Write a commentNewry 1’s 4-3 Kilkeel 1’s (Kirk Cup group game)
Newry hosted local rivals Kilkeel on Tuesday evening in the opening game of the Kirk Cup group stage. The home side started well and looked solid as the opening exchanges were mostly played out in the middle of the park as both teams cancelled each other out.
Kilkeel however drew first blood with Mark Stevenson with the goal for the visitors, as Kilkeel went in at half time one goal to the good. If the first half was tentative with much of the play in the middle third, the second half was the exact opposite. Both teams attacked from the off in what would have been a good game for the spectators. John Taylor got Newry back on level terms with a flick from a short corner, however they were not level for long as Eddie Agnew scored to punish a Newry mistake. Mark Stevenson got Kilkeel’s third and his second of the game, and the visitors could have been forgiven for thinking the game was over with 15 minutes left to play.
Newry’s fight however shown through as they never gave up hope of rescuing something from the match. David England got the home side’s second from another short corner before Andy Gilmer got on the end of a Colin McKnight cross to deflect it in and draw the teams level with only a few minutes remaining. Kilkeel had a chance to win it themselves just before the end but good defending kept them at bay. With time running out Colin McKnight picked up the ball on the right and drove into the circle and played the ball to David Andrews who shot and Andrew Baird was on hand to help the ball over the line for a 4-3 victory.
Team: F. McGivern, D. England, N. McKnight, J. Greer, N. Davenport, C. McKnight, J. Taylor, C. Henning, K. McWilliams, R. Irwin, A. Gilmer, D. Andrews, A. Foster, A. Baird, N. Liggett
Newry’s next game is away to Banbridge in another Kirk Cup group match on Tuesday night at 7.45pm
Newry 1’s 0-4 Instonian’s 1’s
This performance from Newry on Saturday was in stark contrast to their last two performances. The home side looked lethargic from the start of the game but still had their chances to get something from the match. In the end the difference was who was most clinical in the attacking areas. The game started off slow as both team’s tried to sus the each other out. With around 15mins gone Inst’ hit first with a deflected cross beating the Newry keeper. It was soon 2-0 when Inst’ fired how a great low reverse shot from the right hand side of the circle which any keeper would have done well to save. Newry had chances of their own, with Colin McKnight missing a chance from a short corner and a number of goal mouth scrambles which Newry could not make the most off.
At half time it was 2-0 and Newry needed to up their game in order to get anything from it. It was the visitors however who seemed to step up through the gears as they pressed Newry forcing more errors. Andrew Gilmer had a great chance when the ball arrived to him at the back post but his slapped shot was stopped well by the keeper. Newry tried to press forward and managed to win a number of short corner’s but their routines were not coming off as each short corner broke down. Indeed it was from one of these short corner’s that Inst’ broke and get their third with a swift attack putting the game out of reach of the home side. Inst’ still pressed forward and got their forth for a well-deserved victory.
Team: R. Hanlon, D. England, N. McKnight, J. Greer, N. Davenport, C. McKnight, J. Taylor, C. Henning, K. McCombe, R. Irwin, A. Gilmer, D. Andrews, A. Foster, N. Liggett, F. McGivern
Results:
Lisnagarvey 3’s 1-1 Newry 2’s
Newry 3’s 2-1 Cliftonvile 2’s
