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Northend United U10s 4 Dromore Amateurs U10s 1 - League Cup Final Wednesday 4th May 2011

Northend United reached this cup final in some style, scoring 27 goals and only conceding 2, topping their group in style. They were quietly confident in the build-up to this match having beaten their opponents twice this season already.

The windy conditions and dry pitch at The Billy Neill playing fields were to play their part in this tense final. Northend lost the toss before the match so for the first half; they were playing into the wind. From kick-off, Northend were put under constant pressure, and with the wind in their faces, found it hard to get out of their own half.

Because of this, Dromore took advantage and went one nil ahead from a great shot just inside the box.

At one nil down, some of the Northend players appeared visibly nervous but it was noticeable that any time the wind dropped, Northend took control and tried to play their passing game. Northend slowly got their game together, defended well when required and reached the break one down. Half-time score Northend 0: Dromore 1.

With the wind to their advantage in the second half, Northend immediately took full advantage and equalised five minutes into the second half. Top goalscorer, Sean McKay, cut in from the right and unleashed an unstoppable shop into the top corner of the net.

Five minutes later, McKay replicated this and put Northend ahead for the first time.

Northend put Dromore under constant pressure at this stage and forced corner after corner. This pressure led to Northend's third goal, where good interplay between Scott Sempey and Sean McKay on the left, enabled Sean McKay to drill another shot on target. Fortunately, the Dromore keeper fumbled the shot, allowing Thomas McAuley to nip in and tap the rebound into the net to put the Blues 3-1 up.

At this stage, Dromore were now understandably and visibly shell-shocked. Both Scott Sempey and Conor Meneely took complete control in midfield, Scott Sempey outstanding in the second half. At the back, Robert McCluney easily coped with the few attacks Dromore strung together and Northend keeper Louis McAfee looked at ease.

The fourth goal, his hat-trick and final goal of the game was scored by Sean McKay after some great work by Scott Sempey. When the final whistle blew, the Northend coaches and supporters joined the young players on the pitch for the celebrations.

This League Cup win topped off a memorable season for Northend. After a slow start in the early days of the season, this young team gradually improved and by the end of the season, had finished runner up in the George Best Shield and emerged as League Cup winners. All the players in the squad deserve full credit for all they have achieved this year and all are already looking forward to the Prize Giving day at the Michelin Club on Saturday 28th May.

Special thanks to Club Chairperson Johnny Sayers and Treasurer John Devlin and Rodney Campbell for their support during the season, especially attending on Cup Final night. Extra thanks to all the parents for their encouragement and support during the season and attending en masse, for the Cup Final. Finally, thanks to all the players who have shown what can be achieved with hard work and dedication, combined with a little help from the coaches!

Men of the Match: Sean McKay and Robert McCluney

Panel: L McAfee, A Graffin, M Willighan, R Campbell, R McCluney, S McKay(c), C Meneely, S Sempey, C McGarry, S Lecky, J Mitchell, S McCusker, T McAuley, O Connolly, R Lennon

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Northend United U10s 16 Sirocco Colts U10s 0 Saturday 30th April 2011

In their last league cup-tie of the season, Northend quietly fancied their chances against this young Sirocco Colts side, having beaten them convincingly, earlier in the season. From the first minute, Northend went on the attack and Josh Mitchell quickly put Northend ahead after a Sean McKay cross. Scott Sempey scored shortly after then Stuart Lecky added the third, just after having two goals ruled out for off-side. Conor McGarry made it four just before the break, leaving the half time score 4-0 to the Northend Blues.

Northend made several changes at half-time and using the roll-on/roll-off subs to their advantage, added twelve goals in the second half. Both Christie McKillop and Sean McKay scored second half hat-tricks. Remaining goals were added by Rian Lennon, Aiden Graffin, Ruairi Campbell, Matthew Willighan, Scott Sempey and Robert McCluney. In the end, this turned out to be an easy victory for Northend and this result sets them up well for the League Cup Final against Dromore on Wednesday evening 4th May at the Billy Neill pitches on the Comber Road, Belfast.

Northend totally dominated this match from start to finish, but overall, two players just edged the rest with their performances on the day. Christie McKillop scored a fifteen minute hat-trick and gave a commanding performance for one so young. Robert McCluney never put a foot wrong all day and deservedly scored his first goal of the season, with almost the last kick of the match.

Men of the Match: Christie McKillop, Robert McCluney

Panel: L McAfee, A Graffin, M Willighan, R McCluney, R Campbell, S McKay, S Sempey, C Meneely, C McGarry, S Lecky(c), J Mitchell, S McCusker, T McAuley, C McKillop, O Connolly, R Lennon

Glendowan U10s 1 Northend United U10s 7 Saturday 16th April 2011

Northend needed to win this League Cup tie to virtually ensure progression, to the League Cup Final. They had beaten Glendowan 4 - 0 and 4 - 1 in their two previous encounters, but this was a must win match, if they were to achieve their dream, and reach their first Cup Final.

Northend started the match nervously, allowing Glendowan to press them from the first whistle. Glendowan's constant pressure resulted in them going ahead halfway through the first half. Even 0 - 1 down, Northend still appeared nervous and lethargic, and were lucky not to concede another. Fortunately, just before half-time, Northend started to work their way back into the match, and after some good approach play by Scott Sempey and Sean McKay, Conor McGarry found space in the box, and placed the ball into the corner of the net, to bring the scores level just before half-time. Half time score 1 - 1

This seemed to invigorate Northend and from the start of the second half, they started to play their normal game, pressurizing their opponents into mistakes and then playing their passing game.

This led them to going ahead with Stuart Lecky blocking a Glendowan defender's clearance in the box, this resulting in the ball flying past the Glendowan keeper, into the net. Glendowan's players visibly dropped their heads at this point and from then on, it was how many Northend were going to add to their total.

Conor McGarry made it 1 - 3 with a superb header from a Sean McKay corner. Sean McKay then added two quick goals. The first was a great move starting on the left, involving Conor McGarry, Matthew Willighan and Conor Meneely who released Sean McKay who scored from about twelve yards out. The second was a brilliant free-kick, Sean McKay curling the ball around the wall, over the Glendowan keeper, into the top corner of the net.

Thomas McAuley added the sixth with the goal of the game. Matthew Willighan and Scott Sempey combined well to set Thomas McAuley free just inside their opponents half and despite a Glendowan defender hacking at his heels, he managed to hold him off , draw the keepr out , and coolly slide the ball past him into the corner of the net.

Sean McKay added Northend's seventh and final goal of the game, firing another free kick in, after being hauled down, by a Glendowan defender, on the edge of the box, leaving the final score Glendowan 1 Northend United 7.

Northend finished this game superbly and this sets them up nicely for their last League Cup tie, with bottom of the table, Sirocco Colts. There were several inspired performances in this match. There is no doubt that the hard work of Robert McCluney, Matthew Willighan, Scott Sempey and Sean McKay in the first half, gave Northend the stage to go on and outplay their opponents, in the second half. Ruairi Campbell got over his lacklustre first half performance and was outstanding in the second half. Overall though, Sean McKay with a hat-trick and Matthew Willighan with his brilliant defensive display, were both Men of the Match on the day.

Men of the Match: Sean McKay and Matthew Willighan

Panel: L McAfee, O Connolly, M Willighan, R McCluney, R Campbell, S McKay, C Meneely, S Sempey (c), C McGarry, S Lecky, J Mitchell, T McAuley, A Graffin, R Lennon

Castle Juniors U10s 1 Northend United U10s 4 Saturday 9th April 2011

Northend played their first home League Cup Group match at the Billy Neill playing fields, against Castle Juniors. Having beaten Castle Juniors twice already this season, Northend approached this match quietly confident.

The first twenty minutes of this match were very scrappy, yet Northend still managed to score three goals. Conor McGarry opened the scoring with a close range header after a Sean McKay corner. Josh Mitchell scored the second after racing through from the half-way line, onto a Scott Sempey through ball, and coolly slotted the ball past the Castle Juniors keeper. The third was scored by a second Conor McGarry header, after a goal mouth melee.

Northend had raced three goals clear despite not being at their best and lack of concentration let Castle Juniors in to score.

Northend added their fourth after Scott Sempey beat two players easily just inside the opposition half, ran to the bye-line and squared for Josh Mitchell to score his second and leave half time score 4-1 to the Northend Babies.

Northend were back to their best in the second half, and although they failed to add to their tally, they totaled dominated the remainder of the match.

Sean McKay and Conor McGarry caused the Castle Juniors defence countless problems on the flanks and created numerous chances for their teammates. Philip Kyle hit the post, Sean McKay missed a penalty and Josh Mitchell hit the bar with a great header, just narrowly missing his first hat-trick.

Scott Sempey, Josh Mitchell, Conor McGarry and Sean McKay just out-performed the rest of the Northend players on the day, on what was a great second-half display. Northend will also be glad to see Conor McGarry back to his best again for the last few matches of the season. Overall, Scott Sempey just edged the performance on the day.

Man of the Match: Scott Sempey

Panel: L McAfee, O Connolly, M Willighan, R McCluney, R Campbell, S McKay, S Sempey, A Graffin, C McGarry, J Mitchell(c), R Lennon, T McAuley, P Kyle

Northend United U10s 5 Glendowan U10s 1 Saturday 2nd April 2011

In their last Shield match of the season, the Northend Babies wanted to go out on a high by beating Glendowan, just one place beneath them in the Shield. Northend started this match like a house on fire and dominated possession for the entire first half.

They deservedly went ahead after five minutes after some great work on the ball from Scott Sempey allowed Sean McKay to drift free and slot the ball easily past the Glendowan goalkeeper.

Minutes later, Sean McKay set up Conor McGarry to score Northend's second. Oisin Connolly slid a beautiful pass through to Sean McKay to score Northend's third goal, chipping the goalkeeper from around twenty yards.

The last goal of the half featured some great ball work by Sean McKay on the right bye line, chipping the ball over the Glendowan goalkeeper and defenders allowing Josh Mitchell to score Northend's fourth, to leave half-time score 4-0 to the Blues.

Northend were slow to start in the second half and allowed Glendowan to come back into the match, Glendowan scoring their first goal after ten minutes of the second half. Gradually they came into the game and had several chances to score but the Northend defence ensured all their shots came from outside the box.

At this stage, Northend appeared to tire and substitutes Rian Lennon and Stuart Lecky came on and gradually Northend took control again. Rian Lennon and Stuart Lecky combined well with Conor McGarry and Sean McKay on the wings and this created several close chances for Northend.

The Blues fifth and the final goal of the match came from captain on the day, Conor Meneely, who lobbed the ball over the Glendowan defence and goalkeeper into the corner of the net.

Glendowan almost added another five minutes from the end but the Northend goalkeeper, Louis McAfee, pulled of a great save. This was a great performance from Northend and in the end easily disposed of Glendowan with a 5 - 1 victory.

All the Northend players preformed well on the day but Scott Sempey and Josh Mitchell just edged Sean McKay and Oisin Connolly to win joint Man of the match.

Men of the Match: Scott Sempey and Josh Mitchell.

Panel: L McAfee, O Connolly, R McCluney, R Campbell, M Willighan, S McKay, C Meneely(c), S Sempey, C McGarry, A Graffin, J Mitchell, S Lecky, R Lennon, T McAuley, P Kyle