United under-19s set sights on Foyle Cup

The Sky Blues, who will be managed by Clifford Adams in the prestigious competition in the Maiden City, will be based at the Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, during their stay in the North West next month.

Ballymena’s fixture schedule for the week is:

Monday, July 16 – v Letterkenny Rovers (Wilton Park, 7pm); Tuesday, July 17 – v Strabane Athletic (Melvin pitches, 7pm); Wednesday, July 18 – v Ballybrack FC [Dublin] (Templemore Swilly, 7pm); Thursday, July 19 – semi-finals; Friday, July 20 – final and play-offs.

The under-19s have thanked all the sponsors who have made the trip possible, including: Ballymena United FC; Wildfire solutions; Ballymena United Development Committee; and main club sponsor McBurney Transport.

Thanks are also extended to skyblue tv for videoing some of the team’s friendly games for analysis purposes.

PLAYER PROFILES

Jordan Dunlop (Goalkeeper, age 17): Moved up to the Thirds at the end of the season from Ballymena United under 17s, very talented keeper previously with Carniny Youth, good shot stopper with great handling skills

Ryan Curry (Goalkeeper, 17); Another product of Carniny youth who moved up from the 17s to the Reserves and didn’t look out of place. Good organiser, shot stopper and controls his box well.

Aaron Harris (Right-back, 18): Aaron played in the Reserves for the last two seasons and put some superb performances in, in the second half of the season. Loves to get forward when the chance arises. Former United Youth Academy player.

Conor Ross (Right-back, 18): Tough tackling fullback who takes no prisoners. Conor played almost the full season for the 3rds with a few appearances for reserves. Good passer of the ball who loves to get forward. Former Carniny Youth player.

Craig Greene (Centre-back, 17): Craig is also a tough tackler who is very good in the air. Great determination and will to win drives everyone on. With a great turn of pace. Former Carniny Youth player.

Peter McClure (Centre-back, 16): Under 16 player of the year who has had 4 appearances for the reserves at the end of the season and did very well. Great reader of the game for such a young age . Tough tackler who is good in the air. Former Carniny Youth player.

Michael Ruddy (Centre-back/left-back, 18): New signing from Crusaders who has been superb in the friendlies he has played in. Fiery character with a steely determination who wants to win every ball. Ex milk cup player from Belfast who will be an excellent addition to the squad . Great left foot and good reader of the game.

Corey Price (Left-back, 18): Another former Milk Cup player who made his debut against Glentoran in the first team last season. Has been known to score the odd goal from left back. Great crosser of the ball who reads the game well. Former BUYA player.

Cathal McQuillan (Left-back/left-wing, 17): CJ, as he’s known within the squad normally plays left-back but has been used more as a left winger for his darting pace in this squad . Great work rate with a smashing left foot.

Eoin Gillan (Centre midfield, 19): The Reserves’ player of the year had a superb season last season with his probing balls to the attackers, has superb vision and will see passes no one else will. Eoin is the team Captain at the Foyle cup. He always leads by example, and will hopefully be an asset to the club in the years to come.

Caolan Gillan (Centre midfield, 18): The other Gillan brother who causes opposition players no end of problems. Caolan seems to walk through opposition teams with ease with the ball glued to his feet. Superb player who has the ability to change a game. Caolan like Eoin has been up with the seniors near the end of the season. A product of the Youth academy.

Jamie Fleming (centre midfield, 18): Another Belfast lad who was signed at the start of the season by former reserves manager Cliff Adams and won the Thirds player of the year. This kid never stops, tremendous work rate and an excellent passer of the ball. The Foyle Cup team’s vice captain. He has been rewarded by Glenn Ferguson for all his hard work by being invited to pre-season with the senior team.

Nicky Black (Right wing/centre midfield, 17): Absolutely smashing player who is equally as comfortable on the right wing as he is in the middle. Great vision for a pass and has a superb engine. He keeps the same pace from start to finish another one for the future . Former Carniny Youth player.

Conal Dooey (Striker/right winger, 17): Very pacey player who played last year with the Thirds and scored quite a few goals. He loves running at his marker and is very dangerous with good ball control.

Neil Lowry (Striker, 19): Under 18 international who has a bright future, Neil has been involved regularly with the first team for the second half of last season. Loves to run at defences with his blistering pace. Will be a key player at the Foyle cup. A former BUYA player.

Jamie Davidson (Striker, 18): Jamie started out on the left wing with the Reserves and as the season went on he moved to a more central striking role where he has excelled eventually leading to a call up by the seniors where he played 8/9 games at the end of the season, also scoring his first senior goal against Dungannon. Jamie was the Reserves’ top goal scorer with 16 goals. A former BUYA player.

Stephen Hamill (Striker, 17): Stephen like a younger version of Lowry whose speed and aggressive runs cause opposition all sorts of problems. Fearless striker who loves nothing better than a battle with a big centre-back . Under 17 top goal scorer who played 6 games for the reserves at the end of the season.

Peter Duffin (Striker, 18): Peter re-signed this summer after a spell away playing for Cliftonville, another pacey player who can open up defences with his trickery. A product of BUYA.

Clifford Adams (Manager): This is Cliffy’s last time managing the side, before focusing on his new role as performance analyst for the first team, and would love nothing better than to finish on a high. Cliffy is a UEFA B licence coach with ten years of coaching behind him.

John Heron (Assistant Manager): Unfortunately this will also be John’s last time with the lads due to work commitments, John has been superb since he came in at the start of the season and as a member of United’s last major trophy-winning side in 1989 he has been able to pass on what it takes to be a professional footballer.

John Clarke (Coach): John has come on board just to help out for the Foyle cup and has been superb since he joined. A B licence coach who knows his stuff and he coaches with Waveney youth where they have just had a very successful season.

Neil Coleman (Team Attendant): Neil is company secretary at the club and has helped the team out by coming on board to assist with all team affairs at the Foyle cup. A devoted skyblue fan who can be found at the Showgrounds most night working hard on club business.