Archive for the ‘National Youth League’ Category
20 June, 2010
20 June, 2010
Presentation evening
The Ryandale, Moy played host to Dungannon United Youth celebrations last Friday when the annual presentation evening was held there to mark the end of a phenomenal season for the club.
Celtic and Northern Ireland International player, Niall McGinn attended the event to hand out the awards to the recipients of Player of the Year, Top Goal Scorer, Most Improved Player and Sportsman of the year.
Dungannon United Youth Chairperson Joe McAree opened the evening by welcoming the 360 people who had come out in support of the local club and highlighting the fantastic success the club have had this season.
David Magee’s Dungannon Swifts U16s ended their season with five trophies, winning the Mid Ulster League, Mid Ulster Knock Out Cup, Preston Tournament, The Copa Catulina Cup and the Northern Ireland Cup. Karle Farquhar’s U15 National League Team also had a great season with their win against Ballywalter in the Northern Ireland Cup Final. The U13 National League Team managed by Kieran Robinson were successful in their English Rose Cup tournament which took place in Shrewsbury. Joe McAree and Tony Courtney’s National League U12 team were Northern Ireland Champions for the second successive year. The U12 Mid Ulster Team managed by Mike Kenny won the Mid Ulster Plate and David Tate’s U11s won their Mid Ulster League putting them into the National League next season.
The trophy winners were:
Under 11 Colts Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Ryan Doyle
Most Improved: Ethan Jordan
Top Goal scorer: Bailey Lenard and Rhyss Campbell
Sportsman of the year: Aaron Nimmons
DUY U11s Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Oran Mallon
Most Improved: Joel Little
Top Goal Scorer: Tyler Blair
Sportsman of the Year: Ryan Cush
DUY U12 Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Matthew Lutton
Most Improved: Josh Green
Top Goal Scorer: Ethan Burns
Sportsman of the Year: Adam Farrell
U12 National League:
Player of the Year: Shea Gordon
Most Improved: Tomas Carney
Top Goal Scorer: Paul Donnelly and Samuel Haugh
Sportsman of the Year: Dalaigh Jones
U13 Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Colin Campbell
Most Improved: Michael Moore
Top Goal Scorer: Caolan Mulgrew
Sportsman of the Year: James Dolan
U13 National League:
Player of the Year: Ben Hall
Most Improved: Niall McElroy
Top Goal Scorer: Ryan Coleman
Sportsman of the Year: Connor Cullen
U14 Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Alan Humphries
Most Improved: Daniel Moore
Top Goal Scorer: Ben Nixon
Sportsman of the Year: Ryan Lutton
U14 National League:
Player of the Year: Liam Donnelly
Most Improved: Kris Lowe
Top Goal Scorer: Conor Mullan
Sportsman of the Year: Scott McMullan
U14 National League:
Player of the Year: Oran Mallon
Most Improved: Joel Little
Top Goal Scorer: Tyler Blair
Sportsman of the Year: Ryan Cush
U15 National League:
Player of the Year: Garbhan McManus
Most Improved: Craig Breen
Top Goal Scorer: Kevin Curran
Sportsman of the Year: Matty Montgomery
Dungannon Swifts U16s Mid Ulster:
Player of the Year: Daryl Magee
Most Improved: Kelvin Campbell
Top Goal Scorer: Daniel McNulty
Sportsman of the Year: Jack Lavery
Thanks to Stephen Beckett for providing the music during the evening and thanks to The Ryandale for such a fantastic dinner and evening. Many thanks to Simon Graham and Kasha Preece for setting up the photographs of the season. A special thanks to Niall McGinn for taking time to attend and hand out awards to the winners as well as to all the people and companies who donated prizes to the raffle. Many thanks to Donnelly Brothers who continue to support and sponsor Dungannon United Youth every season. Thanks also to all the Managers, coaches, players and supporters of the teams for their dedication and loyalty to the club over the season. Congratulations on such a phenomenal season and here is hoping next years is just as good!
20 June, 2010
NI Champions again!!!!!!!!!
The U12 Team were the second team to play on this memorable day. After Karle Farquar’s U15’s set the precedence by beating Ballywalter, Joe and Tony’s young squad knew that nothing but a win would be good enough.
Right from the start the pressure was on them as Glendowan had nothing to lose where the Dungannon team were there to attempt back to back Northern Ireland Cup wins.
Glendowan soon began to pile on the pressure, sometimes with a display of good football, but mostly with a very physical approach which seemed to unsettle the DUY boys. Although Glendowan had much of the play in the first half, the Dungannon defence dealt with them adequately, standing firm and soaking up any attacks from the opposition.
In midfield, Shea Gordon began to play with the skill and flair he is renowned for, with some lightening runs into the Glendowan half, which caused the oppositions midfield and defence severe problems which they could only deal with by fouling the young midfield player and giving Dungannon the chance to put the Belfast team under pressure.
Half time came with the teams level at 0 – 0 and the large crowd of travelling supporters knew that Joe and Tony would have to give a half time team talk that would inspire the DUY boys if they were to bring the cup home for a second time.
No sooner had the second half began that it became glaringly obvious that the talk had worked as the Dungannon lads started to play the type of football which they are capable of. With Paul Donnelly causing a lot of trouble in the oppositions defence, the game became more open for the Dungannon boys. With their confidence high, their captain Dalaigh Jones hit a 30 yard shot which lobbed the Glendowan ‘keeper, which has to be considered as one of the goals of the season. This goal was the catalyst the DUY U12’s needed as they then started to apply endless amount of pressure on the Belfast side. During this period of play, Dungannon would have had two more goals, only for some controversial decisions made by the referee, but nothing could be done to disallow the goal when Gordon darted through the Glendown defence before laying off the ball to Donnelly on the right side of the penalty area who struck the ball hard and low into the oppositions goal giving the ‘keeper absolutely no chance of saving it.
With ten minutes left of the match, the DUY fans knew that a second Northern Ireland Cup would be travelling up the motorway to Dungannon. To be fair to the Glendowan side, they were not prepared to give up easily and still pushed on trying to break the Dungannon defence which Jones, Tomas Carney, Naoise Martin and Paul Donaghy dealt with easily enough which resulted in frustrating the Glendowan team further.
With minutes left the physical side of Glendowan became more apparent with constant fouls on DUY’s number 10, Ethan Burns who stood strong throughout the game and absorbed all they had to throw at him.
The final whistle blew to the delight of all the Dungannon players, Managers and loyal supporters with a score line of 2 – 0 in DUY U12’s favour.
Assistant Manager, Tony Courtney said “A great result. Glendowan were very physical and tried to bully us, but our boys kept their heads and scored two brilliant goals. Shea Gordon was a joy to watch in midfield and Paul Donaghy and Naoise Martin were in complete control at the back.”
Man of the match was awarded to Gordon for his tireless effort and fantastic runs throughout the 60 minutes. Congratulations Shea!
Congratulations to all the players who represented Dungannon United Youth U12’s in this Northern Ireland Cup campaign:
Tom McDermott, Dalaigh Jones, Tomas Carney, Paul Donaghy, Naoise Martin, Shea Gordon, Samuel Haugh, Daniel Kerr, Gavin Corr, Ethan Burns, Connor Murtagh, Paul Donnelly, Jordan Hazelton, Aaron McCammon and Deane Kane.
20 June, 2010
SOPFC beat DUY
DUY U12 travelled to Lenadoon in Belfast last Thursday to plat S.O.P.F.C in their last league match this season. As Linfield beat Oxford United Stars the previous Saturday, a first place finish was out of their reach, but a win in this match ensured second place was theirs.
The pitch conditions were fairly poor and with the rain lashing down, conditions were not great for the travelling Dungannon side. As has often been the case throughout this season, they took a while to get settled into the match and start demonstrating their ability to play some great football. SOPFC were certainly up for a fight and they were not about to let Dungannon dictate all the play. Within the first half, the referee awarded SOPFC a penalty which the oppositions striker put wide, giving Dungannon some renewed passion to try and take some points from this match. Shortly before the first half, DUY settled their game and made their passes count.
The half time whistle blew to a score line of DUY 0 – 0 SOPFC.
Manager Joe McAree and Assistant Manager Tony Courtney brought on Aaron McCammon in the second half and it wasn’t long before he put DUY ahead with a good run on the oppositions goal and beating the keeper.
Dungannon managed to control the play for the majority of the second half until eight minutes before the full time whistle when SOPFC equalised. Dungannon pushed on for the winning goal, but were caught with two minutes remaining, when SOPFC scored their second. The final whistle blew before Dungannon were able to push for their equalizer.
Manager Joe McAree said “We didn’t play anywhere near our best on a very bumpy and uneven pitch, however we were one nil up and well on top in the second half before some poor defending saw us concede two goals in the last eight minutes. We need to work hard to the final whistle. Man of the match for his 2nd half performance goes to Jordan Hazelton.” Congratualations Jordan.
SOPFC also won their final match of their league, which meant that they went above Dungannon in the league table, leaving Joe and Tony’s yellow and blue army finishing 3rd on 51 points.
Team P W D L PTS
1. Linfield 22 18 1 3 55
2. St Oliver Plunkett FC 22 17 3 2 54
3. Dungannon United Youth 22 17 0 5 51
4. Greenisland Boys 22 17 0 5 51
5. Larne Youth 22 12 4 6 40
6. Ballinamallard Youth 22 11 1 10 34
7. Oxford United Stars 22 9 3 10 30
8. Cliftonville 22 7 3 12 24
9. Sion Swifts 22 10 4 8 34
10. Glenavon 22 9 1 12 28
11. Bertie Peacock Youths 22 6 9 7 27
12. Carniny Youth 22 8 2 12 26
13. Maiden City Academy 22 4 6 12 18
14. Ballymoney United Youth 22 4 4 14 16
15. Limavady Youths 22 5 1 16 16
16. Ards Youth 22 1 0 21 3
20 June, 2010
Knocked out of the knock out cup
DUY U12 players, managers and travelling supporters were broken hearted last Thursday night when Dungannon United Youth U12 team were put out of the National League Cup after failing to beat Linfield on penalties.
Dungannon started slow, their usual determination not evident as opposed to Linfield who came out from the beginning looking to rectify their loss from the week before. DUY played some great football in the first half, but their fire was only simmering as Linfield stood tall against any potential attacks on goal.
The first goal on the score board came when Linfield beat the Dungannon defence half way through the first half, which was what the blue and yellow army needed to get a little aggression to start fighting for the win that would take them to the final of the knock out cup. Their renewed energy was rewarded when a free kick from the half way line by Paul Donaghy found Samuel Haugh who sent the ball into the back of the Linfield goal bringing the half time score to 1 - 1.
The second half was again equally contested with Linfield scoring a phenomenal goal from a free kick that would rival any premiership effort. Tom McDermott, DUY keeper made a valiant effort to save the ball but it was too far into the top right hand of the goal. DUY fought hard and again equalised when Shea Gordon beat the Linfield keeper.
Full time: DUY 2 - 2 Linfield
As this match was to produce a finalist for the National League Knock Out Cup, the game went to ten minutes extra time each way. Throughout both half’s DUY were the superior side, playing the better football and denied any chances they had of taking the lead. Decisions that should have gone Dungannon’s way were not given but the lads battled on relentlessly trying to score the winner. The full time whistle on extra time blew and the match went to penalties.
DUY opted to take their penalties first but were denied winning their place in the final when Linfield won 5 - 3.
Man of the match was awarded to DUY no 7, Samuel Haugh. Congratulations on a brilliant performance!
Although the boys were slow at starting in this match, they fought with their usual dogged determination and passion and were unlucky not to put the game to bed in the second half or extra time.
The management and travelling supporters could not be prouder of their performances throughout the season and wish them all the luck in their final league match of the National League next Thursday against SOPFC (Time and venue to be confirmed) and against Glendowan in the Northern Ireland Cup Final at the end of May
