Category: News

Newry held to scoreless draw!

Newry City dropped their first league points of the season in a scoreless draw at Crewe on Saturday.  After a game which Newry had chances to win but which they might have lost in the closing minutes Newry manager Darren Mullen was not overly despondent “It was a frustrating game for us especially with the way we played and the possession we had. The players were disappointed after the game and that shows the expectations they have set for themselves this season. However, when the dust settles we will realise we are still unbeaten and have kept another clean sheet. Crewe are a decent side and will take points off other teams this season.

A game which started off with midfield sparring Newry created their first chance on goal after 20 minutes, Thomas McCann chipping a pass into the path of Stephen McCabe as he arrived into the penalty area unfortunately finding the shooting angle too acute as his effort hit the side netting.

Photograph courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.On the half hour mark Chris McMahon burst up field breaking through a brace of Crewe challenges before he arrived at the by line from where he pulled the ball back across goal alas finding a Crewe defender who cleared.

Crewe looked to be in on the Newry goal minutes later when a clearance from the Newry defence was charged down at the halfway line, the ball breaking straight towards the Newry goal where Paddy Mooney appeared to be the third favourite in a race for the ball with two Crewe forwards. Mooney however quickly made up the ground and slid to hook the ball from the Crewe mans foot before completing the clearance.

Newry started the second period on top creating several half chances without getting that extra yard of room to get a clear shot on goal. And on the rare occasion that Crewe showed any ambition to venture into the Newry area they found a defence marshalled by Mooney in top form.

Faced with this blanket defence it was always going to take a moment of magic to create an opening and as so often in these circumstances Newry looked to Jimmy Walker for a piece of brilliance.

On 65 minutes the mercurial midfielder picked the ball up inside his own half and set off pinging one twos until he arrived inside the Crewe penalty where he drew the Crewe keeper Cory Wilson, waited for him to commit to the dive before shooting only to be foiled by an outstretched hand from Wilson.

With time running out Newry were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Crewe box. Once more the responsibility was handed to Walker who all but delivered, his shot curling around the wall hitting the inside of the post and rebounding into the penalty area with a Crewe defender just reaching the loose ball before Timmy Grant could get a final touch.

If this was not cruel enough on Newry they almost suffered a final blow with time almost up when a Crewe free kick from the half way line was met at the back post by substitute Seamus Moore who’s header looped over Newry custodian Peter Murphy but landed on top of the net leaving the game scoreless at the final whistle.

Newry City: Murphy, Crilly, McMahon, Mullen, Mooney, Carville, McCann, Walker, McCabe, McMullen, Grant. Subs: Johnston, Edgar, Curran.

Newry City’s next match is a home fixture next Saturday against Ballymacash Rangers on Saturday 14th November. KO 2.15pm.

Photographs courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

Newry U15 Colm Murphy talks to the players

Newry aiming to make their mark

Newry City AFC is currently participating in the McDonalds/IFA Foundation Club Mark programme. The aim of this programme is to support the development of clubs and to implement good practice policies and procedures within them. The scheme prepares clubs to successfully work towards the Excellence Mark.

seamus heath
Seamus Heath

Former Newry City coach Seamus Heath, who is now the Newry & Mourne District Grassroots Development officer for the IFA, said of the scheme:

“The McDonald’s foundation club-mark programme provides a clear and structured approach to improving and developing local clubs.

“The value based coaching section demonstrates to the clubs partners, parents and young people that your club is child friendly, safe and will develop all players as footballers and citizens.

“Mentoring of the coaches is providing both confidence and positive coaching to them as they progress on their coaching pathway while developing both themselves and the players.”

And speaking of the progress that Newry City AFC are making as a club, Seamus said:

“Newry have been through a difficult period over the last few years, having gone from an Irish premier league side to closure of their ground and collapse of all their teams. But things are really looking up for them now.

“It’s great to see top local coach and Newry City AFC manager Darren Mullen taking a keen interest in all the club’s programmes with his help, advise and words of wisdom to the clubs future players.

“Newry U15 Coach Colm Murphy, who is on the programme, is your typical volunteer who is the lifeblood of our sport and provides so much to his club. Colm is both a parent, coach and manager to one of the teams. Whilst working all day, miles from home, Colm plans his session, rushes home, collects his son and heads straight to training. Real football people!”

Newry first team manager Darren Mullen told newrycityafc.co.uk he is delighted with the work Seamus has been doing with the club:

“Seamus has been doing terrific work with our U15s for the past five weeks and they have certainly benefited from his quality coaching sessions. Not only are the lads improving but they are enjoying working with someone of Seamus’ experience. As a former coach at the club, he appreciates what we are trying to do and his help in this initiative is greatly appreciated,” Darren said.

He added, “The other teams within the club will also be taking part in some of his sessions and that can only improve their chances of progressing at the club. It also gives the existing youth coaches the chance to see different types of drills which can only be good for their development.”

 

Photos of Colm, Darren & Seamus with the Newry City U15 players during the Foundation Club Mark Programme

Meet the Mascot: Jake O’Neill

Name: Jake O’Neill 

Age: 10

Favourite Football Team: Real Madrid.

Favourite player: Ronaldo / Bale, because they score some great goals.

Who would you love to play for: I would say Real Madrid but if not then Newry City would be just as good!!

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Jake even appeared in the Daily Mirror Match on Tuesday!!

 

Who is your favourite Newry player: I would have to say Jimmy Walker.

 

What was your favourite thing about being Mascot: I couldn’t pick just one thing, I loved the whole day. But the feeling  I got when walking out onto the pitch and being in the team photo was special.

 

Meet the players: Paddy Mooney

Name: Paddy Mooney

Age: 24

Occupation: Disability Worker

Position: Whatever position Darren tells me to play. I know I’m versatile but that man brings it to a whole new level! My preferred position is centre-half.

Previous Clubs: Warrenpoint Town

Honours: Milk cup, Umbro International cup, Championship play-off/Promotion to Premiership winner, Championship 2 & Mid Ulster Intermediate B

Footballing Hero: From a defensive point of view I would have to say John Terry. I picked up a pointer or two watching his game but as an all rounder it would have to be Frank Lampard.

What is the best ground you have played in? I’ve played on basically every pitch in the country but Windsor park under the lights is hard to beat.

Who is the joker of the team? Ian Curran without a doubt. I try to use a few of his one liners but I just can’t pull them out of the bag.

Apart from yourself who is the best player on the team? Uncle Mull (Mully), one of the best players I have ever played with. He always took me under his big wing and only for him I wouldn’t be playing football this season. Plus the fact he is in unstoppable form at present.

Who is the laziest player in the team? Decky Carville is in a world of his own most the time, he only runs when he feels like it. No offence Declan.

Who has the worst dress sense? Some of the slick shirts Tucker tries to pull off after games are horrendous. Sorry to bust your bubble kid.

Your toughest opponent? Hated playing against Crusaders at all ages especially away days.

Who is the best player you have ever played with? I couldn’t pick one so I have narrowed it down to two. The strike force of Keith Johnston and Mully back in the Warrenpoint days was the best combination I have seen. I know there isn’t much left in the two of them but to play alongside them week in week out is a great personal achievement.

What are your interests outside of football? My life in a nutshell at the minute is football, work/helping people with disabilities and fundraising in memory of my best friend Eamonn Morgan who tragically passed away. In case the missus reads this I enjoy spending time with her too!

What is your goal at Newry? I have been back and forward from Newry in the past but this time around I’m staying put. I want to put my stamp in this team and be one of the first names on the team sheet every week. My first objective is to win this league and be promoted to Championship 2. I believe there is the makings of a great team here and it can go places. But my main goal at Newry is to receive a nice cold pint of Guinness from my biggest fan Kevin Ruddy.

High flying Newry ground Shorts

Newry City cruised into the 2nd round of the Intermediate Cup with a comprehensive victory over Amateur League side Shorts at the Showgrounds on Friday night.  As usual in cup competitions Newry manager Darren Mullen shuffled his pack for this game playing with three speedsters in attack which proved too much for the Shorts rear guard to contain, the home side pulling away in the second half to win by seven goals to nil.

A sign of things to come Newry almost took the lead inside the first minute when Keith Johnston swung a dangerous ball across the goal which the Short’s defence had to deal with but could only deflect towards their own net forcing Causby to scoop the ball around his post for a Newry corner.

The home support didn’t have long to wait however as with only ten minutes gone Newry took the lead, Thomas McCann losing his marker to receive a throw in and from outside the box hit a first time shot from a bouncing ball which Causby could not hold, Stephen McCabe the first to react from the opposite side of the box to drill a low shot into the corner of the net to put Newry a goal up.

Shorts had a chance of their own after 18 minutes when Barr and Allen combined on the left wing culminating in a shot from Ennis from the edge of the Newry penalty box which brought a smart save from Murphy low at his near post.

Newry almost doubled their advantage after 25 minutes, Graeme Edgar switching the play from left to right with a lobbed diagonal pass which Timmy Grant crossed to the back post, Decky Carville rising highest to slam his header off the Shorts cross bar.

NCAFC Team with Mascot Pierce Fitzpatrick. Photo: Brendan Monaghan.
NCAFC Team with Mascot Pierce Fitzpatrick. Photo: Brendan Monaghan.

Newry have a number of players adept at hitting free kicks from outside the box and with McMullan and Walker rested for this game McCabe showed his prowess from a dead ball when he stepped up to a free kick with five minutes of the first half remaining. Just outside the box and a little to the right gave McCabe the perfect angle for a one step run up and a delightful left foot shot which curled into the top corner of the Shorts net despite the despairing dive of Causby to put Newry 2-0 up.

On the stroke of half time the tie was virtually over as a contest when McCabe’s corner was not dealt with by Shorts, Carville reacting the quickest to stab the loose into the net to leave Newry three goals up at the interval.

The second half was as about as one sided as a game can be with Newry creating chances at will. That said it was not until the hour mark that they converted one of these. A play which started with Johnston on the Newry left, another diagonal ball finding the advanced Crilly on the right. Crilly kept the ball moving with a short pass to Chris McMahon who took a few more steps in field before curling a dipping shot from 35 yards which hit the underside of the cross bar bouncing out to the penalty spot where Timmy Grant managed to get enough power to his header to guide it out of Causby’s reach and into the corner of the Shorts goal.

The home side had lost centre half Conor McCaul early in the first half through injury which led to the introduction Andy Martin, a young defender in whom the Newry management have high hopes. With 75 minutes on the clock Martin grabbed his first senior goal for Newry when he slid in at the back post to meet an in swinging McCabe cross from the corner of the penalty box, Martin’s finish from close range giving Causby little chance.

There was nothing the visiting keeper could do about goal number six either.  Picking the ball up in central midfield Thomas McCann stepped inside consecutive tackles before drilling a perfect shot from some 25 yards which never deviated from its flight path into the back of the Shorts net for a picture goal.

The final goal of the game owed everything to the fleet of foot of Man of the Match Stephen McCabe who had given his multiple markers the run around every time he touched the ball. With time almost up and his side winning comfortably McCabe was still full of running and when the Shorts defence attempted to shepherd the ball over the end line McCabe was thinking otherwise nipping in between defenders to collect the ball before drilling a low ball across the face of the goal which took a deflection from a Shorts player and into the net to end the scoring with Newry leading 7-0.

Mascot Pierce Fitzpatrick with MOTM Stephen McCabe. Photo: Brendan Monaghan
Mascot Pierce Fitzpatrick with MOTM Stephen McCabe. Photo: Brendan Monaghan

Although content with his team’s performance Newry manager Darren Mullen was as ever only looking as far as the next few matches “The cup competitions give me an opportunity to change things around and give other players some game time. We rested Jimmy and Mully who have scored 20 goals between them so far, so to score seven goals shows the strength of the squad this season. Another pleasing aspect was the performance of young Andy Martin who capped a fine display with his first senior goal. It took us a while to build on our early goal and gave away too much possession for a lot of the first half. We played a lot better in the second half and moved the ball really well. Our fitness levels are telling in games and it was good to keep another clean sheet. We have three tough away games in a row but we are playing well at the minute and look forward to the tests ahead.”

Newry City’s next game is away to Hanover in the Mid Ulster Premier Cup next Saturday 31st October, NC travel club bus will leave the Stonebridge at 1:15pm.

Newry City: Murphy, Crilly, Edgar, McCaul, Mullen, McMahon, McCann, Carville, Johnston, Grant, McCabe, Subs: Martin, Walker, Durnin, McMullan, Cargin, Lowry.