Seems Saints U21 goalkeeper Chris Johns is in the Northern Ireland squad for the U19 tournament. Somehow we all missed that!
I do! Ben Cull who plays at left back is the son of one of my managers. She also has another son in the academy who is a GK.
Final score - Liverpool 4-2 Southampton. Southampton's U15s finish with a record of 1 draw and 2 defeats.
Final Junior table 1. Watford 2. Everton 3. County Antrim 4. Liverpool ----- 5. Strikers FC South Coast 6. County Tyrone 7. Plymouth Argyle 8. County Down ----- 9. Brentford 10. Swindon Town 11. North Dublin Schoolboys 12. Japan FA ----- 13. County Armagh 14. County Londonderry 15. Cavan/Monaghan District 16. Southampton ----- 17. Dundalk Schoolboys 18. County Fermanagh 19. Ipswich 20. San Luis de Colina Teams now go into following competitions... Milk Cup Globe Vase Bowl Plate The draws for the semi finals of these competitions will be made later tonight.
Match report from today's game: Liverpool overcame a tricky encounter with Southampton at the Coleraine Showgrounds thanks to a second half hat-trick from Liam Robinson. Liverpool were first out of the blocks when Thomas Powell forced a corner in the opening stages of the match. But it was Southampton who took the lead when a mix-up in the Liverpool defence allowed Carel Kayembe the easiest of tap ins. Kayembe was a constant threat and his ball across the box moments later couldn’t find a red shirt to double the advantage. Both sides had chances as the half progressed, Callum Slattery for Southampton and Powell for Liverpool both testing the opposition goalkeepers with long range efforts. Liverpool were coming into the game more, and almost found their equaliser in the 20th minute when Herbie Kane intercepted in the middle of the pitch and played a through ball looking for Powell, but it was well read by the Southampton defence who cleared the danger. Down the other end another mix-up in the Liverpool box almost let Kayembe in again, but the whistle was blown for offside before he was able to pull the trigger. The South Coast side took their narrow lead into the half-time break. When play resumed Liverpool came out the stronger side and their equaliser came just five minutes into the second period, Kane finishing well after some patient build up play. The match then sparked into life, and Southampton regained their lead just two minutes later when the ball was crossed to Oliver Long who was unmarked in the Liverpool box. The goals kept coming as Liverpool then equalised through Liam Robinson, who found space in the Southampton box and placed a shot past Jack Higgins into the net. Two further scores from Robinson gave Liverpool an unassailable lead, his third a fine individual effort finished low past the goalkeeper. Southampton tried to push forward to find a way back into the game, but this only afforded Liverpool the opportunity to counter-attack, and Kane almost scored a fifth for the Anfield side when he took the ball around Southampton goalkeeper, but some great defending from Ben Rowthorn cleared the danger. Overall a thoroughly entertaining match between the two English sides in front of a large crowd at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
Draw for the Junior semi finals, all of which are played tomorrow: Plate Dundalk v County Fermanagh San Luis de Colina v Ipswich Bowl County Londonderry v Southampton County Armagh v Cavan/Monaghan Vase Japan FA v North Dublin Swindon v Brentford Globe Strikers South Coast v County Down Plymouth v County Tyrone Milk Cup Everton v Watford County Antrim v Liverpool
Final Premier table 1. Man Utd 2. CSKA Moscow 3. County Tyrone 4. Cherry Orchard ----- 5. Liverpool 6. Club America 7. Corinthians 8. Newcastle ----- 9. Cruz Azul 10. County Armagh 11. Strikers FC South Coast 12. County Antrim ----- 13. County Down 14. Otago Utd 15. County Londonderry 16. Vendee FC ----- 17. County Fermanagh 18. Bohemians 19. O'Higgins 20. TuS Altenberge Teams now go into following competitions... Milk Cup Globe Vase Bowl Plate The draws for the semi finals of these competitions will be made later tonight.
Draw for the Premier competitions... Premier Plate Semi-Finals Co. Fermanagh v O'Higgins, 5pm, Castlerock Bohemians v TuS Altenberge, 5pm, Warren, Portstewart Premier Bowl Semi-Finals Co. Down v Otago Utd, 3.30pm, Broughshane Vendee FC v Co. Londonderry, 3.30pm Riada Stadium 2 Premier Vase Semi-Finals Co. Armagh v Co. Antrim, 5pm, Rugby Avenue, Coleraine Cruz Azul v Strikers FC South Coast, 5pm, Parker Avenue Premier Globe Semi-Finals Liverpool v SC Corinthians, KO TBC, Venue TBC Newcastle Utd v Club America de Mexico, KO TBC, Venue TBC Premier NI Milk Cup Semi-Finals CSKA Moscow v Co. Tyrone, KO TBC, Venue TBC Manchester Utd v Cherry Orchard, KO TBC, Venue TBC
Final scores in the Bowl... County Londonderry 0-2 Southampton County Armagh 0-2 Cavan/Monaghan Southampton will now play Cavan/Monaghan in the final.
Today is the final day of the competition, and all three of the top finals are being broadcast on the Red Button, and on the BBC Sport website. The finals are as follows: Junior - County Antrim v Everton @ 4pm Elite - Northern Ireland v Mexico @ 6pm Premier - Manchester United v County Tyrone @ 8pm In other news, Southampton lost their Junior Bowl final, losing 2-1 to Cavan/Monaghan.
Well, I went to the Finals Day at the Ballymena Showgrounds. All I can say is, it was fantastic, well worth the £10 entry. Started out with Everton v County Antrim in the Junior competition. Antrim took the lead through a penalty that was just screaming to be awarded. Everton equalised however from a set piece, and the match went to penalties. Most of the penalties were brilliant, however the last three were terrible Everton went on to win 4-3 on penalties. Straight after that was the Elite final between Northern Ireland and Mexico. This was a very bad tempered affair, with Mexico being reduced to 10 men for the second half after a fight broke out following a foul. Mexico took the lead in the first half from a very nice free kick. NI equalised in the second half through a somewhat odd penalty called for a soft foul in the box. However, a moment of magic from Mexico saw them steal the win 2-1, the striker flicking the ball into the net with a volley with the outside of his foot. Finally, the Premier final between County Tyrone and Manchester United. This was pretty much all United, but the Tyrone defence stood firm, and anytime it was breached, the goalkeeper was equal to it, making save after save. However, in stoppage time, United found a winner from a corner. It bounced off the crossbar and down onto the line, and the ref called it as a goal. To me, it was very close, but the ref may just have called it right. I will try and find names for some players, there was a lot of talent on show for sure.
