SuperCup NI: Heartbreak for Armagh in Premier Final

On a disappointing day for the county sides in the Super CupNI, there was cruel heartbreak for County Armagh in the Premier Boys Final at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

They lost 4-2 on penalties to Brighton & Hove Albion, having more than matched their illustrious opponents for the vast majority ofthe match. In fact, they were the better team for large spells, despite going behind early on.

But such is a cruel nature of football, they came away with only a runners-up medal around their necks and floods of tears from their players and families at the final whistle.

But they can be proud of their performance, both as individuals and as a collective in front of a packed crowd, the marotiy of whom were backing them noisily throughout.

Armagh got off to the worst possible start, conceding inside 45 seconds from a routine corner.

Zebedee Lawson curled a dangerous ball in from the right-hand side and towering centre-back Tobi Akapo escaped the clutches of Eoghan Liggett to nod past Sean Hamill from close range.

They almost doubled their lead in the ninth minute with a move that was simple but effective.

Marauding left-back Cristiano Anah burst down the flank and whipped in an inch-perfect cross to find Austin Pugh unmarked in the box. His header from eight yards out looked destined for the bottom right corner, only for Hamill to get down low to his left and make a superb save.

It was the English side who looked dominant in the early stages, but Armagh did show some promise, mainly through the marauding runs of Paul McGovern.

The young Newry City winger tried his luck from distance twice, but Brighton keeper Stan Williamson was comfortably equal to both.

However, they did get back on level terms on 18 minutes, due to the industriousness and clever play from captain Alex Eakin.

He broke down the left and made his way into the box and right at the byline, drew Jackson Morby into a needless tackle, which resulted in a penalty. It was coolly converted by Jacob Farr to bring his side deservedly back on terms.

That seemed to lift Armagh heads and they gradually began to take control of the game. However, they couldn’t make the breakthrough before the end of the first half, as the sides went into the break level at one goal apiece.

Just three minutes into the second period, Armagh almost went in front for the first time when Matthew Allen let fly from all of 35 yards. Team-mate Eoghan Liggett got a flick on it, but Williamson reacted to make a fantastic save high to his right.

They went close again on 52 minutes when Rhys Williamson’s diagonal ball from the right was met by the head of McGovern, but his glancing header whistled just over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Armagh almost won it in stoppage time when substitute Harry Gough cracked in a 30-yard drive that beat Williamson, but not the crossbar as the game went to penalties.

As with all shoot-outs, it become something of a lottery.

County Armagh captain Eakin saw his spot-kick saved, before Farr, who have scored in normal time, sent the keeper the wrong way, but the ball went wide of the post.

It was left up to Brighton's Jacob Parsons to finish the job off for his side and he did just that.

Delight for Brighton, but cruel for a County Armagh side who most observers felt were the better team on the night.

MATCH STATS

Co Armagh: Hamill, Williamson, Eakin, Liggett, Crooks, Allen (Gough 64), Stanfield, McAdam, Trainor, Farr, McGovern

Subs not used: McAdam, Richardson, Stanfield, Pedlow, McAvoy, Finnegan, Fry, Gault

Brighton & Hove Albion: Williamson, Morby, Anah, Ransom, Akapo, Pugh (Boddy 55), Brennan, Newham Reeve, Parsons, Widdop, Lawson (Oppong 55)

Subs not used: Williamson, Purcell, Smith, Long, Widdop, Gbemre Maclean

Earlier, West Ham United lifted the Junior Section by virtue of a penalty shoot-out win over County Down in a match played in parts in torrential rain.

After Mitchell Brown had opened the scoring for the Hammers early on to give them a 1-0 half-time lead, County Down hit back just a few minutes into the second period when Logan McKnight's cross from the left was diverted into his own net by West Ham keeper Leo Waldron.

However, the English youngsters didn't take long to regain their lead with JUde Longman's superb free-kick from 25 yards nestling into the top right hand corner.

With just two minutes to go, Corey McBride tapped home from the rebound after a penalty kick had been saved. That sent the game to penalties and with nine scored, County Down's Jayden Anderson saw his effort saved.

Earlier, Crusaders beat Linfield 3-1, courtesy of goals from Finn Hegarty, Will Davison, Daniel Clarke, to secure the Minor title.

In the Girls Section at Dixon Park, Manchester United lifted the Premier trophy with a 2-1 win over Northenrn Ireland after Surf Seeldct has beaten Larne 3-0 in the Juniors.

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