Newry City Over 40s 2 – Banbridge Town Over 40s 0

Newry City over 40s played Banbridge over 40s in a charity match for the NSPCC last night at Cheney Park. The game was played in great spirit with many players attempting to roll back the years.

Banbridge started the game well and tested Joe Price with a few early efforts. Tommy O’Hanlon then had a great 25 yard drive saved by the Banbridge keeper before hitting the post with another great effort. Newrys defence were working hard to shut down the Banbridge attack with Tommy Gray marshalling them well. Dessie Edgar was attacking at every opportunity and linking well with Damien Grant on the right hand side. John White and Michael Crowe were also linking well on the left but were unable to break a resolute Banbridge defence. The half finished goalless with a few tired legs glad to see the break.

Newry broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half when Darren Mullen fired home after a great through ball from Grant. Banbridge tried to hit Newry on the break but Newry’s midfield of Craven, Griffin, Mullen and O’Hanlon were dictating the play. Newry Legend Ollie Ralph was giving the Banbridge defence plenty of problems – his movement a lesson to any young player. The second goal came following great work from Larry Griffin and Dessie Edgar on the right
hand side when Tommy O’Hanlon curled a great effort into the far corner. Banbridge were now pushing forward in numbers with Price pulling off some great saves. Terrance Feehan then made a great saving tackle to prevent his brother Billy pulling a goal back. Newry had a further chances to increase their lead with Keith Kelly and Jervis McCaul failing to beat the Banbridge keeper.

The game finished 2 0 to Newry with Tommy Gray awarded the man of the match award. This was a very entertaining game and a chance for old playing colleagues to meet up for plenty of craic. This will be the first of several over 40s games with the next game to be played in The Showgrounds whenever all the aches and pains have cleared up.

Newry squad: Joe Price, Dessie Edgar, Terrance Feehan, Tommy Gray,John White, Damien Grant, Larry Griffin, Tommy O’Hanlon, Michael Crowe, Ollie Ralph (captain), Dixie Craven, Darren Mullen, Keith Kelly, Jervis McCaul, Billy Feehan.

 

Newry City Ladies 4-2 Sion Swift Ladies

Pictures from Newry City Ladies first League match at The Showgrounds v Sion Swift Ladies. Thursday 25th April 2013.

Newry City goals: Aimee Mackin 2, Moya Feehan 1 and Aoife Lennon 1.

Aoife Lennon on attack.
Aoife Lennon on attack.

 

Aimee Mackin
Aimee Mackin

 

Moya Feehan
Moya Feehan

 

Lisa McCann
Lisa McCann

 

Aoife Lennon
Aoife Lennon

 

Alex Hurst on the ball.
Alex Hurst on the ball.

Photos: Brendan Monaghan.

 

 

R.I.P Michael McCaughey

Everyone at Newry City AFC would like to extend their deepest sympathy to the family of former player Michael McCaughey who tragically passed away yesterday. Michael was a hugely popular player at The Showgrounds during several spells.

Newry City AFC manager Darren Mullen, who managed Michael last season, said: “Micky was a great lad and a terrific character to have about the team. He will be badly missed by all those who knew him and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Newry City 3-1 Grosvenor, Under 16 Lisburn League.

Newry City U16’s gained another 3 valuable points, when they defeated Belfast team Grosvenor on Saturday morning, 6th April, at Wallace Park, Lisburn. The pitch was far from perfect but both teams played some excellent football in an evenly contested first half. Grosvenor threatened to score first when they caught out the Newry defence, but couldn’t get past goalkeeper Colm McEvoy, who made a superb save to deny the Grosvenor striker.

Newry’s Cathal Boylan was also very unlucky when he rose highest to meet Ciaran Murphy’s cross from the right wing, with his header crashing off the post and away to safety. Other chances for Newry followed. Kevin Boyle curled an inviting cross into the penalty area which was met by Mark McCabe, but he couldn’t believe his luck when the Grosvenor keeper stuck out a leg to deny him the opening goal. Another chance fell to Josh Durnin, but unfortunately his chipped shot just cleared the crossbar.

In the second half Newry’s confidence grew and they started to dictate the play. The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half when McCabe headed home Murphy’s long range pass from the left wing to put Newry one up. But as so often happens in football, before Newry got back into their stride the score was level. Newry lost the ball in midfield and Grosvenor pushed forward taking full advantage of Newry’s lapse in concentration, and lashing the ball into the back of the net.

At one each the game could have gone the either way, but the Newry lads worked hard and got back in front with an excellent goal from the hard working Cathal Boylan. Newry pushed on subs, Devlin, McGivern and Henry as they searched for a third and decisive goal to seal the victory. The goal duly arrived through the boot of Lee Courtney, when he seized an opportunity in a crowded goalmouth, smashing the ball past the helpless Grosvenor goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Shane O’Hagen and Daire Rooney were introduced to the game late on, before chances fell to Newry’s Conor McGivern and Dylan Devlin and with a bit more luck they could have easily extended Newry’s advantage.

All in all it was a very convincing win which sets City up for Friday night’s league game at home to Glen Star. This game will be played at Newry Showgrounds and is scheduled for a 7.00pm kick off, (Friday 12th April).

Newry’s team: Mark McCabe (1) , Cathal Boylan (1), Lee Courtney (1) , Colm McEvoy, Ryle O’Hanlon, Kevin Boyle, Ciaran Murphy, Ed Barfield, Stephen King, Josh Durnin, , Jordan Pinnington. Subs: Shane O’Hagen, Dylan Devlin, David Henry, Conor McGivern.

Newry City Ladies v Comber Rec Ladies (Friendly)

Newry City Ladies continued their preparation for their first match in Division 1 of the Northern Ireland Football Women’s Association with a friendly match at the Showgrounds against Comber Rec on Monday night. The Newry side have been strengthened by a number of acquisitions during the off season, perhaps the major coup being the arrival of former Chelsea player and Cliftonville manager Billy Sinclair as manager. The playing squad has also been added to with the signings of Aoibheann Jones, Natasha Daryaie, Blaithin Mackin, Denim McLoughlin to add more strength to the panel which strolled to the Division 3 title last season.

City started off strong and after good work in the middle of the field Aimee Mackin surged down the left wing before delivering the ball into the middle of the box for her sister Blaithin to finish with class into the bottom left corner. It was only seven minutes later when Aimee then grabbed her first goal when she unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top of the net.

Fifteen minutes in and the Comber keeper made a great save to deny Aoife Lennon from getting her name on the score sheet from a 20 yard free kick. Though only a minute later she could only watch as Ashleigh Dinsmore cooly slid in the fourth goal of the night. The Mackin pair where then unlucky not to deliver when they set up another great chance, this time Blaithin played a superb ball into the box alas with just too much power for Aimee to get her foot on the end of.

The next City goal came following intricate work from Northern Ireland Internationals Aimee Makin and Lennon. The girls combined well to set up Dinsmore in the perfect position to unleash a powerful strike 20 yards out which was too strong for the Comber keeper to prevent hitting the back of the net. Minutes later Lennon  calmly slotted home another from the penalty spot following a Comber handball. Just before the break Aoibheann Jones grabbed her first goal in a Newry jersey after A.Mackin became the provider, she found Jones in space in the box to bring the half time tally to six unanswered goals.

City continued their good play and it was only four minutes after the break when Lennon got her second goal of the night after she volleyed the ball into the net from a Aimee Mackin corner for an excellent finish.

All this attacking play for Newry was built upon a solid defence made up of Marianne Marron, Clara Mulvenna, Lisa McCann and Amy Kelly who were unruffled by Combers attacking play. Indeed the home side continued to dominate and Aimee Mackin then showed her class again as she dribbled the ball around three Comber defenders leaving herself only the keeper to beat which she did with ease. A further brace of goals by Dinsmore was only spoiled by a top drawer save from the Comber keeper which denied Ashleigh a hat trick in as many minutes.

Jones then added another as she took the ball around several defenders before calmly finishing to the back of the net. This effort was followed by the strike of the night from young Blaithin Mackin, her thunderous drive from the right corner of the box rattling into the net off the underside of the cross bar for her second goal.

The finale however was left to Newrys flying winger Aimee Mackin who scored the fourteenth and final goal of the night.

Newry City would like to pay a big thanks to newly formed Comber Rec who came up to the Showgrounds and did themselves proud in a very sporting contest. Speaking afterwards the Comber Rec manager was very happy with his girls who range from fourteen to forty plus. This match against Newry was a big test for his newly formed team who will benefit from a few more games together before they compete this season in the Development League 4 of the NIFWA, their first League game on the 2nd May v Ballymena Reserves Ladies. We wish them all the best for the new season ahead.

The Newry Ladies first game of the new season will be played at the Showgrounds v Sion Swifts on the 25th April with a 7:30pm kick off. Hopefully Spring will have arrived by then!

Newry City Team: Connie Burns, Marianne Marron, Clara Mulvenna, Lisa McCann, Aimee Mackin, Blaithin Mackin, Aoife Lennon, Amy Kelly, Ashleigh Dinsmore, Aoibheann Jones, Natasha Daryaie.