Super Cup NI: Southampton deny United to lift Premier title
Southampton secured the Premier Boys title with a narrow 1-0 win over fancied Manchester United at Coleraine Showgrounds.
The Saints started the game stronger and went close after just four minutes, when Jude Daniels pulled his shot wide of the left post.
Four minutes later, Kai Rooney - son of legendary United striker Wayne - had his first impact upon the final. The United winger turned his defender inside out, before firing in a shot from the right side of the box that crashed into the sidenetting.
United continued to grow into the game and should really have been in front after 25 minutes when Edson DeJonge-Seiros charged into the area, rounded the keeper, but then was unable to finish from the tightest of angles.
Southampton came out of the blocks the fastest in the second half and soon took the lead.
A sweeping move was finished off by the unmarked Daniel from close range to make it 1-0.
Southampton then sat back as United pressed. Rooney was again involved close to the hour mark when he cut in from the right to fire a curling effort that just whistled past the far upright.
As the game came towards stoppage time, United crept closer to finding an equaliser.
Firstly, Brian Nyonyl headed wide from six yards out and then just moments later, Gazimagamed Ibragimov spun and shot from 10 yards after a goalmouth scramble, but his effort whizzed over the bar as Southampton hung on to secure the Premier title.
Elsewhere in the section, Co Down held on for a super win against Hamilton, winning 1-0 to claim the SuperCupNI play-off title. In the Globe Final, Japanese side Ichifuna put six past Intercontinental FC at Scroggy Road.
There were also goals galore in the Bowl Final, where Co Armagh defeated neighbours Co Antrim 3-2 in a nailbiter. In the Vase Final, Co Londonderry had a superb result, winning 2-0 against English side Brighton to lift the trophy.
Junior Boys Section
Antrim win battle of the counties
County Antrim lifted the Junior title on Friday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over County Armagh.
In a quiet first half, Armagh did have the ball in the net, but it was eventually ruled out for offside.
The second period sparked to life just four minutes after the rewhen start Antrim took the lead thanks to Michael Mulholland, who was on top form throughout the week.
The striker was played through on goal down the left-hand side and he coolly slotted home high into the far top corner to make it 1-0
Armagh should have levelled four minutes later when a mix-up in the Antrim defence saw the ball fall to the feet of Cillian Rafferty. But his left-footed effort rose high and wide of the right upright.
Armagh were punished on 48 minutes when Antrim grabbed their second. Mulholland once again was the catalyst, squaring the ball from the right into the path of Jordan Bradley Camlin who had the simplest of tap-ins from five yards.
Armagh pulled one back on 71 minutes when a corner was headed goalward allowing Alfie Donaldson the chance to scramble the ball home to make it 2-1.
That was the way the game would finish as Antrim became Junior champions for 2025.
Minor Boys' Section
Cliftonville clinch the title
Earlier in the day, Cliftonville took the Minor title with a 1-0 win over rivals Linfield.
Two minutes later, it was the Blues’ turn to go close, when their number three unleashed a stinging drive from all of 30 yards, but it was well held by the Cliftonville goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came late on when Cliftonville’s number 10, a constant threat, was bundled over by the keeper as he rose to meet a cross, and the Referee pointed to the spot. He picked himself up and smashed the penalty in off the underside of the bar to make it 1-0.