Coady cleans up at Amateurs end-of-season-awards night

ROBERT Coady performed a clean sweep of awards at the Dromore Amateurs Football Club end-of-season prize night.

The young striker capped off a superb campaign with a major haul of trophies in recognition of his all-round play and remarkable goal-scoring feats.

Coady - who claimed Dromore’s only goal in their final game of the 2012/13 season on Saturday, a 4-1 defeat at home to Bangor Amateurs - notched up a total of 25 goals in all competitions.

This was a tremendous achievement for a centre forward considering that the Amateurs, sponsored by McDonald’s Mace, had battled their way through the season in the lower half of the league.

At the club prize night on Saturday, held in The Coach, Banbridge, Coady was named First Team Top Goalscorer, First Team Player of the Year, and First Team Players’ Player of the Year.

He also shared the Supporters Club Player of the Year award with first team colleague, Roger Downey.

Manager David Smylie paid generous tribute to his striker, saying his goals had proved invaluable over the course of a challenging season.

Smylie added that his first campaign in charge had been a daunting task but an enjoyable experience.

Dromore Amateurs finished the season in 11th place (out of 14) in Division 1C of the Northern Amateur Football League with a record of P26 W7 D5 L14 GF42 GA72 Pts26. The league was won by an unbeaten St Patrick’s YM with 72 pts, while Kilroot Rec face relegation, having finished bottom with just one solitary point.

The situation with Dromore Amateurs seconds is not yet finalised, complicated by the fact that their penultimate game on Saturday - billed as a relegation six-pointer - was cancelled because opponents Whitehead Eagles were unable to field a team. The league should rule this as a victory in favour of Dromore.

The seconds - who currently occupy 12th place (out of 14) in Division 3E - are scheduled to conclude their season with a home fixture against Drumbo on Thursday evening.

On Saturday night, manager Ronnie McMurray remarked that the seconds had done well to turn their fortunes around after Christmas and they now have every chance of escaping the threat of relegation.

Aaron Noble’s goals proved crucial throughout the season, so often coming to Dromore’s rescue, earning them vital league points, and he was named Second Team Top Goalscorer and Second Team Player of the Year. Rodger McCartan’s fine displays in defence earned him the plaudits of his teammates and he was named Second Team Players’ Player of the Year.

One of the biggest cheers of the night went to Keelan McKinstry. The young seconds keeper made great strides throughout the season and his solid performances between the sticks saw him named Club Young Player of the Year, a popular decision.

For his untiring work behind the scenes, Russell Ward was the unanimous and well-deserved winner - by democratic vote - of the Clubman of the Year award.

After his customary comedy routine, which had the audience rolling in the aisles, chairman Malcolm Russell thanked the managers and players for their efforts throughout the season, and paid tribute to the club’s sponsors, in particular McDonald’s Mace, Hillsborough Road, Dromore, for their financial backing, without which the club would struggle to survive.

The last piece of business of the 2012/13 season for Dromore Amateurs is the club AGM, which takes place on May 30 at 8pm in the clubrooms.

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