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.

Meet the players: Timmy Grant

Name: Timmy Grant

Age: 32

Occupation: N.I Area Manager for Post Office Ltd

Previous Clubs: Windmill Stars, Banbridge Town & Warrenpoint Town

Honours: Bob Radcliffe cup 2010, Mid Ulster cup 2012, Intermediate cup 2012, Championship 2 2005, Junior international caps between 2005 – 2013.

Footballing Hero: Robbie Fowler

What is the best ground you have played in? MSV Arena (MSV Duisburg FC, Germany)

Who is the joker of the team? Mully aka Thomas

Apart from yourself who is the best player on the team? We have a few. Jimmy, Decky & Tucker but I’d have to go for Giggsy (Stephen McCabe).

Who is the laziest player in the team? Conor McCaul (trains when he wants)

Who has the worst dress sense? Niall Crilly

Your toughest opponent? Paul Leeman

Who is the best player you have ever played with? Stuart Dallas

If you had a super power what would it be? The ability to start my football career and do it all over again.

What are your interests outside of football? My family.

What is your goal at Newry? Promotion back to the Irish league and a few cups along the way.

Manager’s corner (19.10.15)

Its always nice to write a manager’s report whilst top of the league but May is a long way off and there’s an awful lot of football yet to be played. In comparison to our start last season we have made a lot of progress with the new signings settling in well. Not only have they bought into what we are trying to achieve at the club but they have also settled into what was already a good team spirit. There’s far too much experience within the coaching staff to allow the players to get ahead of themselves but they are also experienced enough to know nothing good comes easy. Our training has and will continue to be very intense but there’s no point in having a style of play if the players aren’t fit to implement it. They have, in fairness, embraced the training and coaching sessions so hopefully we will get better as the season progresses.

After speaking to other managers within our league this seems to be the toughest Intermediate A league for a long time and results have shown that to be the case. It’s a league that can throw up some unexpected results but we will treat every single opponent with the same amount of respect. We can’t allow ourselves to become complacent and the players are aware that there are capable replacements within our squad ready to step in if their attitude isn’t right. I’ve had discussions with each of the players and they know we will need the whole squad pulling together to have a chance of success. It could be a case of not getting any minutes one week and then starting the next game so they need to be ready both mentally and physically.

Our defeat in the Irish Cup was a difficult one to take but a harsh lesson for us in how to see a game out. Like this one there are games where we may not play well but still need to keep our work rate up. We have some tough cup games coming and whilst the league will always be our priority it would be great for the club and our fans to get to a cup final. The fans as always have been terrific and their unwavering support has not gone unnoticed. Hopefully we can continue to put a smile on their face.

Work within the Academy continues and great credit must go to the youth coaches who are working hard to provide local lads with a chance to play for our senior team. We have brought some of those young lads into the senior training sessions and hopefully they will benefit from this experience. For the club to be sustainable we need a supply of good local players and they will certainly have every chance of success if they are willing to put the effort in. Andy Martin and Josh Cargin have both made the step up from the reserves this season after playing for the U18s last season and the potential is there for more to follow their example. Conlon Morrison has had to step down in his role of Academy Manager due to work commitments and hopefully we can replace him with someone who is able to continue his fine work. Thankfully Conlon has agreed to remain at the club in a coaching capacity.

A final word goes to our ladies team who have excelled this season in winning the premier league title. Many of these girls have come through the ranks at the club and are now preparing to play Champions League football. Great credit must go to Jason McConville and all involved in this superb achievement. With Aoife Lennon winning the NIWFA Premier League Player of the Year award it caps off a wonderful season for them. Hopefully we can follow suit in bringing silverware to the club.

Yours in Sport,

Darren