Write a commentNewry 2’s 2-4 Kilkeel 2’s
Newry hosted local rivals Kilkeel on Saturday in a game they had to win to avoid relegation. The home side had the better of the opening exchanges with David England having a number of chances to convert but found the Kilkeel keeper in great form. The visitors were more clinical in front of goal and went one up with their first clear cut chance of the game 15 minutes in. It was soon two as again they proved to be more ruthless in the final third to go in at half time with a commanding lead.
The second half was more like a local derby as things began to heat up. David England got one back for Newry to make up for his misses in the opening period. He was involved again as Newry equalised from a superb long ball from the back by David Hogg which was miss judged by the keeper in a challenge with England allowing Andrew Marks to tap home.
At two all tackles were starting to fly in and a skirmish broke out after a late tackle resulting on a melee in the middle of the pitch. Both sides had a man sent off each when order was restored. Kilkeel made their superior fitness show as they knocked in two late goals to come away with all three points.
Team: J. Porter, A. Baird, E. Graham, D. Barlow, D. Hogg, C. Henning, M. McCullough, J. Greer, A. Megaw, D. England, A. Marks, G. Alderdice.
Newry Ladies 2 Coleraine 6
On Saturday 16th March 2016, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played Coleraine 1st XI Ladies in the Semi-final of the Ulster Hockey Intermediate Plate. Newry drove the ball forward straight into the Coleraine circle from the start but the strong Coleraine defence fought back and fired the ball straight back into the Newry side and were the first team to be awarded a corner. The Coleraine team failed to score from the first shot but found the back of the Newry net on the rebound. Newry played hard but found themselves under a lot of pressure again and around the twenty minute point Coleraine drove down the right hand side, across the top of the circle and scored again. Newry kept fighting back to gain possession of the ball and at times put the Coleraine mids and defence back up into their own circle but were unable to secure a penalty. The Coleraine side also secured another couple of corners before half time whistle and scored again making it three nil.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong, battling for every pass but neither side conceding any goals for the first fifteen minutes. Newry displayed some lovely play from both the centre back Gayle Davidson and the left back Avril Harpur who crossed the ball to left mid Lynn Anderson and within seconds had won a corner for Newry and scored.
Newry settled into the game and minutes later Captain, Laverne Inns scored a second goal for Newry. Coleraine battled back scoring another three goals before the final whistle. At full time the score remained 6 -2 to Coleraine with Player of the match going to Gayle Davidson.
Final score Newry Ladies 2 Coleraine 6
