Manager’s corner (1.10.2013)

September has been a mixed month for us in terms of results but there have been definite signs of progression. We had a terrific result away to Dunmurry Rec in the Irish Cup in what was a battling performance by the whole team. The players were told that discipline would be vital if we were to be successful this season and it was tested to the full in this game. To their credit they held their control in a very physical game. Unfortunately we were unable to build on this result and put in a poor performance against Hanover at home in the Bob Radcliffe Cup. We gifted them a goal early in the game which gave them something to hold onto and we never really tested their keeper for the remainder of the game. It was a disappointing night in front of another large home crowd but we have to learn from any defeat and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes. Our next game was another defeat against Rathfriland in the Mid-Ulster Cup. We had several good chances in the first half to take the lead but paid the price for these missed chances and conceded from a great strike after a lack of concentration. Another defensive mistake made it 2-0 and we were always chasing the game after that. Although we pulled one back it wasn’t enough, although the return of Mark Patton from injury was a big bonus. We are never happy after any defeat but we always said we would use some of the cups to try different formations and players. The league will always be the priority and any cup run will be an added bonus.

Thankfully our next game was in the league and gave us a chance to get back to winning ways. Away to league leaders Dungannon Tigers was never going to be easy but from the first minute the team showed their intent and we could have been 3 up in the first 10 minutes. We played some terrific football with the return of captain Chris McMahon from suspension having a big impact. A goal just before half-time gave us the lead our play deserved and although we conceded early in the second half the lads didn’t panic. Dungannon put us under a bit of pressure at the start of the second half and Peter Murphy pulled off a terrific penalty save when we were leading 2-1. This save seemed to lift the lads and we ran out deserved winners 5-2 which included terrific strikes from John Smyth and Mark Lowry. There is a great team spirit amongst the squad and this was shown in the celebrations for the 5th goal which included subs and all. Whilst it was an important win we won’t get carried away and know there is a long way to go in this league.

The reserves have also started their campaign and although it has been a mixed start great credit must go to Gary Redpath, Kevin Darcy, Marty McParland and Stephen McArdle. Managing any reserve team is never easy but the coaching staff have worked very well together and are aware that reserve football is about preparing lads for the first team. We have one senior squad at the club and everyone gets a chance to impress either in training or in reserve matches. Hopefully we will see a natural progression from the u17s, through to the reserve team and into the first team squad.

I would also like to remind everybody that we are doing ‘Octobeard’ for the month of October. This will involve players and coaching staff going unshaven for the month in aid of Barry Trainor’s Friends Of Africa fund. Barry is a former youth coach at the club and deserves all the help we can give him. So can you please give generously to any of our scruffy club members that you see throughout the month. Hopefully you will continue to support us this season and we hope to see you at the top of the table clash this Friday night at home to Valley Rangers ko 7.45pm.

Finally, on behalf of all the management and players I would like to wish Christopher Hughes a speedy recovery from a broken leg sustained while playing for the reserves.

Yours in Sport,

Darren.

NCAFC fundraising night a big success

Newry City AFC held a very successful fundraising event in the Mardyke Suite in the Canal Court Hotel on Saturday last.

Many of the first team squad were present along with team management and management committee members. Highlights of the evening included a raffle and the auction of autographed soccer, rugby and GAA jerseys along with a pair of Tyson Fury’s boxing gloves. The raffle prize, an overnight stay in the Carrickdale Hotel, was won by Mary McNally.

The club’s new playing kits were given their first airing and these were well received by the large audience. To mark the launch, one of the club’s most loyal fans, Daniel Murphy,was presented with one of the new jerseys.

Further fundraising events are planned to help raise the club profile in Newry and it is hoped that these will be supported as enthusiastically as Saturday’s event. The success of Saturday’s event was largely down to the hard work of Declan McParland who was assisted by the club’s Commercial Manager Gary Wilson. Newry City AFC take this opportunity to thank Declan and Gary as well as all those who turned up for what was a great night. A special word of thanks to the fantastic Showtime who provided the music, to the Canal Court for providing their facilities and to those who provided the auction items.

Photos from the event courtesy of Brendan Monaghan:

Newry City AFC U13 4-3 Valley Rangers U13

Newry City AFC U13 4-3 Valley Rangers U13

Nathan Crudden 10, 21, 26

 Ethan Patterson 31    

If Under 13 matches lasted 40 minutes then Newry would have cruised to a comprehensive victory over Valley Rangers in The Showgrounds today. Instead Newry took their foot off the pedal and were nearly made to pay against a Valley team that never gave up.

Newry started extremely well playing the ball around under control and they were rewarded for their good style on 10 minutes when a shot from the Newry midfield was fumbled by the Valley keeper and Nathan Crudden was first to react to put the ball in the net.

The goal of the game came in the 21st minute when Newry doubled their lead with a great team goal. Sean McConville picked the ball up in the midfield and ran at the Valley defence. He played a pass into Tiarnan Murphy who expertly back heeled the ball into the path of the oncoming Matthew Treanor. “Mattie” let fly with a shot that was deflected into the path of the oncoming Nathan Crudden who bagged his brace with a nice finish.

The third goal, and Nathan’s hat-trick came on the 26th minute when a Tairnan Murphy free kick was too hot to handle for the Valley keeper and Nathan Crudden was there AGAIN to slot home. A lesson for anyone reading this report, follow up on every shot!

Half time came with Newry leading 3 – 0 and looking like cruising to victory. The game restarted and Newry immediately went on the attack. Miceal Murray played an intricate ball through to the newly introduced Ethan Patterson who one minute into his appearance expertly finished when facing a one-on-one against the Valley keeper.

Despite the fact that there was still nearly all the second half remaining the Newry players must have thought the game was over because their game deserted them. Valley started to play neat through balls to their centre forward that Newry couldn’t work out how to defend. These through balls resulted in goals for Valley’s number 5 on the 38th, 40th and 50th minutes.

With Newry now clinging to a one-goal advantage Tiarnan Murphy was moved into a holding midfield role and Newry managed to hold off Valley for the remaining 10 minutes.

Newry will be glad to come away with another three points, which leaves them still unbeaten and top of the table.

Man of the Match has to go to Nathan Crudden for his hat-trick but also a special mention for Miceal Murray who impressed in midfield on his debut.

Newry smash five past league leaders!

Newry joined their opponents of next Friday night, Valley Rangers, at the top of the league with this 5-2 defeat of Dungannon Tigers on Saturday. Away from home against the previously unbeaten table toppers the Newry players were in determined mood from the kick off and had their first good chance to score in only the second minute after Niall Crilly and Mark Patton combined to free Jimmy Walker who fired his shot just wide from the edge of the Tigers box. Walker had a similar chance minutes later when Graeme Edgar found Chris McMahon in space in midfield. McMahon immediately shifted the ball wide to the overlapping Crilly and when his low cross found Walker in his favourite attacking position on the edge of the box his goal bound shot had to be deflected over the bar by a Dungannon defender.

Newry’s next two chances fell the way of their captain Chris McMahon.  First he took a short pass from full back David Anderson inside his own half before making ground into Dungannon territory and drilling a low shot just wide. This was followed on the half hour mark with another good chance fashioned from a clever free kick. With the free kick spot half way inside the Dungannon half and wide on the right the home defenders were expecting a left footed cross. John Smyth however played the ball back to Edgar in a more central position and his straight ball into the box was perfectly flighted for McMahon as he arrived unchallenged into the box, alas unable to keep his headed attempt under the bar. Newry took the lead just on half time when Neil Barr controlled a long delivery from Peter Murphy before passing to McMahon wide on the Newry right wing. McMahon beat his defender and crossed low to Walker this time on the edge of the six yard box from where he made no mistake to make the half time score 1-0 to Newry.

Newry were caught cold immediately after the restart when a long innocuous ball into the box took a nasty bounce which deceived the Newry defence leaving goal keeper Murphy with no chance to prevent the equalizer.

However the Newry boys regrouped and showed tremendous spirit to regain the lead almost immediately and again the captain was involved.  From a recycled corner Crilly whipped in another cross which McMahon met with a bullet header which the Tigers keeper did well to stop only for his palmed deflection to land at the feet of goal predator Barr who drilled home from ten yards to put Newry 2-1 up. Although the final result was by a convincing three goal margin the defining moment of the game was a brilliant penalty save by Murphy on the hour mark. This was a save which was greeted with similar jubilation to a goal by both the Newry players and supporters who felt much aggrieved at the referee’s decision to award a spot kick for an innocuous tussle in the box. Referees however do not often change their mind and it was left to Murphy to dive full length to save and keep his side in the lead. Much buoyed by these events Newry went 3-1 up on the hour mark when a free kick from the left wing was met by a bullet header from Conor McCaul which hit the back of the net before the home keeper could move. Dungannon battled back and reduced their arrears on seventy five minutes when a long throw in was not dealt with by the Newry defence and again Murphy was given little chance when the loose ball fell into the path of a Tigers player who made the score line 3-2 with fifteen minutes left.

 Fortunately Newry manager Darren Mullen has instilled a great team spirit and belief in his young side and they finished the match with two golden goals. With five minutes remaining a Newry free kick from the half way line was played high into the Dungannon box and when the clearing header fell invitingly to Smyth twenty yards from goal he needed no second invitation to smash a righted footed volley over the home keepers head and into the far top corner of the net. The joyous celebration for this goal which involved the complete Newry squad was re-enacted five minutes later for Newry’s fifth and perhaps best goal of the day.

With time virtually up a Dungannon corner was cleared to the half way line leaving Newry’s fast forward Mark Lowry in a one on one contest with the Dungannon centre half. With his back to goal Lowry won the ball on the half way line, spun round the defender and sped past him with a clear run on the keeper beckoning. However the impetuosity of youth took over and Lowry unleashed a terrific drive from around forty yards out which flew over the home keeper and into the opposite top corner of the net which Smyth had recently hit.

This was a complete team performance from Newry in which every player gave everything that the management team had asked from them.  Adapting quickly to the 3G surface Newry were always in control of the game. Although Peter Murphy must be worthy of a special mention for his all round display plus that penalty save the Newry spirit was again personified in the Man of the Match display of team captain Chris McMahon.

Newry City AFC: 1. Peter Murphy 2. Niall Crilly 3. David Anderson 4. Joel Annett 5. Conor McCaul  6. Jimmy Walker 7. Graeme Edgar 8. Chris McMahon 9. Neil Barr  (Thompson) 10. Mark Patton (Lowry) 11. John Smyth (Larkin)  Subs: 12. Lonnie Larkin  13. Sean Hand 14. Mark Lowry 15. Peter Thompson

Youth Development Officer offically announced

Newry City AFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Conlon Morrison as its new Youth Development Officer.

Conlon Morrison
Conlon Morrison

Conlon is a former youth international and played for Bessbrook, Dungannon Swifts and Windmill Stars during his career. He was part of the Windmill Stars panel that won the Junior Cup along with Senior Team manager Darren Mullen.

Conlon is currently involved with the U13 team and has recently set up the new skills school which runs on Friday night. As part of his role he will be responsible for the formation of new teams at each age group ensuring the proper coaching staff are in place.

“I am delighted to have someone of Conlons knowledge and capabilities on board at the club”, said Senior Team manager Darren Mullen.

“I’ve known Conlon for the past 25 years and was lucky enough to play in the same team as him. His enthusiasm and passion for the role have already shone through and he has made some very good progress in the short time he has been in the role.

“As with the Senior team things will be done in the right manner with the correct people on board and hopefully with Conlons assistance we will have a regular feed from youth level right through to the senior squad.”