Moira clinch a double

As well as the club’s U12 team winning its first piece of silverware at the Mid-Ulster Youth League Festival in Portadown, a few miles up the road at Richhill the U9s won the Bowl at Loughgall Youth’s George Willis Memorial Tournament.

U12s

For the U12s, it was a fitting reward for a season in which they have been highly impressive in the Mid-Ulster Youth League nine-a-side programme, as well as winning their first ever competitive 11-a-side match when they defeated St Mary’s of Glengormley in the NIBFA Cup.

They began the group stage on Festival day with a 2-1 win over Craigavon City, thanks to two goals from winger Evan Welch. The Craigavon striker turned out to be the only goal that Moira would concede on the day.

They built on that great start by drawing 0-0 in a derby clash with Dromore. The Moira boys created chances to win the game but the result suited both teams.

That was followed by a superb 4-0 win over Lurgan Town, Welsh again on target with Oliver Bradley and a double from Liam Cox giving Moira a comfortable win.

It was the turn of the defence to do their part as the final two round-robin matches finished 0-0, but with two wins out of five, an unbeaten record and three clean sheets the team comfortably made the semi-finals.

That set up a second meeting of the day with Craigavon City and this time Moira did even better than the first time, winning 3-0 with Cox continuing his rich vein of form after a fantastic finish from distance by Max Walsh and a fine strike from Alexander Allen had put them in the driving seat.

The final threw up another derby clash with Dromore and a repeat of the earlier scoreless draw looked to be on the cards.

However, the breakthrough came early in the second half when the ball was lofted into the box and Cox nipped in to flick it over the goalkeeper’s head. That was enough to win the game and give Moira the trophy.

“The boys have worked very hard this year, both in training and in matches and deserve this success. We are very proud of the team and hope to build on this for future success,” said coach John Spiers.

Also at the Mid-Ulster Festival, Moira’s U11s just missed a place in the final. After qualifying from the group, they beat Glenavon 1-0 in the quarters thanks to a sweet finish from Daniel Kennedy, but lost 1-0 to Banbridge Town in the semi.

U9s

In the Loughgall tournament, the U9s slipped out of the main draw, but then powered to victory in the Bowl competition. They swept past Sunnyside in the semi-final with a 5-0 win, James Green and Jack Jasztal both scoring twice, followed by a strike from Daniel Walsh.

In the final, Green was on fire, this time scoring a hat-trick to add to a brace from Ben Calderwood and a goal from Sam McGlade as they beat Armagh City 6-1.

The U8s also reached the Bowl final, but lost out.

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