Write a commentNewry 1’s 3-3 Kilkeel 1’s
Saturday seen Newry host Kilkeel in the local Mourne derby, which had all the ingredients for a great match. This was a great game for spectators, with plenty of goals, cards and all action displays from both teams.
Second in the league Kilkeel were hoping to take all three points to put more pressure on league leaders Instonians. However it was Newry who started the better of the teams, going ahead when Colin McKnight converted a penalty stroke after an Adam Foster shot was blocked illegally on the line. The visitors stepped up their game and were beginning to cause the Newry defence problems with their fast movement direct passing. Gareth Russell came on as sub to fire Kilkeel level with a drag flick. They could have been ahead soon after only for a magnificent low diving save by Francis McGivern in the Newry goal.
Kilkeel took the lead early in the second half and were really in the ascendency. However Newry got back on level terms when Greer picked out Robert Irwin who finished smartly lifting the ball over the advancing keeper after a failed short corner. The game was starting to get heated with players on both sides getting yellow carded, neither side willing to give an inch.
Kilkeel again took the lead late in the game with another short corner with what looked like the winning goal. However after a number of stoppages for injuries Newry equalised with a sublime finish by veteran David Andrews who managed to break free from his marker and slot the ball past the keeper into the bottom right with only seconds left in the game.
The match ended 3-3 which both sides will probably consider a fair result. Neither will have to wait long to have another shot at three points as Newry visit Kilkeel on Tuesday night in a rearranged fixture.
Team: F. McGivern, D. England, C. Henning, N. Liggett, N. McKnight, J. Taylor, R. Irwin, N. Davenport, C. McKnight, J. Greer, A. Foster, K. McWilliams, D. Andrews, A. Baird, M. McCullough
Newry 2’s 11-3 Lisnagarvey 4’s
Saturday saw the start of the cup action for Newry 2’s as they played host to Lisngarvey. Newry’s form has been inconsistent of late, but their home displays have been a different story having beaten league leaders Lisnagarvy in their last outing.
The home side flew out of the traps with the Garvey keeper called into action on a number of occasions early on. He was finally beaten after a goal mouth scramble resulted in Keith McWilliams fire home 10 minutes in. However Garvy were quickly back on level terms with a great reverse stick finish from their centre forward.
Newry quickly restored their lead with Dale Pollock deflecting home a cross before David England bagged a brace before the break.
At the start of the second half Andrew Marks and Dale Pollock within quick succession which really knocked the stuffing out of the visitors. With cup progression now more or less secured, the Newry forwards really started to link up with Paul English, Adam Foster both getting a brace each before David England finished off his Hat-trick. The Belfast Road side did become a bit too laid back with Garvy scoring two late consolation goals.
Team: J. Porter, D. Hogg, P. English, A. Megaw, D. Barlow, D. England, K. McWilliams, D. Pollock, S. McCafferty, A. Foster, S. McCafferty, D. Liggett
Newry Olympic Ladies 3-2 Bangor Ladies
On Saturday 13th February, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played the Bangor Ladies 1st XI at home at 1.00 p.m in the Ulster Hockey Senior 3 league. Newry Ladies were sporting their red playing tops sponsored by BMW “David Prentice“, Portadown and their tracksuits sponsored by the Canal Court and Spa, Newry for the 2015/16 season.
Bangor were on the attack from the whistle and scored within the first eight minutes. Newry battled back were forced to defend against a very strong attack by the Bangor players. Bangor kept the pressure up and were awarded a number of short corners putting Newry under extreme pressure and scored another goal ten minutes later. Newry Ladies kept their heads up and were awarded a number of corners but failed to score before half time.
Newry Ladies tried to retaliate but were driven back again and ten minutes before the half-time whistle Bangor scored again Diane McMinn–Johnston played the ball across the top of the circle from the right hand side and found a number of Newry mids in the circle.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong with Newry quickly settling back into the game and secured a number of corners again within the first ten minutes from which Lynn Anderson successfully scored. Newry kept attacking the Bangor defence and Captain, Laverne Inns secured a second goal around 20 minutes into the second half. Now on an even keel, the game could have gone either way until Newry forwards and mids drove up the pitch from the right with Shannen Robinson feeding the ball to right wing Aimee Magowan who scored through the Bangor keeper’s legs with such a spin that the ball hit the inside left post and spun out again. Newry kept Bangor at bay for the next 15 minutes, stopping any chances of Bangor scoring again.
Final score Newry 3 Bangor 2
Team: Gilly Roney, Laura Simpson, Laverne Inns , Anna Bingham, Alison Gamble, Diane Mc Minn-Johnston, Nicola Shields, Lynne Ervine, Lynn Anderson, Aimee Magowan, Rebekah Moore, Shannen Robinson, Gayle Davidson and Kathryn Baird
Next week Newry Ladies are home against Annadale.
Newry Olympic Ladies practice is Wednesday from 7.00 – 9.00 p.m. at Newry Hockey pitch and are always happy to receive new players. They are registered with Quick Hockey Ireland if any ladies aged 15 upwards wish to come along for a bit of fun and fitness
Newry 3’s 2-0 Instonain’s 5’s
J. Porter, E. Graham, D. Sterritt, J. Lawson, R. Cartmill, G. alderdice, D. Liggett, A. McMinn, P. Moffett, A. Marks, M. McCaigue, J. Cowan, R. McMinn, J. Niblock, A. Foster
Newry played hosts to Instonians on Friday night. From beginning to end of the match Newry dominated the play with the Instonians goalkeeper keeping the goal tally low. Newry pushed hard from the start of the first half with a number of attempts coming close but could not get the ball in the back of the net. Even winning a number of short corners could not amount to a goal. Instonians caught Newry on the counter attack more than once but with the experience in the Newry back line of Graham, Lawson, Sterritt and Cartmill there was no way through which left the Newry keeper with an uneventful match. The first half finished 0-0. The second half started again with Newry camped largely in the Instonians half with their keeper keeping out the barrage of shots that kept coming until finally a goal came from Alan McMinn. Newry continued this pressing form with more attempts and another goal coming this time from Moffett. Even with more chances Newry could not extend this lead and the game would finish 2-0.
