Local football round-up

South Antrim League
Player kicks the ball down field.Player kicks the ball down field.
Player kicks the ball down field.

Can Warren hold on to title?

Can Warren YM hold on to the South Antrim League Premier Division title they won last season?

That’s the big question on the cusp of the new campaign. Ballymacash YM and Glaston couldn’t do it in recent years and Warren did waver a little towards the end of last season, which may suggest they will not manage successive title triumphs either.

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Who is capable of taking over the mantle? Well, in what looks like it will be a hotly contested division, there are several teams capable of becoming champions.

Ballymacash YM will be smarting at losing their crown last time and Sandy Row did just about everything except win a trophy. Glaston have won every trophy in the League but still hunger for more success and Braniel YM can be there or thereabouts if they lose interest in the Junior Cup and Shield competitions.

Oh and I almost forgot! Warren are still capable of beating anyone and they will not surrender their trophy easily.

How will the new Premier Division boys fare? Clonduff YM appear to have the ability to compete at this level and South Antrim should be able to hold their own as well.

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First Lisburn have been up at the top before and will hope to do better than last time while FC Utd Lisburn raised many eyebrows last time and will be looking to cause a few more surprises this year.

The relegated teams - Orangefield OB III, Ballynafeigh YM and Bloomfield III - will all hope for a better season and can achieve their aim of getting straight back up.

However, with four teams moving out of the division, Braniel YM II, Clonduff YM II and Cregagh Wanderers will be hoping for better times after moving up. Stranmillis II replace Lisburn Athletic in this division and Colin Valley III return to the League.

Only one of them, Cregagh, would be allowed to move up, so it probably comes back to the three relegated teams fighting it out.

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Division Two is unpredictable this time, but hopefully for them, Carrowdore YM can do better this time around.

It promises to be a really interesting season ahead in the South Antrim League.

Irish Cup

Cash edge past Dromara in Irish Cup

Ballymacash Rangers welcomed amateur league outfit Dromara Village to Rushmore Park last Saturday in the first round of the Irish Cup and it was the locals that progressed to the next round with a hard fought victory.

It was Rangers who started the more lively of the two sides in the opening exchanges and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Stuart Adams scored on his home debut to put the Cash in front with an assist coming from Stuart Orr.

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Ballymacash went further ahead 10 minutes later. After some great football down the right, the ball finally fell to Kenny Campbell who turned his marker and fired a well placed shot past the Dromara goalkeeper sending the home side two goals up.

Rangers, now two goals up, should really have taken more of a grip on the proceedings but seemed intent on giving the away side an incentive to get back into the game as they took the foot off the gas.

On a few occasions, some lacklustre defending from the home back four could and should have reduced the two goal advantage but the scoreline stayed the same up until half-time.

The second period started with the boys from Dromara still firmly on the front foot and the Ballymacash players still left in the changing room it seemed, as the Villagers should have clawed a goal back instantly from kick-off.

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Some bad defending yet again allowed the away striker a clear shot on goal but he was off target when he should really have scored.

This let-off did not really waken up Ballymacash and instead encouraged the Dromara players and it was not long after that they were rewarded with a goal when again some hesitancy in the Rangers defence allowed the Villagers striker to poke the ball home.

Rangers were pretty much under the cosh from then on, although to be fair the Villagers rarely seemed like finding the equaliser they so craved.

The game ended 2-1 to Ballymacash with the home side knowing they will need to improve on their play and eliminate simple mistakes if they wish to challenge for any silverware this season.

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Next up for Ballymacash is a cracking tie, when Lisburn’s two Rangers meet in the Steel and Sons Cup on Saturday. Ballymacash Rangers travel the short distance to Stanley Park to play Lisburn Rangers in what promises to be an intriguing tie for the two local sides (kick-off 2.30pm).

Ballymacash Rangers would like to thank all those at Stephen Moore Carpets, who were the Match Ball Sponsor.

Derriaghy too strong for Newcastle

Derriaghy cruised into the second round of the Irish Cup on Saturday after a 3-1 victory over Newcastle thanks to goals from Marc Fell, Craig McCarthy and Adam Greer.

Derriaghy took the lead after five minutes, going ahead through Fell.

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Newcastle, however, made a game of it and around 15 minutes later they equalised to make it 1-1.

Derriaghy proved to be too strong, however, and goals from McCarthy and Greer secured the win for the local side.

Meanwhile, Derriaghy have introduced a new ‘Player of the Month’ scheme, sponsored by Unlimited, who support social entrepreneurs.

Davis double helps Rangers to extra time victory over Ballynahinch

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Lisburn Rangers crept through to the second round with a narrow 3-2 victory over Ballynahinch United after extra-time on Saturday.

Graeme Davis netted a brace while Assistance Mahlathini also got on the score-sheet to ensure Rangers are in the hat for the second round draw.

Moira FC

Fresh start for Moira in new season

There are fresh beginnings for almost all of the Moira FC’s teams as the new season rolls around.

The 2001 and 2002 teams will enter the Mid-Ulster League for the first time when it kicks off next weekend, with Fivemiletown and Lurgan Town lined up as the respective opponents. The 2004 group will follow in the footsteps of their 2003 counterparts when they join the Mid-Ulster’s nine-a-side set up.

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The 2005s have joined the Mid-Ulster Games Development programme and the excitement is building in the 2007 group as they take to the field for the first time, in the GDC.

The whole club is moving forward, with the 2006s remaining in the Lisburn Games Development programme, but stepping up from playing five-a-side matches to the seven-a-side format.

Last season, the club won two pieces of silverware, in the 2002 and 2005 age groups, while the 2003s missed out on retaining the Trevor Kennedy Memorial Cup as they suffered defeat in the final.

New members are always welcome in a club that has grown in less than five years to having a membership of almost 150. Any children born from 2001 to 2007 who are interested in joining the club can contact 07517 611413 or email: [email protected].

Charity Five-a-side

Five star Derriaghy take top spot

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Derriaghy five-a-side team came out on top in the recent annual charity event organised by Smithfield House at the Football Factory Lisburn.

As many as 16 teams took part and also included two ladies teams.

In the final, Derriaghy beat lower Maze 5-1 to take the trophy.

Over £1,100 has been raised so far in aid of Children’s Liver Disease and in support of Eddie Smith, who very recently donated part of his liver to his young daughter

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A special thanks to all who supported the tournament and this worthy cause and also to Hillsborough boys for the use of their facilities, the Management of Smithfield House, and to the chief organiser Stevie McMeekin.