Hill haunts '˜old pals' to win league for Taughy

Paul Hill came back to haunt his 'old pals' at Sandy Row by getting the only goal of the South Antrim League Premier Division decider at Wedderburn Park on Thursday night.
Taughmonagh YM won the South Antrim League Premier Division. Goal scorer Paul Hill (right) and club captain Paul Donaldson (left) celebrate.Taughmonagh YM won the South Antrim League Premier Division. Goal scorer Paul Hill (right) and club captain Paul Donaldson (left) celebrate.
Taughmonagh YM won the South Antrim League Premier Division. Goal scorer Paul Hill (right) and club captain Paul Donaldson (left) celebrate.

Hill was brought on as a half-time replacement and the vital strike came midway through the second-half of a hard fought game, which although not producing much good football, kept the large crowd entertained with sheer endeavour on both fronts.

Hill played for Sandy Row before moving to Taughmonagh and has a habit of scoring against his former club.

Sandy Row had set the pace from early on in the Premier League race and sat proudly on the summit for at least three-quarters of the season.

Taughmonagh had a lot of leeway to make up and after their exit from the County Antrim Junior Shield not many really fancied them to catch the runaway leaders.

But, they did perform the seemingly impossible and were equal on points with Sandy Row going into the final League game of the season.

It was all to play for - winner take all - and Sandy Row, having been on the summit for so long, were not going to capitulate to their fierce rivals. They never gave up, but someone had to win and it was Taughy who got the all-important goal.

Congratulations, though, to both teams, who have had a great season. Just a pity there had to be a loser.

In the end Taughmonagh YM won the Premier Division with Sandy Row FC runners-up.

Ballymacash YM II took the Division 1 title with something to spare over Warren YM and Ballymacash YM III were division 2 champions ahead of Victoria Athletic.

Premier Division

The only remaining Prremier Division game was played on Saturday and Glaston were 5-1 winners over South Antrim.

Taughmonagh through to another semi

Taughmonagh YM 3 Warren YM 3

A draw was enough to see Taughmonagh YM through to the semi-final of the Supplementary Cup on Tuesday night.

Goals from Matthew Nckinstry, Paul Hill and Barry Bloomer earned them a 3-3 draw with Warren YM, whose scorers were Craig McCutcheon, Dave Flanagan and Simon Walsh.

Taughy play Ballymacash YM in the semi-final this week with Sandy Row meeting Glaston in the other semi-final.

Warren and Taughmonagh are also due to meet again in the last match of the season, the Gordon Hanna Trophy final at the Bluebell (Ballymacash Rangers ground) on Friday, May 27, 6.30pm.

Division 1

Ballymacash YM II finished the season in Division 1, which they have already won, with a 9-0 victory over Belvoir FC.

Scorers on Tuesday night were Gareth Shirlow 4, Gareth Johnston 2, Eddie Murdoch, Chris Walmsley and Colin Jamison.

Fixtures

Tonight Friday, May 13: WHITESIDE MEMORIAL CUP FINAL, Moira Albiom II v Victoria Athletic at Stanley Park, 6.30pm.

Tomorrow (Saturday), May 14: SUPPLEMENTARY PLATE FINAL at Stanley Park, 6.30pm. Semi-finals to be played during the past week.

Friday, May 20: SUPPLEMENTARY CUP FINAL at Stanley Park, 6.30pm. Semi-finals to be played during the past week.

Friday, May 27: GORDON HANNA TROPHY FINAL at the Bluebell (Ballymacash Rangers home ground, 6.30pm, Taughmonagh YM v Warren YM.

Willowbank on course

Willowbank Youth remained on course for a Lisburn Junior Invitational League treble at under-17 level when they beat Lisburn Distillery Youth 2-1 in the decisive final game on Wednesday night.

Willowbank took the lead but the Whites came back to equalise before a cracking goal gave ‘Bank the League title.

The pair meet again in the under-17 Cup final tomorrow (Saturday) with Distillery hoping to foil a Willowbank treble.

Lisburn Youth won the Shield with victory over Windmill Stars recently but they lost 1-3 to Windmill in the under-14 first and second place play-off on Saturday.

Windmill have now won both the 13s and 14s League titles.

Whites provide only hope of Cup glory

The Lisburn Junior Invitational Cup finals bring down the curtain on the season on Saturday, but unfortunately Lisburn Distillery Youth under-17s provide the only chance of a local success.

They beat Greenisland Boys to reach the decider and now face Willowbank Youth, who beat Lisburn Rangers Youth in the semi-final.

The two Supplementary Cup finals will also be played with Hillsborough Boys competing in both.

They play TTBS in the under-14s and Shankill Juniors in the under-15s.

The line-up is: UNDER-13: Camlough Rovers v Windmill Stars; UNDER-14: Windmill Stars v Willowbank Youth; UNDER-15: Portadown Youth v Lurgan Celtic Youth.

UNDER-16: Carrick Rangers v Lurgan Celtic Youth; UNDER-17: Lisburn Distillery Youth v Willowbank Youth.

STARTING TIMES: 9.30am and 11.30am.

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