Ulster Gazette - Sports - City U18s are through to semi-finals

Sports

City U18s are through to semi-finals

Thursday, 26 January 2012

THE first major success of the Armagh City Youth football season was achieved on Saturday last when the TMET-sponsored U-13 side gained promotion on the strength of their 3-0 win away to Institute.
In this their first full season in the Northern Ireland Youth League the squad have remained unbeaten with 43 points from a possible 45!
Two more points from their remaining three games will leave the team promoted as champions no matter what their nearest challengers amass.
The squad also received word that they have been accepted into the elite section of the Umbro Cup in Galway and are looking forward to the event this summer.
Major success also beckons for the Homecare-sponsored Armagh City Youth U-18 side in the next few months as Saturday's quarter-final victory over Woodvale Youth puts the team in the Harry Cavan Youth Cup semi-final against Glenavon 111.
Playing into a gale force wind in the first half City continued to play attacking football and two coolly taken goals left them in a commanding position at the interval.
On resuming, and with the wind at their backs, the Armagh side then dominated the game and ran out convincing winners.
In a further boost for the standing of the Mid-Ulster Juvenile League the Lurgan Celtic Youth team reached the other semi-final where they will face Cliftonville Strollers.
The semi-finals will probably be played midweek and at neutral venues.
City's U-15 were the only one of the club teams remaining in the NIBFA Cup and they use home advantage to good effect against unbeaten Derry and District League leaders, Top Of The Hill Celtic to record a 2-0 win.
The Armagh squad now await this week's draw to discover who they meet in the last 16.
The U-14 side lost their first league game this season when a determined Dungannon team took the points in a top of the table match on Saturday.
However, the Armagh side still have control of their own league quest as winning their remaining game would put them back as leaders.
Both the U-14 and U-12 squad can also look ahead to a visit to the Foyle Cup in the summer.
Meanwhile the newly promoted Armagh City Ladies are back training for their entry into championship level league football.
Any new members are welcome to come and join the training on Monday nights in Ardmore at 7pm and again on Friday nights on 3G at Cathedral Road at 7pm. All welcome.
The Homecare-sponsored Mini-Soccer has also resumed as before on Thursday nights, 6-7pm and Saturdays 9.15-10.15am.
Results for Saturday, January 21:
U-13: Armagh City 3 Institute 0; U-14: Armagh City 0 Dungannon Youth 4; U-15: Armagh City 2 Top Of The Hill Celtic 0; U-18: Armagh City 7 Woodvale Youth 0.
A double header this weekend with both the U-11 and U-12 teams hosting their corresponding age groups from Cookstown.
Three of the City Youth sides travel with the U-13s going seeking the necessary league points in Magherafelt, the U-14 on a similar mission in Dromore and the U-16 following the same agenda in Newry against Lisdrum.
The final team in action this weekend is the U-18 squad who play Lurgan Town in Armagh.
Fixtures for Saturday, January 28:
U-11: Armagh City v Cookstown Youth (10.30am, Armagh); U-12: Armagh City v Cookstown Youth (10.30am, Armagh); U-13: Armagh City v Magherafelt (11am, away); U-14: Armagh City v Dromore (11am, Dromore); U-16: Armagh City v Lisdrum Youth (10.30am, Newry); U-18: Armagh City v Lurgan Town (10am, Armagh).
All matches are subject to change.