Newry City Reserves latest match report

Newry City Reserves 3 – 2 Glenavon Reserves (31/10/18)

Newry City Reserves welcomed Glenavon Reserves to the Showgrounds on Halloween night in the hope of continuing their recent good league form. Still without the injured Shealan Fegan and suspended Mark McCullough, the home side were happy to welcome back Leigh Crooks from his month long ankle injury and were bolstered by the addition of Tiernan O’Reilly and Tiarnan Murphy who have been performing well in Newry’s Mid Ulster League U19 team in recent weeks.

The game got off to the worst possible start for the hosts when Glenavon midfielder Ross Hunter skipped past a few challenges on the edge of the area in the second minute, before being upended by a Newry defender.  Referee Ryan Hanna had no choice but to point to the spot. The resulting penalty was cooling dispatched by captain Lewis Parker.

Newry’s response was nearly immediate though and in the fifth minute the sides were level. TJ Hughes’ through ball was chased down by Soki John, who found himself in a foot race with keeper Marc Davidson. Although the Glenavon stopper was able to clear at the edge of the box, his clearance only found Josh Durnin 40 yards from goal and his brilliant first time left footed effort beat the stranded keeper who couldn’t get back in time.

This seemed to settle the Newry side down and they were able to build up a head of steam over the next 20 minute period which saw a further two goals. Firstly, Lee Hutchison sent a wonderful cross into the box from the right wing on 15 minutes towards the onrushing TJ Hughes who was poleaxed by the onrushing keeper. Durnin’s low drive to the keeper’s left from penalty spot made it 2-1 to the home side.

On 25 minutes, it was 3-1, when a wonderful 5 man move through midfield saw wide man Ryan Duffy expertly volley home from the edge of the area for his first of the season. As half time approached, Newry had further opportunities when TJ Hughes had two chances cleared off the line and Lee Hutchinson blazed over from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy.

Half time: Newry City Reserves 3 – 1 Glenavon Reserves

Newry could have put the game firmly to bed at the start of the second half, with 3 good chances in the first 5 minutes from Soki John, Josh Durnin and TJ Hughes, but keeper Davisdon was equal to them all.

After that, it was Glenavon for the most part who did their best to claw their way back into the game, whilst Newry seemed content to try and see the game out. Chances were few and far between for both sides although the game made for a nervy finish when Harry Evans scored in the 80th minute to reduce the deficit to one.

The dismissal of TJ Hughes for a second yellow in the closing moments didn’t help Newry’s cause. But some resolute defending from Annett, Crooks, McGreevey and Mackey saw the home side see out a hard fought victory and move to 4th in the Premiership Development table.

 “That was a good three points tonight as we were far from our best,” said Newry Reserves’ manager Ronan Casey.

“At times, we looked very lethargic and on another night we could have been punished for that.

“Since the last game, we’ve been a bit ‘stop start’ in terms of training with men missing for various reasons. Sometimes these things can’t be helped but it was crystal clear tonight, we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas or stop working hard. They were right in our faces and were extremely busy. At times we really struggled to get to grips with them. That said, we came out on the right side of the result which is the main thing.

“It was also great to see some of the promising U19s involved tonight. Tiarnan Murphy came on for the last 20 minutes and was excellent. He has only turned 16 but really impressed with his direct running and certainly didn’t look out of place. There is some really good underage talent at this club and as long as they keep working hard, opportunities will present themselves,” added Casey.

The Reserves are next in action on Wednesday (November 7) to take on Crusaders Reserves at Seaview, kicking off at 7:45pm.

Newry City Reserves: Lewis Hunter, Leigh Crooks, Zach Annett, Jordan Mackey, Thomas McGreevey, Matthew Taylor ©, Josh Durnin, Lee Hutchinson, Sokemeibi John, TJ Hughes, Ryan Duffy

Subs: Keelan Morgan, Jervis McCaul, Tiarnan Murphy, Tiernan O’Reilly

Blast from the Past: The Town’s first ever trophy triumph

This Friday (2nd November) marks exactly 100 years to the very day when Newry Town FC played their first ever competitive fixture. To help mark this hugely significant landmark occasion, club historian and long-serving supporter Jim Campbell will delve into the archives and also recall some of the stand-out moments – ranging from the joy of success to the depths of despair, on this incredible one hundred year journey from Newry Town to City to City AFC.

In our first edition of the series, Jim takes a look back at the club’s first season which, incidentally, yielded Newry Town’s first ever trophy in the Newell Cup…

Newry Town FC was formed during the autumn of 1918 and immediately gained entry to the Newry and District football league that had been reformed after the end of World War One.

The other competing teams in the new nine club league were: Bessbrook Athletic, Newry United, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (based in Dundalk), Warrenpoint United, Royal Field Artillery (based in Dundalk), Warrenpoint Celtic, Dundalk Town, and Damolly Juniors.

The Town played their first League game on Saturday 2nd November 1918 against Newry United as World War 1 was coming to a close. At the same time a terrible Spanish Flu epidemic was raging through the Town Of Newry causing several tragic deaths.

The Town got away to a very disappointing start and a league table published by the Newry Reporter on Saturday 1st February 1919 shows the club isolated at the bottom having gained only one point from their opening six games.

The town’s management committee took swift action to strengthen the team and results quickly improved.

This improvement led to the club reaching their first ever Newell Cup final against the well-established Damolly Rovers.  Damolly Rovers, whose reserve team Damolly Juniors also played in the league, had entered the Newell Cup through special invitation and were favourites to win the coveted trophy.

The cup final staged at the Marshes ended in a scoreless draw and the replay was staged a week later on Tuesday, 20 May, 1919, at the same venue.

The Newry Reporter dated Thursday, 22 May 1919, carried a detailed match report of the cup final replay as under:

Newell Cup final replay

This important cup tie was replayed at The Marshes before a huge attendance. Referee Anderson had charge of the following teams.

DAMOLLY ROVERS: Jones, McCann, Kinney, Thompson, Truesdale, McKinley, Rafferty, F McCann, J Bradley, Calwell and Bradley.

NEWRY TOWN: Sweeney, Kavanagh, Coleman, Chambers, Carroll, McQuillan, Donellan, Devine, Rice, Dale and McStay

The Town team guessed the spin of the coin and Bradley kicked off for Rovers who at once made tracks for Sweeney but Chambers relieved. Good work by Devine and Rice nearly brought a score but Jones saved at the expense of a fruitless corner.

The Town were pressing McCann and Kinney very hard and for an infringement a penalty was awarded. McQuillan was entrusted with the kick and gave Jones no chance. Damolly from the kick off seemed to waken up and Truesdale was prominent in an attack but Rafferty when well placed was slow, with the result that Kavanagh was allowed to clear and a splendid chance was lost.  Dale was playing a splendid game for The Town and he and Rice at times played havoc with the Rovers defence and only for the fine tackling and kicking powers of Kinney a score must have come.

At the other end Sweeney came out to save at the expense of a corner. Bradley placed the kick nicely but Chambers was handy with his head and cleared. After this the pressure on the Damolly defence was bound to tell and Rice scored no2,  Jones making a brilliant save but Rice getting on the rebound gave him no chance.

Give and take play followed and Dale got settled down and passing to Rice that player scored no3.  The Rovers now attacked in spirited fashion and Sweeney was brought to his knees with a good shot from the foot of Truesdale.  Assisted by a free kick well placed by Thompson, matters looked promising for The Rovers but Chambers, who was a tower of strength to the Town team relieved and at the other end Rice beat all opposition and performed the Hat trick.

Not downhearted, the Factory Boys attacked and Truesdale gave Bradley a lovely pass but nothing resulted, Sweeney clearing.  Matters were inclined to be rough but Referee Anderson had a firm hold of the players.  Dale was cautioned for forcible play and from the kick Kinney placed well to his forwards but Chambers nipping in cleared.  At the other end in a scrimmage, play was stopped and a foul awarded to The Rovers but nothing resulted.  Chambers who had been playing finely, was ordered to the pavilion.  With ten minutes to go, Damolly were playing gamely and forced a corner and Bradley placing well but McCann sent over the bar.  A free to Damolly outside the 18 yard line looked promising, McKinley placed hard into goal but the ball was cleared and danger averted.  The turf was now very slippery and the players were finding it hard to keep their feet.  Encouraged by the cries of “COME ON THE TOWN” Rice receiving beat several opponents and punting to Dale he had a great shot at Jones who cleared well at the foot of the post.   Still pressing, The Town gave Kinney no rest and when all seemed lost, McKinley nipped in to clear.  Matters never slackened and with only a few minutes to go Devine almost scored No 5, the ball striking the upright and going past.  Dale and Donnellan had a good understanding and the latter player got across a lovely centre, McStay catching the pass banged in a hard shot but Jones again cleared.  Play was in midfield when the final whistle sounded and on the run of the play the better team won.

Result: Newry Town 4 – 0 Damolly Rovers

Photo: Newry Town FC players and management with The Newell Cup at the end of the Club’s First Season in Football, 1918-19.

Newry City AFC link with Southern Regional College

Newry City AFC are delighted to announce our new partnership with the Southern Regional College. Via this partnership we have welcomed HND Media student Michael Canavan to the club as our new Newry City AFC TV Operator.

Club Press Relations Officer Laura Hillen commented “It is fantastic to have Michael on board. Having match footage is not only a vital tool to aid player analysis for our management team but also helps promote both the football club and our sponsors that do so much for us through our online match highlights. Ally McKenzie & Tommy Harris have made a great platform for Michael to build on and he has already shown in his first few weeks at the club that he is capable of doing so. We are also delighted to give Michael the opportunity to develop his portfolio for his studies”.

Norbrook Launch 50 for 50 in aid of SAH

At Newry City AFC we are absolutely delighted to hear that our Charity Partners, Southern Area Hospice will be partnering with Norbrook Laboratories Ltd for their 50th anniversary celebrations, with their 50 for 50 employee fundraising campaign.

Norbrook employees are organising a number of fundraising events with the aim to raise £50k which will be matched by an equivalent donation from the Company. To help them on their way to their target, a few members of the fundraising team will be attending our Bet McLean League Cup Match v Portadown FC on Tuesday 30th October – any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Southern Area Hospice Services patients will benefit greatly from the money raised from this campaign.

We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Norbrook on their 50th Year and wish them many more successful years in business.

https://www.norbrook.com/news-media/2018/october/norbrook-launch-50-for-50-in-support-of-hospice

Mourne Ultimatum Part two tonight

Newry will hope to bounce back from Friday night’s 2-0 defeat to Institute this evening when they take on Warrenpoint Town in the quarter final of the Mid Ulster Cup at the Showgrounds, kicking off at 7:45pm.

City defender Darren King spoke of the importance of picking up a positive result in the local derby.

“We need to get the Institute game out of our system as we let ourselves and the supporters down on Friday night with an uncharacteristic home performance. Secondly, to ensure we progress in the cup and try to build up some momentum again. And finally to get a result in order to give the squad, coaching staff and supporters a lift as you always want to be on top in a local derby,” said King.