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Derby games await City

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Armagh City goalkeeper Sean Morgan will play a vital role for his team this week as Marty Rice’s side prepare for back-to-back derby games against Loughgall and Armagh City.

ARMAGH City face back-to-back derby fixtures this week.
Tonight (Tuesday) City travel to Lakeview Park to face Loughgall in the quarter-final of the Mid-Ulster Cup.
And on Saturday, Marty Rice's side are on the road again - this time to Portadown when they face Annagh United in Championship Two.
It has been a tough couple of weeks for Rice after he lost several players as soon as the January transfer window opened.
But he is adamant that the players who have remained loyal to the club are determined to put move things on for the second half of the season.
And Rice signalled his intentions to impress for the remainder of the season with the addition of three players.
The City boss has brought in Marty Lavery, Shane Mulgrew and Peadar Toal.
Lavery has won all there is to win at Intermediate level with Loughgall and his addition to the squad will bring in some vital experience.
Mulgrew had been on load with Annagh United from Dungannon Swifts for the first half of the season but now moves across to Holm Park.
And Toal had been with Newry City but also returns to Armagh having made quite an impression in his last stint at Holm Park.
“I'm absolutely delighted to have been able to bring these three players into the squad," said Rice.
“It has certainly been a tough couple of months at Holm Park given the nine-point deduction and then the departure of a number of players after they were unable to seal down a regular starting place.
“But we have moved on and I am very confident that, with the new players on board, we can do things for the remainder of the season."
Up first for City is the matter of a derby against Loughgall in the quarter-final of the Mid-Ulster Cup tonight (Tuesday).
City will be the underdogs for the match but Rice says his priorities remain with the league campaign.
“We're going into the Loughgall game with nothing to lose," he continued.
“What the game will allow me to do is give some game time for everyone to gel together but our focus remains on the league."
Then on Saturday it's another derby to look forward to as City travel to Annagh United.
“We drew 3-3 with them last time out so we know exactly what to expect at the weekend," Rice added.
The Mid-Ulster Cup tie tonight (Tuesday) kicks off at Lakeview Park at 7.30pm while Saturday's league match at Annagh kicks off at 2pm.

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