Newry City AFC Reserves brought the first trophy back to The Showgrounds since the club was reformed with a hard earned victory over Banbridge Rangers Reserves in the Wilmor Johnston Cup Final on Friday night. Played in front of a big crowd of supporters at Holm Park, Armagh, this was truly a night to remember for manager Gary Redpath and his young Newry team who went a goal down with less than two minutes gone but fought valiantly for the next 110 minutes with their superior fitness a major contributor at the final whistle.

With a large travelling support cheering them on Banbridge Rangers got the best possible start with barely two minutes gone when Ryan Weir was fouled yards outside the box and Andy Mallen took advantage of some sloppy wall building by Newry as he smashed his free kick straight at the Newry goal, the ball swerving in the air as it sailed past the defenceless Gary Murphy in the Newry nets to put Rangers 1~0 up. Both teams forced a series of corners none of which threatened goals until the 20^th minute when Joe Campbell broke down the Banbridge right wing, his cross blocked into the side netting by Rangers defender Kyle Sergeant. When Banbridge could only clear Shane Lundy’s corner to the penalty spot Newry captain Stephan Martin was the first to react but was unable to get his shot on target. Newrys centre forward Andrew McLarty was a constant thorn in the Rangers side. On 30 minutes he effortlessly trapped a high kick out from Murphy before spinning and running at the Rangers defence forcing a foul wide on the right. Lundy lined up the free kick as if to cross but spotted defender Sean Mooney racing upfield unmarked. Quick thinking Lundy slid the ball to the Newry defender who connected well but pulled his shot wide of the far post. Both teams had another chance each to score before half time. First Mallen who was seeing lots of the ball for Rangers drove a fierce free kick across the Newry goal, the ball just beating the Newry cross bar to safety and then McLarty had a chance for Newry picking the ball up some forty yards from goal and shooting from distance, the ball bouncing off the chest of Johnathon Parkes in the Banbridge net but not rebounding out far enough for the following in Campbell to collect and so the half ended with that solitary goal the difference between the teams. 

Newry introduced Mark Lowry at the start of the second half and the live wire striker made an immediate impact winning the ball in the middle of the park before finding Campbell wide on the right. Campbell cut in from the wing level with the penalty area and lobbed a delightful chipped pass into the path of Graeme Edgar arriving into the box, the ball bouncing just out of Edgars reach and into the grateful hands of Parkes. Lowry soon had a chance himself. Mooney took the ball out of the Newry half and a slipped a straight ball through a gap in the Rangers defence giving Lowry a race for the ball with the advancing keeper which Parkes won blasting his clearance out of the pitch. Play was now end to end with both sides threatening. Matty McKnight had a great chance to double the Rangers lead when he skipped round the last Newry defender only to be denied by a brave save from Murphy with Newry then going close with their next possession, Cian Feehan skinning his defender but unable to pull his cross back far enough for his team mates to latch onto.

Newrys experienced duo of Joel Annett and Man of the Match, Graeme Edgar were now the major influence in the game, Edgars constant running and tackling a source of inspiration to his team mates, whilst Annett’s reading of the game and solid tackling limiting the Banbridge threat mostly to long range efforts. And where Mallen had been given too much room in the first half the Rangers playmaker was not afforded the same liberty in the second period further limiting the Banbridge threat. On 67 minutes Newry came close to levelling when Mooney fed Lowry wide on the right, Lowry outpacing the Rangers full back taking the ball to the by line before pulling his cross back to the six yard box from where McLarty was unfortunate to see his first time shot crash off the base of the post. Banbridge also had a chance to score on 80 minutes, Newry rescued by a sliding block from Micheál Hastewell when it looked as if the Rangers attacker was about to poke the ball home from close range. At this stage Newry youngster Josh Durnin began to exert an influence on the game, finding space inside the Rangers half and threatening with every possession. Banbridge, however, had a great chance to wrap the game up with a minute left when Jordan McCracken broke free from the half way line and with most of the Newry defence in attacking positions he was left with only Murphy to beat, the Newry keeper displaying heroic bravery spreading himself to block McCrackens effort with his legs. Murphys bravery was rewarded moments later at the other end of the field. With all hands in attack Joel Annett took himself forward and won a free kick on the corner of the Rangers box. Lundy swung the free kick in and watched as Parkes diverted the ball for a corner. With time almost up the corner bounced around the Banbridge box before falling to the feet of Lundy who lashed it to the net to level the scores on ninety minutes. 

With superior fitness now showing Newry held the upper hand in extra time. On five minutes Chris Hughes and Lundy combined well down the Newry left before Lundy squared the ball to McLarty who’s side foot shot on the run flashed wide. Rangers also threatened with Matthew McCrum unlucky to see his headed effort cleared of the line by Annett. Durnin was seeing lots of the ball and given possession from a long ball he did well to hold off several Rangers defenders and bide time to allow Lowry to catch up with play before playing him in with a diagonal ball which Parkes just got to first to deny Lowry a goal scoring chance. Newry went close to scoring with what looked likely to be the last chance of extra time when, from a near post corner McLarty hooked a shot over his head from the narrowest of angles, the ball missing the back post by inches. However that was not allowing for an amazing last minute when Joe Campbell lobbed a long ball into the centre of the Banbridge defence who showed some hesitancy clearing allowing the ever alert Lowry to nip in between the centre half and keeper to prod the bouncing ball into the Rangers net with virtually the last kick of the ball, the referees final whistle greeted with tumultuous joy in the Newry camp.

Man of the Match: Graeme Edgar

Newry City Reserves : Murphy, Hastewell, Mooney, Annett, Martin(C), Hodgett, Feehan, Edgar, J Campbell, McLarty, Lundy. Subs: Lowry, Courtney, F Campbell, Durnin, Hughes, King, Mullholland.

Newry City AFC Reserves put league positions to one side when they entertained Armagh City Reserves in Wednesday night’s Wilmor Johnston Cup semi- final game at the Showgrounds. Against a side sitting fourth in the table and who had recently beaten them 3-0 but now only 90 minutes away from a cup final the Newry lads produced a sterling performance to win 3-1 and book their final spot against Banbridge Rangers Reserves

Speaking after the game Newry manager Gary Redpath was obviously delighted with the win naming Sean Hand as his Man of the Match whom he described as “outstanding from start to finish.” Manager Redpath however was also keen to heap praise on all his players who gave a full 90 minute performance and who he felt were full value for their win.

This was far from a one sided match as Newry went a goal down on the half hour mark when Armagh’s James Nesbitt broke down the right wing and when most expected a crossed ball Nesbitt shot low and hard to Gary Murphy’s near post, the ball clipping of the inside of the post on its way into the net giving Murphy no chance to save.

Newry replied quickly however Joe Campbell turning his man just outside the box forcing his marker to stop his run on goal by fouling. Retribution was taken by Sean Hand who curled the resulting free kick into the top corner of the Armagh net for the equalizing goal.

Playing with a back three of Ian Curran, Micky Hastewell and the imperious Joel Annett Newry continued to play all the football and had a great chance to take the lead on 40 minutes when once again Campbell, who gave the Armagh defence a torrid time throughout, was upended on the edge of the box. This time Andy McLarty stepped up with a fierce drive which John Daly in the Armagh goal performed heroics to save.

Perceived wisdom is that a good time to score is just before half time and that’s just what Newry did with Campbell again involved taking a quick short corner to Sean Hand. Hand in turn fizzed a cross along the ground to the edge of the box where it was met by McLarty who curled a perfect shot to the top corner of the Armagh net to put Newry 2-1 up at half time.

Newry took up where they left off from the restart with their five man midfield of  Hand, Stefan Martin, Graeme Edgar, Cian Feehan and Sean Mooney all working hard, hunting in packs and breaking forward at every opportunity.

The situation went from bad to worse for the visitors when Cathal Judge was shown a red card for an off the ball incident with Joe Campbell, an incident which forced Campbell’s subsequent substitution with a gashed leg.

With Armagh reduced to ten men a third goal was always going to seal victory for Newry and it duly came when Stefan Martin won the ball on the half way line and found Shane Lundy wide on the left. Lundy picked out Mark Lowry with a pin point cross, Lowry displaying his class to effortlessly slide the ball past Daly to put Newry 3-1 up, a lead which they never relinquished.

Delighted both with his Man of the Match and helping his team reach their first final Hand stated after the game “We were confident that we would win and in the end we were disappointed we didn’t score more. But the lads put in a great shift on the night. I am delighted I got the goal but more so with the win and the performance from the lads. Now for the final we just have to keep doing what we’re doing, let our football do the talking and hopefully come away with the trophy

Gary Redpath was also keen to praise all of his players, “The boys and especially Graeme Edgar worked hard and deserved their result, in fact we had a lot more chances that we should have capitalised on and could have got a few more goals but we are happy to be in the final. Tonight we had a very youthful squad with  four under 17 players on the bench, Finn Campbell, Ronan McGrath, Stephen King and Lee Courtney. Micheál Hastewell, Cian Feehan and Sean Mooney are all 18 years old and Joel Annett, Stefan Martin and Andy McLarty all 19. So I am very pleased with how the team have improved  throughout the year, especially with how the younger players have progressed which is what it is all about and the final is just a bonus”.

The final will be played at Holm Park, Armagh on Friday 28^th March @ 19:30hrs.

Newry City AFC Team: Gary Murphy, Joel Annett, Micheál Hastewell, Ian Curran, Sean Hand, Stefan Martin, Graeme Edgar, Cian Feehan, Sean Mooney, Joe Campbell and Andy McLarty. Subs: Mark Lowry, Shane Lundy, Lee Courtney, Christopher Hughes, Stephen King, Finn Campbell, Ronan McGrath.

Name: Cian Feehan.

Age: 17.

Occupation: Still at School.

Previous Clubs: Lisburn Distillery, Cliftonville and Bessbrook.

Honours: Carnbane League and Mid Ulster League at various age groups. Player of the year with Bessbrook and Player of the Year & top goalscorer with Newry at underage level.  Competed in Dutch tournament with Bessbrook (Player of the tournament) and I also won it with Newry. Participated in Belfast invitational tournament with Newry.

Position: Anywhere in midfield.

Footballing Hero: Messi.

What are your interests outside of football? Gaelic football, snap-chatting and going out.

If you could take 3 celebrities to dinner who would they be and why? Messi because he is the greatest ever, Posh Spice because she could do with a good feed and finally Peter Griffin from Family Guy, he’s my hero.

What is the best ground you have played in? It would have to be Solitude or Norwich City’s youth academy pitch.

What would you like to achieve by the time you hang up your boots? To get Newry back into the top tier, where they belong.

Who is the joker of the team? Ian Curran.

Who is the best at training? David Anderson.

Who is the worst at training? Well there’s some people I never see at training like Mackle (Paul McElroy).

Who has the worst dress sense? Dash (The Reserve Team Manager Kevin Darcy).

One song that gets you pumped up for a match? 1000 miles – Vanessa Charlton.

Who is the best player you have ever played with? Ryan Quinn. (Currently with Portadown Reserves)

What one word would best describes you as a footballer? Many words cross my mind, such as “genius” or “wizard” but I’m going to go for LOYAL.

And finally…a word for the fans? Real.