Outstanding performances from Northend United sides at Foyle Cup

The Northend Blues came up against some of the best youth teams in Ireland, including a number of “League” and “County” teams, not to mention playing against the competition’s eventual winners in the knockout stages.

Both teams were outstanding in the Tournament with the U13s finishing a very creditable 8th overall out of 24 competing teams and finishing up the best of the local teams in the competition, being placed in the premier Foyle Cup competition. Coaches Mark Lecky, Brian McCluney and Mark Kyle have really turned this team around in the last year and it can’t be long before a National League placing comes a beckoning.

The U10s finished 11th out of 48 competiting teams, only losing one group game in a closely fought match, against eventual finalists, Bertie Peacocks. Again coaches Uel Magill and Robert Adams are really building a super team for the future with this exciting bunch of players.

Performance of the week for the U10s was undoubtly the Plate play-off match against Irish League Academy side Dungannon United, where the Wee Blues came out on top in a pulsating 3-2 scoreline. The U13s turned in some great performances during the week with the final match against the Mid-Ulster Youth League being a stand-out performance.

FOYLE CUP - UNDER-10

Northend 3, East Donegal Schoolboys 0: The young squad were full of excitement ahead of their opening game and quickly got into their stride with an opening goal from Matthew Carson after three minutes.

The boys started the second half brightly and Mark Mundell notched Northend’s second after two minutes. Owen Campbell saw a great shot roll agonisingly across the goal line on twelve minutes before Matthew Carson fired home a third for the Ballymena boys.

Northend 3, St Oliver Plunketts 2: With only a 15 minute break between their opening two fixtures the boys had to re-hydrate and cool down as much as possible before their next game against a physically strong St Oliver Plunketts.

The ‘wee blues’ once again started quickly and opened the scoring with a strike from Lewis Hector. There was little to choose between either side and Plunketts were fortunate to see two long range ‘wonder’ strikes soar high into the Northend goal. Mark Mundell fired home a 20 yard free kick to bring the score level in the second half, before the fresh legs of substitute Kevin Cosgrove strode onto a breaking ball at the edge of the box and fired the winner into the bottom right hand corner.

Northend 5, Clonmany Shamrocks 3: Match 3: This game turned out to be an absolute cracker and Clonmany found themselves two goals up after only two minutes when the Northend boys were a little slow to start. The response was however breath-taking with three goals in four minutes putting the Ballymena side back in the driving seat. Clonmany responded immediately with an equaliser before Matthew Carson edged the ‘wee blues’ ahead 4-3 before the break.

Mark Mundell scored his third of the game at the mid-point of the second half to seal another victory.

Northend 13, Culmore 0: Northend started the final day of group matches with full points but behind Bertie Peacock’s on goal difference.

That changed, however, after a crushing win over a battling Culmore side.

Mark Mundell led the way with five goals, there were two apiece from Owen Campbell, Lewis Hector and Matthew Carson, while Lewis Harrison and Jack Adams also found the net.

Northend 1, Bertie Peacocks 4: In this clash between the two teams at the top of the section. it was the Wee Blues who broke the deadlock with a strike from Matthew Carson.

Two disputed free kicks saw Bertie’s pull themselves back into the game, while the referee disallowed a second Northend goal when a Bertie’s defender collided with his own keeper. Half-time 1-2.

Neither team concede and inch in this highly competitive group decider and it took a further free-kick and a goal-mouth scramble to give Bertie’s the group win and leave Northend in the Plate competition.

Northend 3, Killea Nixon Corner 0: As the tournament entered day four, Northend were drawn against the second placed team from Group G -Killea Nixon Corner.

The opening goal came on six minutes when Jack Adams mad a good run to the back post and headed home a deep cross-field ball form Lewis Harrison.

Several further chances came Northend’s way, although it took until the twelfth minute of the second half before Owen Campbell put the game beyond doubt with a cool side- foot finish from a Matthew Carson cross and Northend’s semi-final place was assured when a Killea defender scored an own goal.

Northend 0, Sion Swifts 2: Northend’s Plate hopes eventually ended when they were beaten by a Sion side who went on to win the Plate final.

Northend 3, Dungannon United 2: Northend won the third place play-off thanks to goals from Lewis Harrison, Matthew Carson and Mark Mundell, who took his tally for the week to 11.

Northend: Curtis Wilson, Kevin Cosgrove, David Magill, Jack Adams, Owen Campbell, Lewis Hector, Matthew Carson, Mark Mundell and Lewis Harrison.

UNDER 13

The under-13s enjoyed their first foray into the Foyle Cup, despite a hectic schedule of six matches in six days.

They got their group campaign off to a flyer with a 7-0 demolition job on Shankill Colts with goals from R Campbell (4), C McGarry, T Patchett and J Brady and then defeated Institute 5-0 with goals from C McGarry (2), R Campbell, T Patchett and R Iovu.

In their final group game, Northend went down 4-1 to a strong Derry City side.

Northend’s points and goal difference resulted in them qualifying for the elite competition itself, the Foyle Cup, in which the top 8 teams, out of 24 qualified.

Unfortunately they were drawn against Donegal Schoolboys in the Foyle Cup quarter-final draw and with players missing and others carrying knocks, Northend struggled from the first whistle against eventual winners Donegal Schoolboys. Northend went on to lose this quarter-final tie by seven goals to nil.

Northend then drew National League A side Foyle Harps for fifth/sixth play-off but lost 3-1.

The Ballymena boys completed their campaign with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Mid Ulster Youth League which saw Northend finish eighth overall. Northend have thanked the coaches, parents, supporters and sponsors who contributed to a memorable week.

Northend: C Brennan, T McAuley, S Lecky, R McCluney, J Brady, T Patchett, N Craig, R Iovu, M Willighan, R Campbell, C McGarry, C Gordon, C Fullerton, P Kyle, R Jones

NEW SEASON ARRANGEMENTS

Fielding no less than 12 youth teams for the incoming football season, ranging in age from U8 to U16, all the Northend United teams are looking forward to getting back to pre-season training which will start week commencing Monday 4th August at the Ballymena Showgrounds Pitch 3 and Pitch 6 as follows:

U8s, U9s and U10s – Showgrounds 3 from 6.00am to 7.30pm; U11s and U12s – Showgrounds 6 from 6.00am to 7.30pm; U14s, U15s – Showgrounds 6 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm; U13s, U16s – Showgrounds 3 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm

As always, training will be supervised at all times by IFA qualified coaches, with all the younger teams being coached by Coerver qualified coaches, and everyone will be made to feel most welcome.