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Northend United 6 Hillsborough Boys 3 Saturday 22nd March 2025

Northend United produced a dominant display to claim a comprehensive 9-3 victory over Hillsborough Boys Juniors in the League Cup quarter-final, booking their spot in the next round.

The match got off to a blistering start, with Northend firing three goals in the opening 10 minutes. All three were the work of the ever-dangerous Ruairi Walker.

Conor McGarry added a fourth with a superbly executed free-kick, taking Northend’s lead to four. Hillsborough managed to pull one back on the break, but McGarry responded in kind, making it 5-1 to Northend.

Despite Northend's dominance, Hillsborough showed resilience, exploiting a few gaps in Northend’s defence to grab two more goals, keeping the game slightly more competitive. However, Northend’s relentless attacking continued as Oisin Goodall, Christian Holba, and Tadgh McCann all found the back of the net. Walker completed a great match scoring his fourth goal to seal the win for Northend.

The standout performance of the match came from Blaise O'Neill, whose work in both defence and attack earned him the Player of the Match award.

Player of the Match: Blaise O'Neill

Panel: William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Blaise O'Neill, Liam Liddy, Conor McGarry, Ruairi Walker, Tadgh McCann, Christian Holba and Oisin Goodall

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Northend United 2 Lisburn Rangers Boys 2 Saturday 15th March 2025

In a thrilling and hard-fought encounter, Lisburn Rangers Boys and Northend United played out a 2-2 draw in what was an action-packed match.

The game started tightly, and Northend United created the early chances, but it was Lisburn who struck first. A well-taken corner kick allowed Lisburn capitalized to take a 1-0 lead.

However, Northend responded swiftly, and their persistence paid off when Ruairi Walker found the back of the net with a brilliant left-footed strike.

The remainder of the game saw Northend continue to create the majority of chances, but they were caught on the break when Lisburn mounted a quick counterattack to give Lisburn a 2-1 advantage.

But Northend showed their resilience and determination. With time ticking away, they found an equaliser through the hard work of Tadgh McCann, who made sure to finish off a well-executed move to make it 2-2.

Northend’s fighting spirit shone through, as they kept pushing until the final whistle but just couldn't find that winner.Full time 2-2

Player of the Match: Ruairi Walker

Panel: William Porter, Ollie McCann, Oisin Goodall, Liam Liddy, Ruairi Walker, Christian Holba, Tadgh McCann, Blaise O'Neill

Northend United 6 Taughmonagh 0 Saturday 8th March 2025

Northend United put on an impressive display as they cruised to an 8-0 victory over Taughmonagh YM Academy in a dominant performance that saw them break down their opponents with ease.

The game began slowly, but it was Northend who found the breakthrough when Tadgh McCann slotted the ball into the back of the net. McCann quickly doubled his tally, putting his side firmly in control.

From there, Northend's dominance became evident. Conor McGarry made it 3-0 with a powerful strike, adding to the pressure on Taughmonagh. Northend’s impressive passing and strong high defensive line kept Taughmonagh pinned in their own half for most of the game, with the home side struggling to break through.

Ruairi Walker then added two goals to the tally, showing his clinical finishing, before McGarry scored his second just moments after. As the game drew to a close, it was Liam Liddy who rounded off the scoring. He first curled in a beauty from a corner kick and then capped off the game by converting a free kick to make it 8-0.

Northend's control from start to finish left Taughmonagh with little opportunity to mount any challenge. The performance was a testament to the team's excellent teamwork, defensive solidity, and attacking flair. Full time 6-0

Player of the Match: Liam Liddy

Panel: William Porter, Oisin Goodall, Blaise O'Neill, Liam Liddy, Ruairi Walker, Conor McGarry, Tadgh McCann, Ollie O'Kane

Northend United 5 Glendowan 1 Saturday 1st March 2025

The match began with Northend applying early pressure, and it didn't take long for them to break the deadlock. A superb shot from Ruairi Walker found the back of the net, giving Northend a deserved lead. Glendowan, however, responded well and managed to equalize with a powerful strike that left Northend goalkeeper William Porter with little chance to intervene.

But Northend weren't to be undone. Just minutes after the equalizer, they regained their lead courtesy of a perfectly placed free kick from Conor McGarry. With their confidence restored, Northend took full control of the match, further asserting their dominance by playing a high pressing line and with that adding two more goals from Eoin McArdle. His clinical finishing made it 3-1 and then 4-1, putting the game beyond Glendowan's reach.

Glendowan had a few promising chances to reduce the deficit, but they found Northend's defensive line, led by Oisin Goodall, to be resolute and difficult to break down.

In the dying moments of the game, Tadgh McCann put the finishing touches on Northend's comprehensive victory, scoring in the final minute to make it 5-1. Full time 5-1

Player of the Match: Oisin Goodall

Panel: William Porter, Oisin Goodall, Blaise O'Neill, Liam Liddy, Conor McGarry, Ruairi Walker, Tadgh McCann, Eoin McArdle, Grace Wilkinson

Northend United 1 Windmill Stars 4 Saturday 22nd February 2025

Windmill Stars secured a 4-1 victory over Northend United, but the scoreline didn’t quite reflect the run of play.

The match began with Northend Utd on the front foot, dominating possession and creating several early chances. Windmill struggled to break out of their half for the first 15 minutes, yet despite Northend's dominance, they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Windmill weathered the storm and, against the run of play, managed to take the lead. Northend, undeterred by the setback, continued to press and enjoyed a lion’s share of possession. Their persistence paid off with 5 mins to play when Tadgh McCann fired in an impressive equaliser to make it 1-1.

However, the game would take an unfortunate turn for Northend. In a shocking turn of events, just minutes after their equaliser, Windmill pounced on a lapse in concentration and scored again, taking a 2-1 lead. The Northend defence, rattled by the quick turnaround, was further undone by two set-piece goals—both coming from free kicks.

The final score of 4-1 was flattering to Windmill but harsh on Northend, who had worked tirelessly throughout the match. Full time 1-4

Player of the Match: Tadgh McCann

Panel: William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Oisin Goodall, Conor McGarry, Ruairi Walker, Liam Liddy, Tadgh McCann, Christian Holba, Blaise O'Neill

Northend United 2 Lisburn Rangers Boys 0 Saturday 15th February 2025

Northend came out on top in a dominant 2-0 win over Lisburn Rangers Boys, showcasing strong teamwork and clinical finishing. The first five minutes of the match were closely contested, however, Northend quickly found their rhythm and began to push Lisburn back into their own half.

Their patient passing and high press paid off in the 15th minute when Conor McGarry fired a well-taken shot into the back of the net, putting Northend ahead. From that moment, Lisburn struggled to escape their own half as Northend continued to dictate the play with impressive composure and movement.

The game was sealed when Tadgh McCann finished off a well-worked team goal, doubling Northend's advantage. Lisburn had little response, unable to break down the solid defensive setup or create any significant chances.

Northend maintained their dominance until the final whistle, securing a comfortable victory and taking all three points home. Full time 2-0

Player of the Match: Tadgh McCann

Northend Squad: William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Oisin Goodall, Conor McGarry, Liam Liddy, Ruairi Walker, Blaise O'Neill, Tadgh McCann, Christian Holba

Northend United 0 Castlewellan Town 5 Saturday 1st February 2025

Northend struggled to find their rhythm from the start. Castlewellan capitalized on this, with a couple of scrappy goals that put them 2-0 up before Northend could find their footing.

However, after the second goal, Northend showed some resilience and came alive for the next 15 minutes. There were some promising chances, including a shot that hit the post and a controversial penalty appeal that was waved away by the referee. Despite the pressure, Northend couldn’t find a way through, and their best efforts were denied.

As the game wore on, fatigue began to show, and Northend conceded three more goals from avoidable mistakes. Despite the scoreline, they continued to push, and once again, they were unlucky when another shot rattled the post. Full time 0-5

Player of the Match: Ruairi Walker

Northend Squad: William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Oisin Goodall, Liam Liddy, Ruairi Walker, Conor McGarry, Christian Holba (c), Tadgh McCann

Northend United 0 Windmill Stars 6 Saturday 18th January 2025

Up against an undefeated Windmill stars team all season, this was always going to be a difficult task for the Wee Blues. Windmill were in control for the first 30 minutes, taking full advantage of their time and space on the ball to notch up a comprehensive lead.

However, Northend showed great resilience in the final 15 minutes. Despite the scoreline, they showed renewed spirit and determination, pushing windmill in search of a goal. Their efforts were commendable, but despite their hard work and a few promising moments, they were unable to find the back of the net. Full time 0-6

Player of the Match: Christian Holba

Northend Squad: William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Tadgh McCann, Blaise O'Neill, Conor McGarry (C), Oisin Goodall, Liam Liddy, Ruairi Walker, Christian Holba

Lisburn Distillery 5 Northend United 2 Saturday 11th January 2025

From the kick-off, Lisburn put Northend under immediate pressure, and despite Northend’s resilience, the visitors could only hold off the hosts for so long. Lisburn eventually broke the deadlock and, not long after, doubled their lead with a well-taken second goal.

Northend’s goalkeeper, William Porter made a number of impressive saves to keep his side in the game. However, despite his efforts, Lisburn were able to add two more goals before Northend found a glimmer of hope. Tadgh McCann pulled one back for the visitors, offering a brief respite for his side.

Encouraged by the goal, Northend, with renewed vigor, were rewarded when Conor McGarry scored a fine strike to bring the score to 4-2. However, Northend’s momentum was halted when one of their players went down injured. Lisburn swiftly capitalised on the situation, scoring a fifth goal to seal their victory.

Despite the defeat, Northend can be proud of their spirited performance.

Player of the Match: William Porter

Northend Squad:

William Porter, Ollie O'Kane, Conor McGarry, Ruairi Walker, Blaise O'Neill, Liam Liddy, Tadgh McCann, Oisin Goodall, Christian Holba