Tuesday night turned out to be “one of those nights” for Newry City AFC when nothing went right. Fresh from 3 victories the Newry lads should have started this home league match against St Mary’s full of confidence. However from the first whistle the game was played at a hectic pace with the Portadown side clearly intent on disrupting the Newry passing game. Littered with petulant fouls the tone for the match was set as early as the 5^th minute when Newrys Mark Lowry who was prostrate on the ground had his hand trod on by the St Mary’s centre half as he ran past, the large home support aghast when the referee interpreted what appeared to be a deliberate action as worthy of only a yellow card.

In a first half void of any clear cut goal chances the home crowd were further disappointed on 30 minutes when a long high ball into the Newry area was met by the head of home defender Paul McElroy who in an attempt to head wide planted the ball past the helpless Peter Murphy in the Newry goal to put St Mary’s 1-0 ahead. Newry immediately responded with the best passage of football of the game with most of the defence and entire midfield involved in a one touch passing movement which culminated with a strike on goal from defender Gary McVicker which flew narrowly wide. Unfortunately, this was as near as the Newry got to scoring in the first half.

Invigorated no doubt by the half time team talk Newry were much more lively in the second period and immediately took the game to St Mary’s who seemed intent on holding on to their one goal advantage. Newrys new found attitude clearly rattled the Portadown side who continued to be guilty of persistent fouling in their effort to slow the pace of the game. Ironically, it was from one of these frees that Newry had their best chance of the evening. Awarded a free just inside the St Mary’s half McVicker floated in a high ball which was flapped at by Johnny McKeever in the Portadown side’s goal. Home expectation arose when the ball bounced towards the seasoned Sean Hand who had just come on to the field as a substitute having recovered from an early season injury.  Unfortunately, this chance was Hand’s first involvement in the game and he chose to shoot first time when perhaps a controlling touch was the better option and his shot flew over the gaping goal.

Tempers were heightened moments later when Niall Crilly crunched the St Mary’s winger Chris Fay with a tackle from behind. When both players ended on the ground the referee apparently failed to spot Fay lashing out with his feet at Crilly who was the only one booked in the melee which followed. And a bad night in football terms for Newry got even worse when the referee adjudged that a shoulder charge from Newry’s Chris McMahon on a Fay, which saw the away player bundled onto the gravel ground surrounding the pitch, was worthy of a straight red card.

While the large home support could have been forgiven for thinking with 30 minutes left and a man and a goal down that the points were gone this was not the attitude adopted by the ten men on the pitch who for the rest of the game bombarded the away goal.

Newrys best chances were the result of free kicks as the St Marys team continued to commit niggling fouls in the middle section of the field. Despite valiant efforts from Gareth Hughes, Joel Annett and McElroy to convert the resultant crossed balls into an equalizer, their headed attempts just refused to go into the net. And when the referee adjudged that Neill Barr had fouled the defender in a tussle for the ball inside the St Mary’s box when most of those present were sure the defender had handled, then indeed, it was to be “just one of those nights” for Newry as the game ended 1-0 in favour of St Mary’s.

 

Best for Newry was teenager Joel Annett who was awarded the home Man of the Match award after the game by Chairman Martin McLoughlin.

Newry now look forward to taking on Castlecaulfield in the Marshall Cup, at 2.15pm at the Showgrounds on Saturday!! Fundraising Quiz in the Social Club after the match.

Newry City AFC Team: Peter Murphy, Niall Crilly, Gary McVicker, Joel Annett, Paul McElroy, Jimmy Walker, Paul Daly, Chris McMahon, Neil Barr, Mark Lowry, Shane Lundy. Subs: Sean Hand, John Smyth, Chris Smyth, Lonnie Larkin, Gareth Hughes.

St.Mary’s Team: Johnny McKeever, Gerard Bailey, Neill McKee, Aidan McGrath, Gary Lawless, James Slater, Ryan McKee, Ciaran McCann, James Curran, Luke Carvill, Chris Fay. Subs: Patrick Lamph, Conor Jackson, Canice McCavanagh, Sean Mallon.

Every fortnight throughout the season, first team manager Darren Mullen will express his views on the club website about how the Newry City AFC first team are progressing. We are delighted to introduce the first edition.
 
Let me start by saying how much of an honour it is for me to manage Newry City AFC. It has been a long 11 months but it’s a credit to the committee and my fellow coaching staff that we are back playing football at The Showgrounds. It’s been a good start – I can’t ask for much more than three wins out of three. In each game it has taken us a while to gel and we’ve missed a few chances because of that but I told the lads not to get frustrated & we’ve done well in the second half. Its a completely new squad so that is to be expected. We have had three good wins and three clean sheets, So there’s a lot to be happy about. At the same time it’s early days and we won’t be getting carried away as there will be tougher tests ahead.
 
People were questioning why we were playing such tough opposition in our pre-season, but they can see the reason now as the lads are playing with a good tempo and their fitness levels are great – which has benefited them against their opposition so far in the league. After one more league match against St.Marys we have four cup games in a row, but we will be going with the same approach as in the league, we want to try our best and win every game.
 
We have been missing lads through injuries and holidays, so we have had to make a few changes, but that’s the point of having a big squad. Everyone is pushing and working very hard to get on that first eleven – making team selection a lot harder for me.
 
Jimmy Walker has been the man of the match for the first few games which is well deserved, but the whole team including the subs used have all played their part and we will need them to continue their hard work. Neil Barr has got seven goals so far but he knows I won’t let him get complacent. They are a good bunch of lads and know that they will all need to work hard for any success to happen.
 
I am also delighted with the support we’ve been getting so far – the supporters have really got behind the boys and encouraged them to play well with their terrific vocal support. The staff and players really appreciate the effort they have made and hopefully will continue to do so. We will try our best to give them something to sing about. It’s great to have a good buzz around the Showgrounds again, which is something that has been missing for a while.
 
Darren Mullen

 

Cover photo courtesy of Brendan Monaghan

 (Darren Mullen is pictured here with newly appointed First Team Captain Chris McMahon and Vice-Captain Niall Crilly. Photo: Brendan Monaghan)

Newry City AFC are pleased to confirm that Chris McMahon has been named as the First Team Captain for the 2013/2014 season. Assisting him with leadership duties and selected as Vice-Captain is Niall Crilly.

City boss Darren Mullen said: “I am delighted to announce Chris McMahon as Captain with Niall Crilly as Vice-Captain for the forthcoming season.

“Chris has been at the club for the past four years and stood out at an early age as a leader within the team. His determination and commitment will help the team to push on this season.

“Chris will be ably assisted by Niall Crilly who has played Premiership football for Newry and brings vital experience to the role. Both players have set a great example so far and will hopefully inspire the rest of the squad in the season ahead.”

Newly appointed skipper Chris McMahon said he is honoured to be given the role and is looking forward to leading the club in its new era.

“I am really honoured to have been given the captaincy of Newry City AFC and will do everything I can to repay the trust the manger has placed in me.

“Having been at the club for a number of years, I am delighted that I now have the opportunity to lead the club back to where it belongs, as I am aware of how important it is to all of the players, management and supporters.

“It is clear to me that everyone is working together to give the club the best chance of success.”

Niall Crilly told us he is proud to accept the Vice-Captaincy and hopes to draw on all of his experience in his new role.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank Darren and everyone at the club for asking me to be a part of what is an exciting time for Newry City AFC.

“From the first meeting in pre-season it was made very clear to all involved, that although the club are happy to be back playing again, we will not be satisfied until we are back playing at the highest level.

He added, “On a personal point of view, I am extremely proud to have been asked to be the new Vice-Captain. I hope that my previous experience at the club, backed up by my commitment levels, can help motivate some of the new younger players involved. I look forward to the season ahead and we will do our best to give the supporters everything they deserve.”

Neil Barr bagged another hat trick as Newry City maintained their strong start to the season with a 4-0 defeat of the previously unbeaten Oxford Sunnyside in their third Intermediate B league match in Lurgan on Saturday (17th August).

Newrys first chance to turn early pressure into goals came after only five minutes when Paul Daly and Chris McMahon combined to put the ball into the Oxford box.  From the resultant scramble the ball was cleared back to Daly who’s first time cross was met by the head of Shane Lundy only for his effort to be deflected over the bar.

The 12^th minute saw the only real threat of the match on the Newry goal when Oxford were awarded a free kick just outside the box. However, Louth keeper Shane McCoy was equal to the challenge as he flung himself high to his right to deflect the ball to the covering Gary McVicker who completed the clearance. Defensivley for the remainder of the game the Newry central defence of McCaul, McElroy and later Annett dealt with any aerial threat whilst Crilly and McVicker controlled the flanks with McCoy ever assured in goal.

The rest of the half belonged to the Newry boys who created many goal chances. On the 20^th minute Jimmy Walker controlled a long ball and fed it wide to Mark Lowry. Lowry went on a mazy run evading a couple of challenges but was unable to get the necessary power into his shot to beat Jordan Steen in the home goal. Now dominating the middle of the park with Lundy, Daly, McMahon and Walker all combining Newry got the break through on the 30th minute which their play deserved. McMahon slid a pass to the over lapping Daly who’s goal bound effort was blocked for a Newry corner. Walker got a second chance to deliver when his corner was headed back to him by a defender, this time he found Neil Barr at the back post and when his headed effort hit the underside of the crossbar Barr himself was first to react to side foot the ball to the net for the opening goal.

Newry continued to make chances. With five minutes of the half remaining Niall Crilly strode forward and found the again over lapping Daly who at full pace beat the defender and fired in a cross which alas evaded the lunging Barr and Lowry. And Lowry was unfortunate again a moment later when he was on the end of a delightful Walker chip over the home defence but could only watch as his lobbed shot over the advancing keeper bounced wide of the gaping net. Persistence, however, did pay off on the stroke of half time when Lowry got to a low Walker cross a fraction before the home keeper who’s momentum carried him into Lowry, the referee without hesitation awarding a penalty. And the keeper was doubly unlucky as he made a splendid save from Barr’s blasted first effort only for the referee to order a retake as he adjudged the keeper to have left his line early. Given a second chance Barr was more assured drilling a low shot to the corner to make the half time score 2-0 in favour of Newry.

Spurred on by tremendous travelling support with which Newry has undoubtedly brought a new dimension to Mid Ulster Intermediate football the away team continued to dominate after the break. With the seasoned Gareth Hughes replacing Walker in midfield and the classy Joel Annett slotting into central defence beside Paul McElroy manager Darren Mullen was able to display the depth of his squad. Indeed Hughes was soon dominating in centre field showing all the tenacity and skill that comes with his experience. This bore fruit for Newry on the hour mark when he won a crunching tackle in midfield and gave the ball to McMahon who played a slide rule pass leaving Lowry with a one on one with the keeper. Lowry chosing to shoot early  curled his effort around the advancing keeper and inside the far post to make the game safe at 3-0.

The Newry management were obviously content with this score as Lowry’s reward was to be replaced by Lonnie Larkin as Newry changed formation to play with five across midfield. Lundy made the most of this system which gave him an element of freedom on the wing as his strong running gave the Oxford defence no end of problems. Larkin also took well to his midfield role with some robust challenges displaying what he can bring to the squad.

On the 80 minute mark it was Larkins challenge which released the always available McMahon who waltzed into the Oxford half and whizzed a long range effort which skimmed the base of the Oxford post with the keeper beaten. This near miss was soon replicated when Man of the Match McMahon met a clearance from a Newry corner about 40 yards from goal and displaying terrific technique smacked a volley only inches over the bar.

Like the first half the second was wrapped up with another Barr goal, this time a Lundy effort was cleared to the edge of the box to the ever alert Barr who rifled a left foot drive to the roof of the net to make the final score 4-0.  This has been a great start to the season by the goal hungry Barr who has notched two hat tricks scoring seven goals in three games.

With a number of players unavailable, a strong bench and a winning first eleven Newry manager Darren Mullen’s problem at the moment is one which all winning  teams enjoy, team selection. However, with only three games played no one is looking any further than Tuesday night’s league game at home to St Mary’s @ Newry Showgrounds, kick off 19:30.

Speaking after the match although pleased with his squad’s performance thus far Darren was keen to heap his management team and players praise on the Newry supporters who turned out in big numbers on Tuesday night for the home game and again travelled for this away fixture giving the team terrific vocal support which Darren say’s enthuses him even more given the turmoil the club and supporters have recently endured.

Newry City AFC MOTM: Chris McMahon

Newry City AFC Team: 1.Shane McCoy 2.Niall Crilly 3.Gary McVicker  4.Conor McCaul  5.Paul McElroy 6.Jimmy Walker 7.Paul Daly 8.Chris McMahon 9.Neill Barr 10.Mark Lowry  11.Shane Lundy  Subs: 12. Joel Annett (McCaul) 13.Chris Hughes 14.Chris Smith 15.Lonnie Larkin (Lowry)  16.Gareth Hughes (Walker).

Oxford Sunnyside Team: 1.Jordan Steen 12.Mark Murtagh 3.David McGurk  4. Conor Fox 5. Stephen Kerr 6.Niall Totten 7.Paddy O’Connor  8.Paddy McCrory  9.Kevin Leatham 10.Chris Martin 11.Kieran Headley Subs: 13. R Crilly  14.B O’Loan 15.J Johnston.

Pictures: Brendan Monaghan