Wakehurst U-17s beaten in final but emerge with credit

Wakehurst U17s lost their big Cup Final against Linfield on Saturday night by a 3-0 scoreline, in a match held at Armagh City’s ground.
Wakehurst FC.Wakehurst FC.
Wakehurst FC.

Played before a large crowd of supporters and visiting scouts, the Ballymena boys put in a great team performance before Linfield scored their final goal minutes before full time to take the shine off a great Wakehurst performance.

On Friday night, both of Ally McGarry’s U8 teams were also in action, when they travelled to Ballymoney to play in an IFA sponsored small sided games tournament against the host club as well as Coleraine and Ballymena United.

UNDER-8

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Friday night saw both U8 teams continue the third week of a 6 week programme in Ballymoney in conjunction with the IFA and Ballymoney United.

In a great set up, both teams were paired up against teams from Coleraine FC, Ballymena United and Ballymoney United. Both teams played 5 games and an enjoyable night was had by all.

Northend United: P Murphy, A McPeake, J Mark, S McDermott, C Hendron, C Burnside, P McAuley(c), O Maka

Northend Youth: K McAllister, E Pirie, D Higgins, PP Donegan, L Devlin, C Lyness, C McKeown, D Patterson.

UNDER-17

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Wakehurst 0, Linfield 3: Wakehurst U17s travelled to Armagh City’s ground on Saturday night for their much awaited Elite National League Plate Final, against a Linfield team who have gone undefeated in the League for over two years.

On 15 minutes Linfield took the lead against the run of play. Their striker ran from the halfway line, evading two Wakehurst tackles to hammer the ball past the advancing Aodhan Tolan in the Wakehurst nets.

This goal handed the advantage in the match to Linfield and visibly lifted them and they scored their second goal after 25 minutes, again down their left wing, when their fullback’s overlapping run wasn’t picked up and he slipped the ball to their striker to score.

With time running out, Linfield made a number of substitutions from their large panel and with almost the last kick off the game scored a third goal when hesitancy in a very tired Wakehurst defence allowed their striker to score.

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Although on the losing side, this has been a remarkable season for the Wakehurst Boys with this final match against the top team in the country at this age group being the highlight.

In a season that has proved so successful, the Wakehurst boys finished a creditable seventh place in the top League in this country, finishing well above a number of local Irish League sides.

Manager Glenn Speirs commented after the game: “It was a great occasion to end our season. The boys put in a great performance against the top team in this country at this age group and had them on the back burner for large periods of the second half.

“However we didn’t take our chances when presented and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Linfield on their clean sweep of all available trophies this season.”

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So after six years together as a team, all the Northend United Club wish each of the boys well as they progress into the senior game with Wakehurst FC and beyond.

Wakehurst: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, A McAvoy, L Scroggie, S Hare, A Neill, R Gault, K Jackson

* Wakehurst U17s would like to take this opportunity to send their best wishes to Ann Jackson and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery.

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Northend United’s Football Development Centre continues on Friday 16th May at the Showgrounds 3G pitch. The Football Development Centre is open to all boys and girls aged 4 to 10 inclusive who are unconnected with any other Club and takes place each Friday night from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.

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For more information, or to reserve your child a place on the course, please call John Devlin on 07919 056834.

BELFAST CITY MARATHON

Northend United Youth FC would like to congratulate their colleague, John Devlin, who ran the full Belfast City Marathon on Monday as well as the Club entering two teams of coaches and parents in the Relay Section.

A considerable sum of money was raised for local charities including The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children and the Alzheimer’s Society

AWARDS NIGHTS

With the season drawing to a close, an important date for your diary is the end-of-season Northend United Youth FC Awards Nights.

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The Junior Awards Night for the U8s, U9s, U10s and U11s will be held on Friday 30th May at the Michelin Club.

The Senior Awards Night for the U12s, U13s, U14s, U15s and U17s will also be held at the Woodside Road venue on Saturday 31st May.

UNDER-19 TEAM

Northend United and Wakehurst FC are forming an U19 team to compete in the NIFL Youth League next season.

All interested players should get in contact with Phil Hanlon on 07588353386 or email: [email protected]