DUY blues beat Ballinamallard

Dungannon United Youth U12’s played host to Ballinamallard last Tuesday evening at home in the Junior Stadium. Every game counts as now Dungannon are trying to maintain their winning ways and stay at the top of the National League Table in their first season playing in it.

Nerves played a very large part of this match as the Dungannon boys took a while to settle in and play a good standard of football. Silly mistakes and luck for the opposition saw Dungannon 2 – 0 down at half time and the supporters prayed for a turn around so that we could retain our lead on Linfield by 2 points at the top.

Within a few minutes of the second half starting DUY’s number 10 Paul Donnelly was blessed with a shot on goal that restarted the game for the Dungannon side, giving them a fighting chance to come away from this match with something. Right wing, Deane Kane gave Dungannon the equalizer with 15 minutes of the match remaining which gave the boys the boost they needed to play their style of football and not allow Ballinamallard dictate the game. Daniel Kerr answered any doubt of Dungannon’s fighting spirit when he beat the Ballinamallard ‘keeper with a fine penalty shot that resulted in the final score being 3 – 2, keeping the DUY U12’s at the top of the table!

Manager Joe McAree said “In a really exciting game, Ballinamallard asked us a few questions, but we answered them with a powerful second half performance. Man of the match was Dalaigh Jones”

DUY get the Blues…

It’s amazing what a difference five days and a less experienced referee makes to the game of football. Sunday saw the Dungannon United Youth U12 National League team meet Linfield at home at the Junior Stadium. On the previous two meetings Dungannon had come out the victors with their Northern Ireland Cup medals and a much needed 3 points in the National League. This game promised to be big, with only 2 points separating the top two teams in the final run of the National League season.

Dungannon had to take these three points to secure their lead and to make the gap bigger between them and 2^nd place and although the first half resulted in no goals, the large crowd of Dungannon supporters knew that there was a goal in the Dungannon boys to put them ahead. DUY were certainly playing the better standard of football. Samuel Haugh was denied a penalty when he was brought down blatantly in the opposition’s box to the utter dismay of the Dungannon supporters, managers and players.

Dalaigh Jones broke the deadlock shortly into the second half when he doggedly pushed onto create chaos in the Linfield goal mouth and was awarded for his persistence with a goal. Celebrations were short lived when ten minutes later the referee awarded Linfield a free kick just outside the penalty box and a shot on goal was unable to be saved by DUY keeper Tom McDermott. The Dungannon boys dug in deep and had numerous attempts on goal saved by the Linfield keeper, who without a doubt, kept Linfield’s chances alive throughout the second half.

With 6 minutes remaining a Linfield player chipped the Dungannon keeper from an offside position and this goal stood according to the referee even with the Linfield linesman holding his flag in the air for offside. It was obvious to all the supporters watching that the referee’s decision was wrong and unfortunately his error has probably lost the DUY U12s  the National League which is a bitter pill to swallow after all their hard work, drive and determination.

Manager Joe McAree said “It was disappointing to lose the game as I felt we were the better team. The Linfield keeper made some excellent saves whilst ours had very little to do. I think most people would agree their equaliser was a cross that looped into the top corner of the goal and as for the winning goal, well only the referee knows why he allowed it, as in the words of the Linfield official – It looked well offside.”

Man of the match Dalaigh Jones.