Tomorrow night, at the Showgrounds (Front pitch) Newry City Ladies will play their last game of the season home to Larne Ladies KO 7-30. After the game the Division 1 Championship Trophy will be presented to the girls. So please come along and show the girls your support!! #ItsYourCityYourClub
Newry U17’s kicked off the new season with an excellent win against a strong and aggressive Belfast team, Solway Stars. But it was Solway who got off to the best start as they ran at the Newry lads and sent probing balls into the spaces behind the Newry defence. It nearly paid off for them when the Solway centre forward blocked down a defensive clearance, and Newry goalkeeper Heaney had to be at his sharpest to smother the ball and thwart any danger. Solway found the Newry lads in stubborn mood as every time they went forward they were outnumbered in tackles and City slowly started taking control of the game. A midfield line of McGrath, Murphy and McEvoy, were backed up by the impressive back four of Boyle, Courtney, Rooney and Barfield. Solway forced a couple of corners but barely threatened Jack Heaney in the Newry goals.
Newry’s first goal of the season came from a corner delivered by Murphy, to Lee Courtney who headed the ball across goal, Castelli laid the ball off, and Pinnington lashed the ball into the back of the Solway net giving the goalkeeper no chance.
As half time approached Solway pushed forward at every opportunity, but with Newry defending so well they were unable to register a meaningful effort on goal.
In the second half Newry really got the bit between their teeth and got at the Solway defence. Durnin and Pinnington switched wings and Castelli held strong up front, laying off some fine balls for the wide players.
By now, the Solway players were showing their frustration and putting in some rash tackles, resulting in several yellow cards being handed out. Newry were awarded a penalty on the 45 minute mark when substitute Jack Grant, was impeded as he jostled for position waiting on a corner being delivered.
Josh Durnin stepped up and scored, sending the Solway keeper the wrong way. At 2 nil up Newry were looking comfortable, but a bit of a slip up at the back almost let Solway in on goal. Lee Courtney recovered well and expertly slid in to put the ball out for a corner.
Durnin came close to scoring his second goal of the season when he latched on to an excellent through-ball from midfield. Unfortunately his chipped shot went agonisingly over the bar.
With five minutes remaining on the clock, Devlin, who had earlier replaced Castelli at centre forward, closed down a Solway defender, won the ball and slipped it through to Pinnington who confirmed a great win for Newry as he walked the ball into the net.
Newry’s next match is against Hillsborough on Tuesday night at the Rec, Lisburn. Kick-off is scheduled for 6.30.
Newry’s team: Jack Heaney, Kevin Boyle, Daire Rooney, Ciaran Murphy, E Barfield, Lee Courtney, Ronan McGrath, Chris McEvoy, Josh Durnin, David Castelli, Jordan Pinnington. Subs: Jack Grant, Dylan Devlin, Conor McGivern, Colm McEvoy.
Dunmurry Rec from the Premier Division of the NI Amateur League were knocked out at the first round stage of the Irish Cup for the first time in twenty years on Saturday when they were beaten one nil by Newry City AFC.
This was the reformed Newry side’s first venture in the premier cup completion in N Ireland and this victory against one of the top junior teams speaks volumes for the progress the club has made this season.
Having done their homework on the Dunmurry side the Newry management started with a defensively minded formation with five men in midfield and Chris Smyth, on paper, playing a lone role up front. However, the Newry lads were on the front foot from the kick off and it would soon have been evident to the home team that they were in an even match.
In a game played at a ferocious pace which was matched by many of the tackles, the few clear goal chances that developed all came in the first fifteen minutes. The first of these came five minutes in when Lonnie Larkin came out best in a midfield challenge and fed Gareth Hughes who’s slide rule pass gave Smyth a clear sight of goal only for his effort to skid low on the wrong side of the keepers far post.
On the 10th minute Dunmurry had their best chance of the game when a mix up in the Newry defence resulted in a clearance cannoning into a fellow defender and looping high into the box. The bouncing ball was latched onto by Dunmurry centre forward Ricky Rutherford who with the open net in sight was forced to blaze the ball high over the bar by Joel Annett’s last ditch challenge.
Dunmurry paid the ultimate price for this miss minutes later when Conor McCaul controlled a long throw in inside the box and in the act of turning was taken down by a defender for a clear penalty which Larkin smashed high into the net.
The second quarter of the game was an epic midfield battle between two sets of players where no quarter was asked nor given and where the referee, who got all the major decisions correct, may have rightly felt overworked.
The second half was played on much the same theme. Although, obviously content with a one goal lead, Newry pressed forward at every opportunity. Shortly after the restart McCaul picked up a Dunmurry clearance just inside the Newry half and strode forward before firing narrowly wide from thirty yards. Gareth Hughes was the fulcrum for many of Newrys attacks as he made himself available for the ball to be played into his feet inside the Dunmurry box from where he set up shots from the edge of the area, twice for Graeme Edgar and then for David Anderson. Unfortunately neither player’s effort troubled the Dunmurry keeper. At the other end the Newry rear guard of Niall Crilly, Annett, McElroy and Anderson were superbly marshalled by Peter Murphy in goal allowing Dunmurry only long range speculative crosses which were mopped up with aplomb by Murphy. As the final whistle beckoned both sides became more frantic, Dunmurry keen to preserve their cup status and Newry hoping to beat a team who had held Linfield to a draw only two seasons ago. With no further chances created injury time came and went and the final whistle sounded with Newry winning by that solitary Larkin goal.
In a game where all fourteen players used played a full part it would be harsh to single out anybody in what was complete team performance. However, Joel Annett and Paul McElroy were both outstanding as they held the Dunmurry talisman Rutherford scoreless and the Newry team spirit was epitomised by captain Chris McMahon and his vice-captain Niall Crilly, both of whom shone brightest in a game of crunching full blooded tackles with McMahon perhaps shading the Man of the Match award for one classy back heel pass which bamboozled the entire home midfield.
Newry City now look forward to taking on Hanover at the Showgrounds on Friday night, in the second round of the Bob Radcliffe cup, 7.30pm KO.
Newry City AFC Team: Peter Murphy, Niall Crilly, Joel Annett, Paul McElroy, David Anderson, Conor McCaul, Graeme Edgar, Chris Smyth, Lonnie Larkin (1), Gareth Hughes, Chris McMahon ©. Subs used: Peter Thompson, Ian Curran, Neil Barr. Sub not used: Paul Daly.
The autumn has arrived and so has the start of the U13 Carnbane League.
City got off to a great start with a convincing win over Midway, with Jennings Park in great condition and both sets of players enjoying free flowing football ahead of their years.
The Newry boys opened the scoring through Tiarnan Murphy who notched three goals, before Conor Matthews added another from right midfield. Midway fought back a came close on a few occasions.
The second half started with a bang from Joseph Connolly who netted from the edge of the penalty area. The game looked to be over though Midway had other ideas and scored two great goals within five minutes. Newry settled themselves again and on came Nathan Crudden. What an impact he had. Two crosses and Nathan anticipated brilliantly and netted both within three minutes.
Though it wasn’t long before James Poucher came along and chipped the keeper a few minutes later with the goal of the match. At this stage the game was settled. Shea Morgan added another just before the end with a tasty right footed strike. Sean McConville played a cracking match and assisted three goals but was not content as the number 9 not to get on the scoreboard. All credit to the manager and technical coach Lee Kirrane who kept the team together through thick and thin and now the team is reaping the rewards. Here’s looking forward to a great youth development season.
