U12 Football
2011/12
McKinney Cup Final: Limavady High School (Tuesday 6th December)
Cullybackey High School 1
Limavady High School 1
(Limavady won 4-2 on penalties)
This was an excellent first season for the Under 12s. Coming from a wide range of different primary schools, the boys quickly became a very solid unit. Going into the last league game they had scored 23 goals, conceding only 3 and gaining maximum points.
However, an 'off-day' at Ballymena Showgrounds resulted in a 4-1 home defeat by Limavady High in the final league game of the season. This resulted in an opportunity to make amends as we were now in the McKinney Cup Final to be played at Dalriada Playing Fields in Ballymoney on 6th Dec.
Now that we knew Limavady High Schools' style of play it would be much easier to plan our strategy. On the day, everything was going to plan. Goalkeeper Mark Wilkinson had saved a penalty and the rest of the defence consisting of Jordan Savage, Ronnie Marshall, Matthew McAllister and Sam Hutchinson had managed to keep Limavady's chances to a minimum.
The midfield of Gareth Downey (standing in for the injured Lloyd Da Mata), Thomas Campbell and Jack McCracken were holding their own against strong opposition and forwards Bailie Young, Chris Moore and George Harpur were causing their opponents problems especially when Young used his pace down the right flank. Just after half-time Harpur sustained an injury and was replaced by Robbie Bamber
Going into the final minute we were leading 1-0 thanks to a Thomas Campbell goal. In fact we had failed to put the result beyond doubt when we missed several clear-cut chances in front of goal. Could we cause an upset?
With seconds left Limavady broke down the right and three tackles later they had still managed to keep possession. A shot then came in from an acute angle, took a deflection and, despite a valiant Wilkinson effort to keep it out, the ball nestled in the back of the net to take the game to penalties.
But fate was against us. The first fiercely hit spot-kick hit Mark in the face knocking him into the goal - along with the ball. Then the pressure told and we missed penalties of our own. The result? A 4-2 defeat.
However, in spite of the disappointment of losing the final I think all the boys would say that they enjoyed their football this year – and remember lads………. there's always next season.
Mr J Kelso
Limavady High School (Friday 2nd December)
Cullybackey High School 1
Limavady High School 4
St Joseph's (Tuesday 16th November)
Cullybackey High School 10
St Joseph's 0
North Coast Integrated College (Tuesday 25th October)
North Coast Integrated College 0
Cullybackey High School 5
Magherafelt High (Tuesday 18th October)
Magherafelt High 0
Cullybackey High School 4
Dominican College (Thursday 13th October)
Dominican College 3
Cullybackey High School 4
Ballymoney High School (Friday 30th September)
Ballymoney High School 3
Cullybackey High School 5
2010/11
Magherafelt High School (Friday 19th November)
Magherafelt High School 2
Cullybackey High School 6
Coleraine College (Friday 12th November)
Cullybackey High School 5
Coleraine College 1
St. Joseph's (Wednesday 10th November)
Cullybackey High School 1
St Joseph's 5
UNDER 12s MAKE IT TWO OUT OF TWO AT THE SEASIDE
Cullybackey High School Under 12s had the pleasure of spending Wednesday afternoon (3rd Nov.) in Portstewart.
However, visiting the beach and sunbathing were the last things on the players' minds as they were in the seaside town to play Dominican College in their second match in the Coleraine and District Football League.
Having won their first match away to Ballymoney High (2-0) the trip home turned out to be a pleasant one as the local lads ran out narrow winners in a tense 11-goal thriller.
In a hard fought and evenly matched game, played at The Warren – a ground graced by many a Premiership player when they appeared in the Milk Cup – Cullybackey were the first to score when, midway through the first half. Jason Selfridge crossed for Camryn Millar to finish well from close range.
The home side then levelled the score following slack play in the Cullybackey defence, and took the lead when, following a corner, a home player poked the ball past Ricky Rae at the far post.
Cullybackey were only behind for five minutes. It was midfielder Ryan McMullan who surprised everyone, including himself, when he swung at a clearance twenty yards out and watched as his firmly struck low drive levelled the score. Before half-time however, Dominican struck again to give them a 3-2 advantage at the break.
The second half saw Dominican start strongly and their pressure paid off when they scored again to give them a 4-2 lead with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Even though most of the goals conceded had been the result of silly mistakes, the character of a team is often shown by how they react when their backs are against the wall. This was where Cullybackey showed their determination.
Mr. Kelso replaced Jason Selfridge with Andrew Milligan who broke from right midfield to supply Camryn Millar with several chances.
The back four of full-backs Matthew Michael and Jordan Henry along with centre-backs Ian Mills and Joe McAllister now settled to keep the home side at bay and within ten minutes the deficit had been wiped out.
It was Kyle Kenny who scored the goal of the game when he finished high into the top corner after outpacing three defenders on the left. Then, with his second goal of the game, Millar levelled the score again good work by Blair and Stirling to set the game up for a tight finish.
With only five minutes remaining Stirling scored from close in and then Millar completed his hat-trick to give his side a two-goal advantage in added time. The scoring wasn't over yet, however, as the home side scored in the dying seconds to end a high-scoring encounter between two determined teams.
Having taken maximum points from their two opening away games Cullybackey can now look forward to home matches against St. Joseph's (Nov. 10) and Coleraine College (Nov. 12) at Ballymena Showgrounds before travelling to Magherafelt for their final game on 19th November.
Cullybackey Team: R. Rae, M. Michael, J. McAllister, I. Mills , J. Henry, B. Stirling, C. Blair, R. McMullan, J. Selfridge, C. Millar, K. Kenny. Subs: A. Milligan, R. Mills.
Final Score:
Dominican College 5
Cullybackey High 6
UNDER 12s CONTINUE WINNING START
Cullybackey High Under 12 team travelled to North Coast Integrated on Tuesday 19th October and came away with a 2-0 victory in the Coleraine and District League McKinney Cup, Section 2.
The game began with the home side having the best of the play and, at this point, it looked like we could be in for a hard game. However, ten minutes later we had settled in, nerves were gone and we'd begun to play some attractive one-touch football.
Jordan Henry, Simon Evans and Ian Mills were proving solid in defence and Ryan Mills was coping with a lively right winger. But it was the home side that were first to create an opening, with the ball rolling just wide of the post as Goalkeeper Ricky Rae came off his line to force the striker into an early shot.
Cullybackey responded with Ben Stirling going one-on-one with the local 'Keeper. However, the home lad was in fine form, diving low to push Stirling's well-placed shot round the post. He did the same again a few minutes later when he foiled Camryn Millar whose pace was causing problems for the home side.
In spite of lots of hard work being put in by Kyle Kenny and Jason Selfridge who set up several chances from the flanks, they were not converted leaving the half-time score N. Coast Int. 0-0 Cullybackey.
The second period began where the first had left off with Cullybackey pressing hard on the N. Coast goal but failing to get the vital last touch to score. The home side could have made Cullybackey pay for their bad finishing but their forwards were having similar difficulties.
It was now that Andy Milligan and Charlie Blair started to take control in midfield and found the space to support the front men. From one of these forays forward - halfway through the second half - Milligan blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range when the home defence was in turmoil, failing to clear after good work by Stirling and Millar.
A few minutes later the destination of the points was no longer in doubt when Millar pounced to score from inside the box with 10 minutes still to go. Mr. Kelso then brought on Matthew Michael and Joe McAllister for Ryan Mills and Charlie Blair to strengthen the defence in preparation for a final push from the home side.
In spite of creating one or two half-chances N. Coast failed to reduce the deficit leaving Cullybackey High to celebrate the school's second successive victory in their first season in the Coleraine and District League.
Final Score:
North Coast Integrated 0
Cullybackey High 2 (Milligan, Millar)
