SuperCupNI: County L'derry take the Premier title

County Londonderry pulled off a superb - and well deserved - win to lift the Boys Premier Section of the SuperCupNI in Ballymena.

Jacob Dallas' goal after just 10 seconds proved the difference between the sides. But in truth, Martin Smith's side were the better team throughout, with sparkling performances all over the pitch, not least from captain Senan Devine, who led from the front.

Londonderry got off to the best possible start with that early goal.

Straight from the kick-off, the ball came back to Dallas and his speculative effort from way out completely deceived Tigres keeper Luis Sanchez to drop into the net.

While the Mexicans did see plenty of the ball, it was the local lads who looked much more threatening and they almost doubled their

County Londonderry almost scored the goal of the tournament three minutes before the break.

Captain Senan Devine did superbly down the right hand side to jink his way past three defenders.

The Coleraine man then clipped the ball to Alfie Gaston 10 yards out and the midfielder cracked in an acrobatic right footed effort that flew just over the crossbar.

Martin Smith’s side looked the more threatening in the early stages of the second period and had two chances to extend their advantage in the opening minutes, the best being Alfie Friars’ looping header dropping onto the top of the net.

However, Tigres almost levelled on 44 minute when substitute Kevin Ramos found Gustavo Gonzalez 12 yards out, only for his volley effort to bounce just wide of the left post, with Derry keeper Harry Pearson scrambling to his right.

County Londonderry spurned a glorious chance to go 2-0 in front on 47 minutes from the penalty sport.

It came after Sam McClintock was taken down in the box by Jesus Salazar, but McClintock’s effort from 12 yards was well stopped by Sanchez.

MATCH STATS

County Londonderry: Pearson, Hutton, Friars, Leacock, Burns, Baird (O’Neill 54), Gaston (McDowell 69), Devine (Graham 70), Dallas, Ramsey (McClintock H-T), Tejada

Subs not used: Gallagher, Clifford, Green

Tigres: Sanchez, Marin (C Gonzalez H-T), Beltran (L Gonzalez 43), Davila, Salazar, Tamez, Raygoza (Ramos H-T), Noriega, Martinez (Cuellar H-T), Mange (Pech 61), G Gonzalez

Sub not used: Manzano