ARMAGH   CITY   YOUTH 

The first major success of the  Armagh City Youth  football season was achieved on Saturday last when the  TMET sponsored U-13 side  gained promotion  on the strength of their three-nil win away to Institute. In this their first full season in the Northern Ireland Youth League  the squad  have remained  unbeaten with  forty three points from a possible forty five! Two more points from their remaining three games will leave the team  promoted as champions  no matter what their nearest challengers amass. The squad have also received word that they have been accepted into the elite section of the Umbro Cup in Galway  and are looking forward to the event this summer.

Major  success also beckons for the Homecare sponsored Armagh City Youth U-18 side in the next few months as Saturday’s quarter-final victory over Woodvale Youth puts the team in the  Harry Cavan Youth Cup semi-final against Glenavon 111. Playing into a gale force  wind in the first half  City  continued to play attacking football and two coolly taken goals left them  in a commanding position at the interval. On resuming, and with the wind at their backs, the Armagh side then dominated the game and ran out convincing winners. In a further boost for the standing of the Mid Ulster Juvenile League the Lurgan Celtic Youth  team   reached the other semi-final were they will face  Cliftonville Strollers. The semi-finals will probably be played midweek and at neutral venues.

City’s U-15  were the only one of the Club teams remaining in the NIBFA CUP   and they used home advantage to good effect against unbeaten Derry  and District League  leaders, Top Of The Hill Celtic  to record a two-nil win.  The Armagh squad now await this week’s draw to discover who they meet in the last sixteen . 

The U-14 side lost  their first League game this season when  a determined Dungannon team took the points  in a top of the table match  on Saturday .  However the Armagh side  still have control of their own League  quest as winning their remaining games would put them back  as leaders. Both the U-14 and U-12  squads can also look ahead to a visit to the Foyle Cup  in the summer.       

Meanwhile the newly promoted Armagh City Ladies  are back training for their entry into Championship  level  league  football.  Any new members are welcome to come and join the training on Monday nights in Ardmore at 7pm and again on Friday nights  on 3G at Cathedral Road at 7pm . All welcome. 

The  Homecare  sponsored  Mini-Soccer has also resumed as before on Thursday nights  6-7pm  and Saturday’s  9-15-10-15 am.

                              Results  :   Saturday  21^st   January

U-13 :    Armagh City   3   v   Institute  0

U-14 :    Armagh City   0   v   Dungannon  Youth  4

U-15 :    Armagh  City   2  v   Top  Of  The  Hill  Celtic  0

U-18 :    Armagh  City   7  v   Woodvale  Youth  0

A double header this weekend with both the U-11 and U-12   teams hosting their

corresponding age groups from  Cookstown. Three of the City Youth sides travel with the U-13’s going seeking the necessary League points in Magherafelt, the U-14 on a similar mission in Dromore and the U-16 following the same agenda in Newry against Lisdrum.  The final team in action this weekend are the U-18 squad who play Lurgan Town in Armagh.

                               Fixtures  :  Saturday  28^th   January

U-11 :  Armagh  City   v   Cookstown Youth ( 10.30am @ Ardmore )

U-12 :  Armagh  City   v   Cookstown   Youth ( 10.30am @ Ardmore )

U-13 :  Armagh  City   v   Magherafelt   ( 11.00am   Away )

U- 14 : Armagh  City   v   Dromore   ( 11.00am . Dromore )

U-16 :  Armagh  City   v   Lisdrum Youth  ( 10.30am . Newry )

U-18 :  Armagh  City  v   Lurgan Town  ( 10.00am . Armagh )

              ***   ALL  MATCHES  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  CHANGE   ***