SUPERCUPNI: County Antrim Junior winners
The side beat GPS Bayern 2-0 in the Junior final.
Last updated 29th Jul 2017
By Aaron O'Neill
As the 2017 Super Cup NI rounded to a close yesterday evening, it was County Antrim and Right to Dream who made history, after victories in the Junior and Premier finals at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
The first game of the evening witnessed GPS Bayern taking on Co. Antrim in the Junior section final. Both sides looked hungry for success and it was Co. Antrim who started the brighter of the two sides.
Inspired goalkeeping and resolute defending from GPS Bayern, kept the scores level, until a moment of brilliance from Antrim full-back Darren Hyland. On the stroke of half-time, the young defender let fly from 25 yards and his well struck effort found the top corner of the net via the post. The goal was enough to give Co. Antrim the advantage at half-time as they found themselves 1-0 up.
Substitute Gerard Storey doubled Antrim’s lead in the second half with a fine header from Barry Crowe’s cross. The game fizzled out with little to report in the closing stages.
Co. Antrim emerged victorious and made their way into the history books as the first county side to win the Junior section of the competition.
Co. Antrim manager Stefan Seaton commented on the victory, “I’m delighted for the lads, the staff, for football as well as the county and the country. It’s brilliant for local football, for our boys to compete and be so dominant in a final like that.”
In the Premier Section final Ghanaian side Right to Dream faced off against Club America. Both sides looked sharp throughout the week and Friday night’s final did not disappoint.
Right to Dream started the brighter of the two sides with a couple of chances early in the first half. Club America regained their composure and began to fight back against their opposition but failed to convert.
The breakthrough came in the second half when Club America won a free-kick deep in the opposition half. Up stepped Santiago Rios who made no mistake, as he fired home from outside the box. However their lead was short lived, as moments later Mohamed Kudus’ headed effort evaded the keeper and brought the scores level at 1-1.
Kudus made it 2-1 on the night after a great solo effort witnessed him one on one with the goalkeeper. The striker held his nerve and his composed lob was enough to put his side ahead. This proved to be the last action of the game and Right to Dream were crowned winners of the tournament.
Scottish outfit Rangers, secured 3rd place overall as they won their 3rd/ 4th place play-off against Club NI. However, it was not all plain sailing for the Glasgow giants as they needed extra-time and penalties to secure victory. There were a number of standout performers on both sides in a game which was a great advertisement for youth football.
Ranger’s youngster, Kai Kennedy, picked up player of the tournament, for the Junior section, after a number of stellar performances over the course of the week-long festival of football.
Pre-tournament favourites, Manchester United, finished 8th overall in this year’s competition. United faced Mexican side Chivas Guadalaraja in the Super Cup NI Globe final, but suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat at the hands of their Mexican opposition. The Red Devils returned to the tournament after a 2 year absence but failed to muster any trophy success this time around.
In what was described as a fantastic week of football, the 2017 Super Cup NI is now over. Attentions now switch to the start of the new domestic football season, for players and management alike. However, organisers of the Super Cup NI will be getting prepared for the hectic year of preparations which lays ahead for next year’s tournament.