ARMAGH   CITY   YOUTH  WEEKLY UPDATES

The final stages of the various 2011- 2012 Leagues and Cups has brought both

success and disappointment to the teams of Armagh City Youth. Indeed three of the City squads are still involved in the quest for further honours in a season which  has already achieved many footballing firsts.

Three wins in a week  have  taken the TMET sponsored  Armagh City Youth U-14 side to a League title and to the final of the League Cup. A convincing five-nil win away to Dromore on Saturday 5^th May meant that the squad had achieved the  marvellous double of  League and Cup.  On the following Wednesday night the same squad came from behind twice against Dungannon to win the League Cup semi-final three-two and with the Final ahead they have given themselves the opportunity to complete what would be a remarkable treble!! 

Not to be outdone City’s U-13 team  are also chasing a treble and took the next step to securing this with a  tremendous win in the National League Plate semi-final away to Lisburn Youth. The Armagh side established a two goal lead only for the home  team to pull a goal back, City scored again but Lisburn replied. The final stages of an exciting game saw both teams have goal chances but League winners Armagh emerged as three-two winners and now face Carniny in the Final on Saturday, 19^th  May. A semi-final against  Ridgway in the League Cup  keeps the path to that third trophy on course.

The Homecare sponsored U-18  team completed wins over Markethill and Hillsborough to take themselves to the top of the table with Crumlin.  The bonus is that  City have two games in hand on their rivals and have  two of their remaining four League games at home.  A record of one hundred  and  seventeen goals for and just seventeen against means that should goal difference apply then there will be an obvious winner. 

Whilst the afore mentioned City youth teams have been enjoying the results of all their hard work both the U-16 and U-15 squads faced the end of their campaigns through being on the wrong side of the  dreaded penalty kick decider!  The U-15 side had made the  long haul to Salthill on Sat 5^th to play the holders, Salthill Devon in the semi-final

of the Lion’s Cup.  In a tremendous game the home led but City equalized straight from a free kick.  Armagh then took the lead but  could not prevent the hosts from grabbing a goal to  tie the game.  In the resulting penalty shootout City lost five-three.

Ironically it was to be  the City U-16 side’s  misfortune to suffer  exactly  the same fate in midweek.  Armagh faced Magherafelt in a League Cup semi-final in Cookstown in a tie which pitched the League winners against the runner-ups, Armagh. The contest ended scoreless and so went to penalties and unfortunately City once again ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline  !  

                               Wednesday  2^nd  May

U-11 :   Armagh City   3   v    Craigavon  City  3

U-14 :   Armagh  City  4   v    Seagoe   2

NIWFA:   Armagh  City   Ladies  7   v    Dromore   0   

                         Saturday   5^th  May

U-11 :  Armagh  City  0  v    Coleraine  5

U-13:   Armagh City   3  v    Lisburn Youth  2

U-14 :  Armagh  City  5  v    Dromore  0

U-15 :  Armagh  City  2  v    Salthill  Devon  2   ( Salthill won  4-3 on penalties ) 

                               Wednesday  9^th May

U-14 : Armagh City  3  v   Dungannon  Youth  2 

U-16 : Armagh City  0  v   Magherafelt  0  (Magherafelt won  5-3  on penalties)

U-18 :  Armagh City  4   v  Markethill  3 

                                      Saturday  12^th May

U-12 :    Armagh City  3   v   Windmill Stars  5

U-18  :   Armagh  City  6   v    Hillsborough  Boys 1

 Only three City Youth teams have yet to complete their fixtures.  The U-13 squad        

face Carniny this Saturday in the NL Plate Final and then must wait for a League Cup semi-final against Ridgeway to be scheduled. The U-14 side have a League Cup Final against St,Mary’s to be rearranged.  Finally the U-18 team will  have to  find  dates for four League games with two at home and two away. 

                                   Saturday  19^th   May :

U-13 :   Armagh City   v   Carniny   Youth  (  TBC )

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

                                   ***   MINI-SOCCER   ***

Homecare sponsored Mini-Soccer will continue as usual on Thursday 17^th May, 6-7pm and  Saturday 19^th May,  9.15-10.15am. The Mini-soccer coaches wish to

acknowledge a generous donation from  Manor Security Systems  towards  the  continued development of the  young players footballing skills.

ARMAGH CITY YOUTH U-15'S     LION'S CUP SEMI-FINAL.

ARMAGH CITY YOUTH U-12 SHIELD WINNERS 2011-2012

Armagh City U15s travelled to Galway on Saturday to represent the club and the local Lions Club in the semi final of the All Ireland Lions Cup.  The team was drawn away to Salthill Devon in Galway to play the cup holders.  The team made the long journey to Galway and produced a brave display taking the game to extra time and penalties. The game was exciting from start to finish with both teams giving everything they had.

City could have gone one up early on when Grimley was denied by a great save by the Salthill keeper.  City chased and harried as they tried to contain the slick Salthill youngsters who took control of the game retaining possession and dominating the early stages before scoring on twenty minutes after a series of corners that put the City defence under serious pressure.  The goal did not deter the City youngsters who upped the tempo of the game as they started to settle down.  After the opening goal both teams had chances with Murphy, Quinn and Grimley having chances to square the game.  While Stewart, Brady and O’Kane all made telling tackles to deny a very mobile Salthill attack.

 ARMAGH   CITY   YOUTH

A hectic end of season has seen many of the Armagh City Youth  teams  facing three games in the last seven days and also having to play in some horrific weather

conditions. The TMET sponsored City sides have nevertheless still produced  skilful and successful football. 

In terrible conditions last Wednesday night the U-12 squad found themselves, just

like Bayern and Real, involved in a tense semi-final tie against opponents Dungannon Youth. City had an early lead cancelled out by Dungannon but the Armagh side prevailed in the penalty shoot-out to win  5-4. On Saturday the team took matters a stage further when they became the latest local team to win a trophy by securing the Shield by virtue of a four-nil scoreline. 

Fresh from their Cup Final victory on Saturday 21^st April the U-14 squad  continued their winning ways with a comfortable  League Cup  success at Gordon .  Chasing a treble of League,  Cup and League Cup a depleted side travelled to Dungannon on Saturday 28^th  April yet a determined attitude give them three vital League points.

The TMET side now sit one point behind the League leaders with the final game in hand, The U-11 team did not let the weather  affect their very good end of season form and they too secured a comfortable  win over Lurgan Town. The squad  have been buoyed by the news that they have qualified for the semi-finals of  the League Cup.  City’s  U-13 side continue to excel and with wins over Glendowan and Ballymoor they also have now qualified  for the Semi-finals of the League Cup and the Plate competitions. 

A two-nil success in their final national League game against Warrenpoint has been

exactly the incentive the Armagh U-15 squad needed before they make the long journey to Galway  on Saturday 5^th May  for the Lion’s Cup semi-final. The game against Salthill Devon is scheduled for 2pm in Galway.

Elsewhere the City U-16  lost their Shield final  two-nil in a game they dominated for long periods without registering  a score and City’s U-18 squad experienced the other side of Cup football when they lost their Décor Cup game against Lisburn Rangers. 

They can now concentrate on  gathering  enough points from their remaining League fixtures to secure  the title. 

Armagh  City  Ladies  second NIWFA Championship game proved to be a  see-saw  affair.  The local side  took an early lead through a penalty only for  Donegal  Celtic to get an equaliser minutes later .  It was the Belfast team who then scored  what looked like the decider only for Armagh to  draw level with a goal straight from a free kick . Armagh hearts were broken when a break away ball down the left wing which to be sorted by central defender, but as she lay on the ground helpless the D.C winger drove the ball back across City goals for a D.C player to control and pick her spot in the left corner of the net. And are now facing a number of away games starting with Wednesday night’s trip to face Dromore Amateurs.

                               Wednesday 25^th April .

U-11 :  Armagh City   4  v  Lurgan Town  1

U-12 :  Armagh  City  1  v  Dungannon Youth  1 (Armagh won 5-4 on penalties )

U-13 :  Armagh City   2  v   Glendowan   0

U-14 :  Armagh City   4  v   Lurgan Town  1

                         Saturday   28^th    April .

U-12  :   Armagh City  4  v   Lurgan Town 0

U-13:     Armagh City  3  v   Ballymoor  0

U-14 :    Armagh  City 3  v   Lisbellaw   0

U-16 :    Armagh  City 0  v   Craigavon   City  2

U-18 :    Armagh  City 0  v  Lisburn Rangers   2

                                 NIWFA  CHAMPIONSHIP  : 

       Armagh City  Ladies   2   v   Donegal Celtic  Ladies   3

The major fixtures this week are all scheduled for Saturday  with  the U-11 squad facing Coleraine in a League Cup semi-final, the U-13s with a Plate semi, the U-14’s  travelling for a vital League game and the U-15’s on an adventure to Galway for the Lion’s Cup semi-final! 

                                   Fixtures  :     Wed   2^nd  May

U-12 :    Armagh City   v   Craigavon City     (  7pm . Armagh  )

U-14 :    Armagh  City   v    Seagoe     ( 7pm . Kernan Park  )

NIWFA :   City Ladies   v  Dromore Amateurs    (  Dromore  ) 

                                          Saturday  5^th   May :

U-11 :   Armagh City   v   Coleraine      (  League Cup  S/F . TBC  )

U-13 :   Armagh City   v   Ridgeway/ Lisburn Youth   (  Plate s/f .  )

U-14 :   Armagh  City   v    Dromore      ( TBC  )

U-15 :   Armagh   City  v   Salthill  Devon    ( Lions  Cup  S/F.  2pm  Galway  )

U-18:    Armagh City    v    Windmill Stars .   ( TBC  )

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

                                       ***   MINI-SOCCER   ***

Homecare sponsored Mini-Soccer will continue as usual on Thursday 3^rd May , 6-7pm  and  Saturday  5^th   May ,   9.15-10.15am .   

                           ARMAGH CITY LADIES 

 Girls Youth training at Ardmore  at 6 pm , Mondays .

ARMAGH   CITY   YOUTH

The 2011-2012 season has become  an inspirational time for Armagh City Youth   as it’s football squads and management teams have  continued to set new  standards and gather even more honours. No sooner have the City’s U-13 side taken the Northern Ireland Youth League title by remaining undefeated through the season than the U-18 team have  proceeded to make a winning debut in the Harry Cavan Youth Final!  

At  Lakeview Park, Loughgall last Friday night the Homecare sponsored Armagh

U-18 side took the game to their opponents, Cliftonville Strollers, from the kick-off and their reward was the opening and decisive goal. City continued to press and could have added to their total before the break. The sending off of an opposing  player just before the interval give Armagh an advantage which they  held right to the final whistle. An historic win which included semi-final and final defeats of Youth teams linked to Premier League sides, Glenavon and Cliftonville. History was also made at Holm Park on Friday night when the Homecare sponsored Armagh City Ladies played their first ever NIWFA Championship game when they faced Coleraine Ladies. The local team took the lead after twenty minutes but the visitors drew level five minutes after  the interval. However a corner kick some ten minutes before the final whistle  led to Armagh scoring the all important winning goal and collecting their first three points of the new season.   City will next host Donegal Celtic Ladies @ Ardmore  on Friday 27^th with 7.30 pm K.O. time 

There was more Cup success the following Saturday morning when the Tmet sponsored Armagh City Youth  U-14  squad travelled to Lurgan to face St. Mary’s  in a Mid Ulster Youth Cup Final.  Not having played for three weeks left the City side hesitant at the start but a very solid defence allowed the team to work their way into the game. The game turned in Armagh’s favour after some thirty minutes when City were awarded a penalty which was hammered home to give them a one-nil lead at the interval.  Two goals in the early part of the second half put the City squad in control and as the game progressed the team continued to improve and were worthy winners. A great result especially after losing last year’s final in extra-time and a win which leaves the U-14 side on course for a possible double of Cup and League. Two crucial League games against

Lisbellaw and Dromore will determine the League outcome with City knowing that two wins gives them the League title .

Elsewhere The TMET sponsored U-11 squad continued their recent run of  good form with a four –three win over Dungannon Colts. The squad have also qualified for the semi-final stages of the League Cup.

                                        Saturday   21^st   April .

U-11 :  Armagh City   4  v  Dungannon  Colts  3

U-14 :  Armagh  City  4  v  St . Marys  0

U-18 :  Armagh  City  1  v  Cliftonville Strollers  0

                          NIWFA  CHAMPIONSHIP  : 

        Armagh City  Ladies  :  2   v   Coleraine   Ladies  1

These are busy footballing times as the season’s final weeks means many teams are

facing games on Wednesdays and Saturdays over the next fortnight as organizers  hurry to complete all competitions. On Wednesday next  City’s U-12 team will face Dungannon Youth  at Kernan  in the Shield semi-final  while the U-11 play Lurgan Town in a League game at Ardmore. The remaining three sides are all involved in  away ties in League Cup competitions.

Saturday sees the U-14 team go to Dungannon to face Lisbellaw in a vital League game whilst the U-16 squad go to Lurgan Park to contest the Shield Final. Youth Cup holders City U-18’s are back on the Cup trail when they contest a first round Décor Cup game against Lisburn Rangers. The U-13 squad will hope to make the most of home advantage when they host Ballymoor in the quarter final of the  NIYL Plate.

                                Fixtures  :     Wed  25^th April

U-11 : Armagh City  v  Lurgan Town (7pm @ Ardmore)

U-12 : Armagh City  v Dungannon Youth (Shield semi-final 7pm @Kernan)  

U-13 : Armagh  City  v   Glendowan  ( 6.45 pm .  Twinbrook  )

U-14 : Armagh  City  v   Seagoe  (  7pm  .   Gordon  ) 

U-16 : Armagh City  v    Lisdrum   ( 7pm  . Newry  )                                 

                                            Friday 27^th April

                                      NIWFA Championship

Armagh  City  Ladies v  Donegal  Celtic Ladies ( 7.30pm @ Ardmore  )

                                     Saturday 28^th  April :

U-13  :  Armagh City  v   Ballymoor  ( Mill Field. Plate Q/Final ) 

U-14  :  Armagh City  v  Lisbellaw  ( 10.30am  Dungannon White City  )

U-16  :  Armagh City v  Craigavon City  ( 11.00am  LPP .Shield  Final  )

U-18 :   Armagh City  v  Lisburn Rangers  ( 10.00am . Lisburn . Décor Cup )

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

                                 ***   MINI-SOCCER   ***

Mini-Soccer will continue as usual on Thursday 26^th  April , 6-7pm and Saturday  28^th  April,   9.15-10.15am. 

                                        ARMAGH CITY LADIES 

  Girls Youth training at Ardmore  at 6 pm , Mondays . New Players Welcome.