Derriaghy CC FC win the Friendship Cup

Derriaghy CC FC completed their pre-season with an emotional first win in the annual Friendship cup last Saturday.
Ronnie Hooke (Snr) presents Frienship Cup to Dee Elliot (Derriaghy CC FC).Ronnie Hooke (Snr) presents Frienship Cup to Dee Elliot (Derriaghy CC FC).
Ronnie Hooke (Snr) presents Frienship Cup to Dee Elliot (Derriaghy CC FC).

The Friendship (Hooky) cup is contested between Derriaghy CC FC, Dunmurry Rec, Dunmurry YM and Suffolk FC, and was started in memory of Derriaghy player and stalwart Ronnie Hooke (Jnr) who passed away March 2009 aged just 42.

This year’s competition was hosted by last years winners Dunmurry Rec and on a showery afternoon it was the hosts who kicked off the competition against Derriaghy CC FC.

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Derriaghy won the game 1-0 with the goal coming from Marty Verner whose second touch after coming on as sub saw him scramble the ball over the line.

Next up for Derriaghy was Dunmurry YM who had defeated Suffolk in their first game.

And although Dunmurry YM scored the only goal of the game it was into their own net and gifted Derriaghy their second 1-0 victory.

This meant that if Derriaghy could avoid defeat in their final game against Suffolk they would lift the trophy.

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The game started in dramatic fashion when Suffolk scored direct from the kick off after a Beckham type shot from the half way line caught the Derriaghy Keeper off his goal line.

It didn’t take long for Derriaghy to get back on level terms and a well worked move was finished off when William Elliot stooped to head home the equaliser.

New signing Neil Graham, who had looked threatening all day without any luck, finally got his rewards when he calmly fired home the winner mid way through the second half.

Three wins out of three meant that Derriaghy had lifted the Friendship (Hooky) Cup for the first time and it was a delighted Ronnie Hooke (Snr) who presented the trophy to an equally delighted Dee Elliot (Derriaghy).

Derriaghy CC FC begin their Northern Ametuer League Premier Division campaign with a tough away game at Crumlin Star this Saturday before they again travel to Crumlin Utd on Tuesday.