Locally there’s no better place for football than The Newry Showgrounds under the floodlights and Newry City didn’t let an expectant crowd down on Friday night with an emphatic win over local rivals Loughall. Having started the season with two defeats Newry manager Darren Mullen made four changes to his starting line up with Stephen Hughes, Conor McCaul, Neil Mullen and Keith Johnston all starting. Coupled with these changes the Newry boys will have had Mullens harsh words after last week’s tame display still fresh in their memory and from the kick off it was evident that the home side were determined to gain the upper hand, Stephen Hughes carving out a gilt-edge chance for Mark McCabe with the game only a few minutes old, a chance which the centre forward really should have converted. That however was just about the only blemish on the night for McCabe as he caused havoc in the Loughall defence every time the ball came his way.

Indeed, it was McCabe who made the opening goal after 18 minutes, timing his run perfectly from just inside the Loughall half to sprint clear of the defence only to be dragged down inside the penalty area by the visiting keeper Gareth Buchannan who was spared a straight red card by referee Taylor. However, Stephen Hughes did administer punishment sending Buchannan the wrong way with a stuttered run up and a calm side foot finish to put Newry a goal up from the penalty spot.

Against the run of play Loughall almost grabbed an equalizer minutes later when Jordan Baker got his head to a free kick, Kieran Gordon relieved to see the ball sail over his crossbar. Newry were straight back on the attack, captain Chris McMahon who seemed to be in the right place any time there was any danger to the Newry goal venturing forward to release the overlapping Kevin McArdle who in turn teed up Stephen Hughes, Buchannan diving low to save. On the half hour mark the home side almost had an early contender for goal of the season, McCabe holding the ball up before laying it back into the path of Decky Carville who drilled in a shot from all of 25 yards which appeared destined for the top corner were it not for a fantastic save from Buchannan who got his finger tips to the ball to deflect it onto the underside of his crossbar and out.

Carville was causing lots of trouble to the visiting defence and with 35 minutes gone the big man, given an attacking midfield role did just that, picking the ball up mid-way inside the opposing half before running at the visiting defenders trying his luck from the edge of the box with a left foot shot which Buchannan was only able to block, Mark Hughes the first to react to the rebound rewarded with the simple task of placing his header into an open goal to double the Newry advantage.

Loughall had an opportunity to pull a goal back before the break when Newry failed to deal with a low corner swung into the near post, the ball bouncing around the penalty area before being turned goal wards, Newry grateful that McMahon had remained on the goal line in position to block the ball wide.

There was still time for another goal chance for the home side, McMahon again winning possession before cutting the defence with a ball for McCabe to run onto, his cross deflected on goal by Keith Johnston, the home side once again denied by Buchannan to keep the difference to two at the break.

That margin was extended on 55 minutes by a picture goal created and scored by the Hughes brothers, Stephen and Mark exchanging passes ending with Mark running onto the ball on the left side of the box still with loads to do to trouble the goal. That was not allowing for an audacious moment of magic, Hughes clipping the ball over a despairing Loughall challenge and the advancing Buchannan, the ball landing softly in the back of the net for a quality goal. On the hour mark Newry could have made it four, Carville and Stephen Hughes combing to set up McCabe for the goal which his performance deserved, McCabe’s low angled shot back across goal tipped round the post by the Loughall keeper.

For their part the visitors never gave up and pulled a goal back after 77 minutes, Jamie Douglas setting up Mark McConnell behind the Newry defence, McConnell placing the ball under Gordan for a neat finish. As may be expected for a team looking for its first win of the season Newry appeared to settle for the 3-1 score line and thanks to some stout defending from a defence which held solid under the direction of John Boyle Newry quite easily saw the rest of the game out for a deserved win which pleased manager Darren Mullen.

“The difference between last week’s performance and tonight’s was like night and day. We know we have the ability within the squad but if the attitude isn’t right then it counts for nothing. Thankfully the players responded to the criticism they received in the right manner and we ran out deserved winners. From the first whistle we looked hungry and were well deserving of our half-time lead. Our attacking play was obviously pleasing but the work we put in as a team off the ball was great to see and exactly what we demanded from them. The message for the second half was not to sit on our lead but to go at them again. That’s Hughesy’s fourth goal in three games and definitely the pick of them with what was a sublime finish. Loughall put us under pressure for a period towards the end which we expected at some point but our victory was well deserved. The players have now set a benchmark in terms of their work rate so that can’t drop for any other game. We didn’t get carried away with the two defeats and certainly won’t do the same after one win but need to build on it now. The crowd were brilliant tonight and hopefully they come out in their numbers again to support us in what is another big game for us against Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday night in the cup.”

Newry City AFC: Gordon, McArdle, McCaul, Mullen, Boyle, McMahon, S Hughes, Carville, McCabe, Johnston, M Hughes. Subs: Havern, Patton, McCann, Walker, Mackin.

Loughall FC: Buchanan, Montgomery, Rea, Stewart, Campbell, Dallas, Campbell, Ferguson, Baker, Mullen, Hoey. Subs: Taggart, Douglas, McConnell, Stretton, Robinson.

See photos below of our super Match Day Mascot Donncha Stacey!

Newry City must wait for their first Bluefin Sport Championship point after losing their second game of the season on Saturday at home to PSNI. A game which swung on a crucial off side after 25 minutes, Decky Carville crossing for Mark McCabe to turn the ball to the net, the Newry celebrations cut short by the linesman’s offside flag.

To rub salt in the wound from the resulting clearance it was the PSNI who grabbed the opening goal, goalkeeper Jordan Williamson’s long ball deceiving the Newry defence but not the police striker Owen Moody who ran onto the bouncing ball to cleverly lob Kieran Gordon to put the PSNI a goal up, a lead which they held to half time.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, Mark McCullagh getting behind the Newry defence before whipping in a low cross which Newrys Kevin McArdle had to turn around the back post with Joe McWilliams waiting to tap in.

Newry drew level after 50 minutes with a goal made and scored by their best players on the day. Decky Carville picking the ball up on the halfway line and driving forward before splitting the police defence with a ball which invited Mark Hughes to run onto and slide the ball past Williamson for a clinical finish. PSNI were unlucky not to regain the lead after 53 minutes, James Wright smashing a shot from all of 30 yards out which had Gordon beaten only to rattle off the upright.

Although Newry dominated possession they struggled to find that necessary incisive pass and it was the visitors who took the lead with 15 minutes left, Chris Watts turning the Newry defence inside out only to have his shot blocked by Gordon but only as far as Joe McWilliams who turned the ball home from close range.

Newry battled back with McArdle testing Williamson with a free kick which the keeper tipped over his crossbar and with time running out a low cross from McCabe was volleyed over the crossbar by Carville but in truth, an equalizer would have been harsh on the visitors who ran out worthy winners.

Newry Manager Darren Mullen commented after the game “This was a performance that was far from acceptable and I can only apologise to the fans. Unlike last week where we deserved something from the game we deserved absolutely nothing from this one. Whilst we had plenty of possession there’s no point in having the ball when there’s no end product. We looked comfortable without really threatening them in the first half and then fell behind to a sloppy goal that could easily have been prevented. We then got ourselves back into the game but never looked like building on that goal and got punished.As

“As manager I take responsibility for any defeat but the players will need to realise how difficult this season is going to be and apply themselves accordingly. Losing Darren King and Jimmy Walker in the warm up along with Rambo’s absence and injuries to Ian Curran, Conor McCaul and Paddy Mooney has stretched us but it’s up to others to step up and take their chance. What we need to do now as a group is make sure we learn from our mistakes and take that frustration into the game on Friday night (v Loughall at The Showgrounds KO7.45pm)”.

Newry City AFC Team: Gordon, McArdle, Cunningham, Patton, Boyle, McMahon, McCann, Havern, McCabe, Carville, Hughes. Subs: Johnston, Gray, Grant, Mullen, Richmond.

PSNI FC: Williamson, McCullagh, McCrory, McDermott, A Wright, Douglas, Wilson, J Wright, Watts, Moody, McWilliams. Subs: Khan, McClurg, Riddle, Montgomery, Cairns.

Photographs courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

Not the start that Newry wanted with a 2-1 defeat away to Lurgan Celtic but certainly a performance to suggest that they will be competitive in their first season in Championship football.

Faced with a tricky tie away from home to start their campaign it took the Newry boys a quarter of an hour to create their first chance. Jackie Cunningham who had a very competent display on his competitive debut sprayed a diagonal ball over the head of the Lurgan left back allowing Kevin McArdle to get behind the Lurgan defence, with a pull back to Stephen Hughes perhaps the better option McArdle shot from a narrow angle unfortunate to find the side netting.

It was a full 25 minutes before the Newry goalkeeper was called into action, Kieran Gordon quickly off his line to block the ball at the feet of Celtics centre forward Warner Mullan, Newry Captain Chris McMahon on hand to complete the clearance.

The Hughes brothers looked dangerous every time they were on the ball. On 37 minutes it was Marks turn tricking his way past three defenders before squaring the ball to Jimmy Walker on the edge of the box, his low shot shovelled wide of the post by Celtic keeper Liam McCauley.

While the Hughes’ held the attacking threat for Newry it was Warner Mullan that lead the Celtic attack, on 40 minutes the big man bustled his way into the Newry box but was denied a shooting opportunity by a strong block from Mark Patton with McMahon once again on hand to clear up the danger.

With time running out in the first half it was the Hughes brothers who swung the game in Newrys favour, Mark and Stephen exchanging passes to set Mark up with a goal chance, his goal bound effort blocked by Dara Noonan. However, the danger had not gone with the ball once again finding its way to Mark Hughes just outside the penalty area. This time Hughes went alone, jinking outside and inside defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the Lurgan net to give Newry a one goal advantage at half time.

It was a lead that didn’t last long however, the second half only minutes old when Referee Paul Burns played a good advantage after a Newry foul midway inside the half which left Warner Mullan with space on the edge of the box to pick a spot in the far corner of Gordons net to level the score.

On the hour mark Celtic almost grabbed the lead, a long hopeful ball over the Newry defence met on the run by Warner Mullan his first-time volley saved by the advancing Gordon. Minutes later and Gordon was again in the action, diving acrobatically to tip a 30 yard pile driver from Brendon Shannon over the cross bar. There was nothing the Newry keeper could do from the resulting corner, Celtics Aaron Haire left unmarked to head the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Newry responded well with the introduction of Decky Carville and Keith Johnston adding new impetus to the attack. On 80 minutes it was Carville who created an opportunity winning the ball in midfield before playing the ball into the box for Mark McCabe to run on to, referee Burns waving away claims for a penalty as McCabe was bundled over inside the box.

It was all Newry at this stage, an audacious volley from all of 30 yards from Mark Hughes almost catching McCauley off his line, the Celtic keeper relieved to see the ball fly past his post. Minutes later the home side survived a greater scare, McCabe unfortunate to see his curling shot from the corner of the box hit the junction of post and crossbar with McCauley beaten.  And there was still time for one last chance for Newry, Kevin McArdle cutting the defence open to release Johnston on the end line, his first time cross met by Decky Carville alas unable to steer his header under the crossbar.

Newry Manager Darren Mullen commented after the game “Whilst it’s very disappointing to lose our first game there are plenty of positives to take from it. We were the better team in the first half and finished the game a lot stronger. However as this league will no doubt prove throughout the season, if you make mistakes you will be punished straight away. The message at half time was to be prepared for them to come at us but we didn’t heed that warning and made basic mistakes for both goals. That said I’m proud of how the players reacted and we had three really good chances to equalise in the last 15 minutes along with a good shout for a penalty. They are a decent experienced side and will be hard to beat down there but we’ve shown enough today to know that we will be well fit for this league. We need to dust ourselves down very quick and will now look forward to our first home game next Saturday.”

Newry City Team: Kieran Gordon, Darren King, Ruairi Cunningham, John Boyle, Mark Patton, Chris McMahon, James Walker, Kevin McArdle, Mark McCabe, Stephen Hughes, Mark Hughes. Subs: Keith Johnston, Thomas McCann, Marty Havern, Caolan Gray, Decky Carville.