Newry City cruised into Round three of the Intermediate Cup with a comprehensive victory over Larne Tech Old Boys at a sodden Newry Showgrounds on Saturday. Another hat trick from top goal scorer Sean McMullan, which brings his tally this season to 22 along with a single strike from his partner Keith Johnston completed a four goal winning margin for the Newry boys who could and probably should have at least doubled the margin of victory had they been less wasteful in front of goal.

That however was not worrying Newry manager Darren Mullen after the game ‘The most pleasing thing about this game was that we made five changes to the line up from last week and still won comfortably. That shows the strength of our squad and gives me a good headache before the Premier Cup Final after Christmas. From start to finish we were rarely troubled and played some very good football in poor conditions. Sean McMullan will grab the headlines and is in great form but will be the first to acknowledge the hard work that goes from defence through to the supply he gets. Jimmy Walker and Decky Carville are two very gifted players but both put in a serious amount of work off the ball and that epitomises what we are about this year. It was also good to see Mark Patton and Ben Wilson back on form after their knee operations. Unfortunately we haven’t got a game until the final but we will be working hard in training to prepare as best we can.’

The home side were on the front foot from the off threatening the Larne goal after only a few minutes, Keith Johnston judging the flight of Peter Murphy’s kick out better than the Larne defender Gary Workman which gave him the space to race to the by line and pull a cross back into the six yard box where a Larne boot cleared as McMullan was about to pounce. A sign of things to come as there was to be little respite for the Larne defence. On 20 minutes Ben Wilson pitched a perfect ball into the Larne box, Decky Carville chested it down to McMullan who swivelled to shot low to the far post brining a fine reaction save from the Larne keeper Steven Adair. Five minutes later Adair was once more called upon, Jimmy Walker picking the ball up in the middle of the park and surging forward playing one twos, first off Timmy Grant and then McMullan which took him inside the Larne box from where he once more tested Adair who saved low to his left. With the Newry full backs free to roam forward it was Paddy Mooney’s chance to next  get involved in an attack, taking the ball well into the Larne half before releasing Johnston on the wing. Johnston whipped in a cross which was always just ahead of the in rushing McMullan but that didn’t stop the big man fling himself forward to get the slightest of touches but not enough to guide the ball on target.

The goal was coming and McMullan got the reward for his endeavour on the half hour mark. Again Wilson provided the ammunition picking the centre forward out with a long pass which McMullan in the same movement controlled and turned into space which left him with only Adair to beat which he did with ease curling a low left foot shot round the keeper to put Newry a goal up. Newry had the chances to wrap the game up before half time. On 35 minutes Conor McCaul played a slide rule pass through the Larne defence which Carville ran onto before whipping in a cross which Johnston got a glancing head to, the ball going wide of the far post. On 40 minutes McMullan won a tussle for the ball mid way inside the Larne half and picked the run of Walker who blasted a shot from the edge of the penalty area straight at Adair but with such force that the ball spun up and fortunately for the keeper over his crossbar for a corner. And right on half time Adair worked wonders again. From midfield Walker picked out Timmy Grant inside the box and perhaps in a position to shoot Grant spotted Carville alone on the penalty spot. Now with only Adair to beat Carville kept his shot low but too close to Adair who saved well with his feet.

A goal to the good at half time Newry doubled the advantage soon after the break, Carville this time the instigator picking the ball up on Newrys left wing and changing the point of attack with a sweeping ball to Grant on the right wing. Grant skipped past his marker before picking out McMullan inside the box. Tightly marked McMullan still had work to do to get his shot away but made light work of it chesting the ball into space before firing his shot into the opposite corner for his and Newrys second goal.

Even on this sticky pitch Newry were determined to keep to their own brand of pass and move football which has served them so well this season. And on 55 minutes one such passing phase really should have been rewarded with a goal. Starting at the back with Ian Curran, a patient passing movement back and forward between Chris McMahon, Walker, Wilson and Johnston burst into life when Carville again swept the ball wide to Grant, his low cross stepped over by McMullan and into the path of Johnston arriving at the back post who was most unfortunate to see his reaction shot from close range slam off the base of the post with Adair nowhere to be seen.

McMullan grabbed his hat trick in bizarre fashion on the hour mark. Good inter play between Walker and McMahon created the space for Carville to be able to pick out the centre forward with his back to goal on the edge of the box. McMullan’s first touch got the ball out from his feet and his second was a low shot which somehow beat a suitably embarrassed Adair to put Newry 3 goals clear. Chances kept coming Newrys way, Johnston, McMullan, McCaul and Walker all having goal bound efforts cleared. But goal number four had to come and again it was patient football which created it, Newry playing the ball along the midfield to make space before once more spreading the ball wide to Grant his low cross met first time by Johnston who steered a low first time shot across Adair and into the far corner of the Larne net for a goal which was a just reward for his afternoons effort and which completed the days scoring.

Newrys next match will be the Premier Cup final on Monday 28^th December at Crystal Park, Banbridge, kick off 11:30. Newry City supporter’s bus will leave The Stonebridge at 10:30.

Newry City: Murphy, Wilson, McCaul, Curran, Mooney, McMahon, Carville, Walker, Grant, McMullan, Johnston. Subs: Edgar, Crilly, McCann, Mullan, Patton.

Photographs Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

City will compete in their first cup final since their reformation two and a half seasons ago after they saw off the challenge of local rivals Camlough Rovers on Friday night. Despite the high winds and persistent rain, over 700 hardy souls packed into The Showgrounds to see City progress to the December 28 Premier Cup Final, courtesy of goals late in each half from Sean McMullan and Timmy Grant. With the weather conditions not exactly lending themselves to the free-flowing fast football the home side in particular are used to playing, it was something of a flat encounter for the vast majority of the 90 minutes, despite no shortage of effort from both teams. Despite having his entire squad at his disposal for the first time this season, City manager Darren Mullen opted to stick with the same starting line-up that produced a stunning comeback to win 5-3 at Banbridge Rangers the previous week, with the returning Paddy Mooney, Ian Curran and Keith Johnston having to be content with a place on the bench.

It was Seamus Kane’s visitors who had the first chance of the match with just two minutes on the clock when ace marksman Declan Monaghan found space on the right but he flashed his shot narrowly wide with the City defence all at sea. The hosts got their opening shot in on goal in the sixth minute when McMullan turned in the box and cracked in a left footed drive that was straight at Camlough keeper Joe Goodwill. They spurned a glorious opportunity to go in front just shy of the quarter hour mark when a slick passing move down the right saw McMullan’s backheel run perfectly for Declan Carville. However, instead of shooting early, the striker delayed his shot and that allowed the Camlough defenders time to get back and clear the danger. After Monaghan had headed straight at Peter Murphy from Gavin Moan’s free-kick on 16 minutes, chance, unlike the weather, began to dry up somewhat and it took until minute 26 for the next effort on goal to materialise. This time it was for Newry with Stephen McCabe making space down the left hand side and whipping in a cross that was met by the head of Carville only to glance it wide of the post.

The deadlock was finally broken four minutes before the interval with a scrappy goal that owed as much to McMullan’s strength and persistence than anything else. Carville’s clever effort with the outside of his right boot beat Goodwill but not the base of the left hand post before being partially cleared. However, when the ball came back into the box, McMullan was able to get turned and force it into the roof of the net from close range to send the majority of the crowd in attendance into delight. Newry could and probably should have doubled their lead two minutes into stoppage time, Firstly, McCabe’s shot cleared off the line by Moan, Conor McCaul’s rebound was saved by Goodwill before McCabe’s second effort was blocked.

The second half was much more a case of one-way traffic than the first with City dominating possession and chances on goal. However, they didn’t get the security of a second goal until nine minutes from time, despite having a number of opportunities to increase the leads before that. Jimmy Walker shot over the bar from 16 yards six minutes into the half before McCaul poked over from closer range just before the hour mark. Camlough had their best chance of the second period on 64 minutes when John Grant header just wide of Murphy’s goal as Rovers attempted to apply some pressure. However, City always had the upper hand and McMullan shot wide from 18 yards after being put through by Walker on 66 minutes with McCaul seeing his header deflected over by Greg McCabe with 19 minutes remaining, Eight minutes later, Stephen McCabe saw his effort blocked with Goodwill saving McMullan’s rebound before that all-important second goal form a Newry point of view, arrived two minutes later. Walker found himself bearing down on Goodwill’s goal but the keeper made an excellent save to deny the midfielder. However, as the ball popped up into the air, Goodwill opted to punch clear rather than catching the ball. His punch only went as far as Timmy Grant who took one touch to set himself before rifling the ball home from 15 yards to make it 2-0 and secure his side’s passage to the final, where Newry will meet the winners of Fivemiletown United and Tandragee Rovers.

Newry manager Darren Mullen was pleased with a workmanlike performance from his side as they booked their place in the maiden final for the first team in their third season. “Even though it was difficult to play in the conditions, I thought we did try to play our normal style of football. Obviously, you’re going to have to work hard in those conditions, which we did. Once we matched Camlough for effort, I thought there was only going to be one winner. We weren’t overly troubled. I thought the second half would have been tougher but it wasn’t because we worked hard and didn’t let them play. We were well worth the victory,” said Mullen. “That’s the first time this year we’ve had the full squad to pick from and it keeps that winning run going. The good news for the boys now is that they will be in Boxing Day training. That will be something for them to look forward to over Christmas. It’s good for Newry to be in a final and it’s good for the fans. The fans were brilliant tonight and there was a good crowd down so it’s something for everyone to look forward to. “It’s proud for me, being a Newry lad, to take the team to a cup final. We’ll enjoy winning this match because it’s going to be a tough final whoever comes out of the other match. “I remember getting interviewed outside the Camlough changing rooms after we were beaten and that was probably the lowest moment in my three years here. We didn’t put up a fight. Now we have players who are not only good enough but are wiling to fight for it and that’s what they did in the second half. If you can match the effort with the talent we have, we’ll come close. It will take a good team to beat us.”

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, McMahon, McCaul, Mullen, McCann, Walker, Carville (P Mooney 88), McMullan, Grant (Lowry 82), S McCabe Subs not used: Wilson, Johnston, Curran.

Camlough Rovers: Goodwill, G McCabe, Magill, Moan, G Mooney (Magee 72), S King, McDonald (Massey 61), D McCabe, Monaghan, Grant, J King Subs not used: Mackey, Loughran, Kane.

Referee: Gerry Murray

Newry City produced one of the come backs of the season on Saturday at Banbridge Rangers, recovering from a two goal deficit with just over 20 minutes remaining, to win by two goals securing another valuable three league points which maintains their advantage at the top of the table. Having started lethargically Newry conceded with only four minutes on the clock, were 3-1 down at half time and whilst the travelling support would have known that their side were more than capable of a comeback it did look as if time was running out during the 2^nd half. The catalyst came on the 68^th minute when Newry’s top scorer Sean McMullan won an aerial battle at the back post to power a header past Rangers keeper Matthew Freeman to give Newry the impetus they needed to secure the victory.

On a blustery rain swept pitch Newry got an early warning when after only two minutes Stephen Taggart’s lobbed shot forced Peter Murphy to back paddle to tip the ball over the bar with his finger tips. Minutes later there was little Murphy could do about the opening goal, Colin Cunningham stealing in at the back post to meet Andy Mallens curling free kick with a precise volley which went in off the underside of Murphy’s crossbar.

Newrys reply was swift. Neil Mullen picked out Stephen McCabe on the left wing with a cross field ball. McCabe tricked his way to the end line making space for a low cross which Decky Carville met with a perfectly timed run turning the ball into the Banbridge net from close range.

Having responded so well many would have expected the league leaders to build on this goal. That however did not happen as Banbridge took control for the rest of the half racing into a 3-1 lead by half time. 

Goal number two for Rangers came after 21 minutes when a long high ball into the Newry box was partially cleared to the edge of the penalty area where Matthew McKnight  was the first to the loose ball, guiding his low shot inside the post despite the despairing dive from Murphy.

Three minutes later Newry pressed the self destruct button when they attempted to pass their way out of defence, a lateral ball across the pitch seized upon by William Frazer who played a one two with Mallen before calmly slotting his shot from the corner of the penalty area under the advancing Murphy to put Banbridge into a comfortable two goal lead which they held to the interval.

Newry were much better in the second half but could not find a way past a stubborn Rangers defensive wall which appeared content to soak up whatever Newry could throw at them. The Banbridge cause was not helped by two moments of stupidity from midfielder Scott Ward who was booked for a trip on 61 minutes and received a second yellow on 65 for a pull on the shirt of McCann, the Rangers man not waiting to be shown a red card by referee Conor Smith who had an excellent afternoons officiating despite the difficult weather conditions.

The dismissal did not give Newry any more possession as they were completely dominant at this stage but it did allow them to get extra bodies into attacking positions which bore almost immediate dividend after 68 minutes when McCabe and Grant combined for a short corner to swing a cross to the back post towards McMullan. The big man still had much to do as he out muscled Rangers captain Colin Cousins to head into the top corner from close range to give Newry that much needed lifeline.

This time they did not waste it. On 75 minutes Grant played a one two with McMullan which would have given him a free run on goal had he not been pulled back by Jonny Porter for another yellow card which were piling up for the home team. Newry kept the pressure on and drew level on 77 minutes when Thomas McCann delivered the ball into the feet of McMullan, the big man displaying fleet of foot to spin off his marker and from an acute angle fire in a low cross which Freeburn could not hold, the ball spilled to the feet of the grateful Carville who finished with his first touch.

Newrys tail was now very much up, their persistence with the pass and move brand of football causing no end of trouble for a depleted home side. And it was from yet another transgression from the Banbridge that Newry took the lead. Awarded a free kick some 35 yards from goal the mercurial Jimmy Walker stepped up to the ball blasting his shot over the wall and into the roof of the Banbridge net for a picture goal to put Newry ahead.

If that goal could be bettered then the man to do it was McMullan. Having picked the ball up in a central position some 40 yards from goal McMullan found himself with his back to goal surrounded by Banbridge players. With a number of Newry players free McMullan had the option to play a simple pass. He had however other ideas and having spotted that Freeburn had strayed from his goal line, McMullan spun round and hit a perfect dipping shot over the keeper and into the back of the Banbridge net to give Newry a two goal cushion.

With referee Smith playing an additional nine minutes to make up for play being suspended during an exceptionally heavy hail shower Newry could and probably should have added to their advantage particularly after one passing movement with added time virtually up when Walker picked the ball up in the middle of the park and ran through the home defence courtesy of neat passes  between himself, McCann, Carville and finally McMullan which ended with Walker having only Freeburn in goals to beat, alas pulling his shot the wrong side of the near post.

That however did not detract any from a splendid second half display from Newry which most likely owed a lot to whatever was said in the Newry dressing room at half time. Speaking after the game Newry manager Darren Mullen while not pleased with his team’s first half performance was heartened by their second half response “I knew this was going to be a tough game and the players were well warned before going out. The most disappointing thing is that they didn’t have to work for their goals. We were missing three players from last weeks starting eleven which disrupted us a bit but that’s not an excuse as I would expect other players to be able to step up. At half time we told them the next goal was vital and that’s all we wanted them to concentrate on. Our second goal was the lift that we needed and I felt there was going to be only one winner after that. It was a big win for us psychologically but we must know that we cannot afford to give teams easy goals like we did and that’s something we must learn from. That said it shows the character in the squad and we now have a bunch of lads who will fight to the final whistle. There is a lot we can take from this game, both good and bad as we prepare for next week’s semi final”

Newry City’s next game is a Premier Cup Semi Final on Friday 4^th December against Camlough Rovers at The Showground’s kick off 7.45pm.

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, Mullen, McCaul, Walker, McCann, McCabe, Grant, McMullan, Carville. Subs: Lowry, Wilson, Sloan, Martin, Patton.

Photographs courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

Newry City maintained their rich vein of form at The Showgrounds on Saturday with a comprehensive win over high flying Cliftonville Olympic in the first round of the Intermediate Cup. On a pitch which was in remarkably good condition given the recent weather the home side played some excellent football and scored three spectacular goals which sent the Newry crowd home happy and certainly pleased Newry manager Darren Mullen “This was a complete team performance from start to finish. We knew Cliftonville would be a fit and talented bunch of young players so we needed to be organised. Not only was our shape good but our fitness levels allow us to match teams when they have the ball. Once we win the ball back the pace and movement within the team allows us to create a lot of chances. The 3-0 score line certainly doesn’t flatter us and we should have scored a few more. What we have this season is a group of players who are willing to work for 90 minutes and if we can keep that effort going we won’t be far away.”

Newry started the brighter of the two teams, their first chance coming only minutes in when Stephen McCabe curled a tantalising cross behind the defence, the ball skimming off the wet turf alas just out the reach of the sliding Keith Johnston into the grateful clutches of Cliftonville keeper Gerard Walker. McCabe went for goal himself minutes later, latching onto a Thomas McCann pass and from the corner of the box attempting to steer his shot into the far top corner the ball refusing to curl enough to tuck inside the post. With Newry pressing high up the pitch Cliftonville were struggling to get out of their own half. This hard work by Newry created the next chance, McCann straight into the tackle as Cliftonville tried to pass the ball out of defence, the breaking ball falling to Timmy Grant who quickly fed Keith Johnston wide on the right, his low cross smothered by Walker on the edge of the six yard box.

When Clintonville’s first sight of the Newry goal arrived after 20 minutes it was a real goal scoring opportunity. Attacking down the left wing the visitors fed the ball along the edge of the Newry penalty area to Matthew Henry who was initially in space but quickly found himself closed down by Newry defenders forcing him to shoot early, Peter Murphy coming to Newrys rescue with a smart save at his near post. The visitors soon had another chance Ross Lavery rising highest to meet Tiarnan McNicholl’s corner, his header back across goal missing the far post.

All half chances at this stage it was Newrys turn next. Neil Mullen played a long high pass out of defence which Johnston controlled instantly with his first touch before rolling the ball into the path of Timmy Grant who whipped the ball across the box alas straight out the other side for a Cliftonville throw.

Newry almost threw all their good work away on the half hour mark, switching off when in safe possession of the ball inside their own half, Cliftonvilles McNicholl quickly picking up the loose ball before crossing to Mark Hillen at the back post, his header back across goal missing the far post by inches.

The home side bounced back quickly. Having won a throw in deep in the Cliftonville half Graeme Edgar’s long throw found Grant with his back to goal inside the box, his touch back giving a shooting opportunity to McCabe on the edge of the box. The opening was however short lived as McCabe’s blasted effort was instantly charged down by the Cliftonville defence.

The opening goal when it came was worth waiting on. The move started on Newrys left wing McCabe skipping past his marker and swinging in a low cross which McCann met on the penalty spot just before a Cliftonville defender who charged down the shot with a challenge which saw both players floored. Johnston was first to react to the loose ball and as is so often the case he looked for his partner Sean McMullan. With a goal scorers instinct McMullan made his run from behind the centre half, twisted in mid air and using all the pace on Johnston’s cross guided his header from the penalty spot into the top corner of the Cliftonville net to put Newry a goal up at the break.

Ten minutes after the break Newry and McMullan’s second goal was just as good. With Newry piling on the pressure Cliftonville simply couldn’t get the ball clear of their goal mouth. That said the home side couldn’t get a clear strike on goal, that was until the ball fell to McMullan just inside the penalty box. Still with loads to do the big man twice feigned to shoot as he edged his way across the box before unleashing a fierce left foot drive straight into the top corner of the Cliftonville net to double the Newry advantage.

At this stage McMullan was on fire, turning provider as he raced from the half way line to collect a Niall Crilly pass before crossing for Johnston who was most unfortunate to see his first time shot blocked by the feet of the keeper when a third goal looked odds on.

There was little respite for the visiting defence. On 65 minutes McMahon picked out Johnston’s clever run behind the Cliftonville defence with a perfect pass allowing Johnson to collect the ball in his stride, check back inside the defender and thump his low shot off the base of the Cliftonville post with Walker beaten. It continued to be attack after attack for Newry but the third goal to seal the game wouldn’t come. The pace of the Newry attackers was giving Cliftonville all sorts of trouble and on 70 minutes Johnston raced clear of his marker to collect an Edgar long pass. Faced with only Walker to beat and the keeper stranded off his line Johnson chose to shoot early rather than go around the keeper which turned out to be the wrong option, his shot from distance wide off the empty goal. Johnston was doing everything but grabbing that goal. On 75 minutes McMullan won another long pass in the air nodding the pall down to his partner on the edge of the small box. Peeling off the shoulder of his marker Johnson swivelled to shoot once more unfortunate as his effort went the wrong side of the post.

While that third goal wouldn’t come there was always the chance of Cliftonville getting back into the game and with ten minutes remaining they had successive chances to do just that. First McNicholl took the ball inside the Newry box attempting to trick his path to a shooting chance. Neill Mullen who had been rock solid in defence throughout was having none of that timing his challenge to perfection to nick the ball away. Cliftonville continued to press and Murphy was called into action to preserve the two goal advantage, Ross Lavery’s shot from outside the Newry box requiring a full length dive from the Newry keeper to push the ball around the post for a corner.

As substitutions go the introduction of Declan Carville for Newry was a good as it gets. With a throw in deep in the Cliftonville half Newry made a double substitution introducing Carville and Ian Curran and it was Carville who had an immediate impact turning his marker with his first touch and with his second curling a left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the far post for an exquisite goal to round off a great victory for Newry.

 

Next up for Newry is an Intermediate A League match next Saturday away to Banbridge Rangers, kick off 2pm. Newry City Travel Club bus will leave the Stonebridge at 1:15pm.

Newry City AFC Team: Murphy, Crilly, Edgar, Mooney, Mullen, McMahon, McCann, Grant, McMullan, Johnston, McCabe. Subs: Curran, McCaul, Walker, Carville, Lowry, Wilson.

Cliftonville Olympic Team: Walker, Lawlon, Begley, McAllister, Doran, Donnelly, Henry, Tolan, Hillen, McNicoll, Lavery. Subs: McClory, Thompson, Gowdy.