ran on to before lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper to add some gloss on the score line.

Newry manager Darren Mullen was obviously delighted with his team’s perseverance “We knew that Strabane were a good side and I would say that they deservedly took the lead as we started slowly. However after they scored we were the better team for the remainder of the game and had many chances to score. I thought it was going to be one of those days but after Mark scored I had no doubt that we were going to win. The pace of Keith Johnston and Mark Lowry caused them problems and it ended up a very good win for us. It has taken us a while to get going and while we are not going to get carried away we are starting to look like a proper team”

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, McCaul, Curran, Donegan, Patton, Fay, Brilly, McMullan, Edgar, Lowry. Subs: McMahon, Quinn, Johnston, Barr, Campbell, Martin, Davison.