Strong showing from Newry City but they leave Dundela with no points in opening day defeat

Newry City were the better team for large portions of the match this afternoon, but it counted for little as they lost 1-0 away to Dundela on opening day.

The one moment of magic came just 11 minutes into the game when Newry failed to properly clear their lines from a corner kick and were punished by Aaron Prendergast scoring a superb volley from 25 yards out.

Just five minutes earlier, Newry almost scored a screamer of their own, but Ciaran O’Connor’s long-range effort hit the post. That set the tone for what was to follow, as the visitors conspired to miss a multitude of chances.

On a day where five players made their Newry debuts – including young prospects Dualta Honney and Oisin Coleman – Ryan McNickle had a chance to mark his first appearance in style when he met fellow new signing Seanna Foster’s cross, but he headed well over.

Gavin Smith was the other debutant, and he excelled at centre back alongside Alex O’Brien, and Newry can take positives from their defensive performance as they limited Dundela’s opportunities throughout the game.

The problem however, was Newry’s inability to take their own chances, and they missed three in the early stages of the second half. Ciaran O’Connor headed a Lorcan Forde cross wide, McNickle was denied by Dundela’s goalkeeper Aaron Hogg in a one on one and – with the goal at his mercy – Steven Ball fired over on the volley from two yards out.

Newry’s last chance came 10 minutes from time, but an O’Brien header was denied by a superb reflex save from Hogg, and Dundela held on for the points.

MATCH STATS

Dundela: Aaron Hogg, Jake White, Ian Fletcher, Sam Dinu, Charlie Dornan, David McMaster, Andrew Hall, Aaron Prendergast (Jaydyn Withers 85), Michael McLellan (Oisin Barr 56), Jack Smith, Mark Patton (TJ Murray 68).

Unused subs: Lewis Deane, Jay Harvey, Adam Watterson.

Newry City: Conor Mitchell, Noel Healy (Ryan McGivern 85), Gavin Smith, Ciaran O’Connor, Alex O’Brien, Adam Carroll (Adam Salley 69), Seanna Foster (Dualta Honney 85), Lorcan Forde, Steven Ball, Ryan McNickle, Donal Scullion (Oisin Coleman 85).

Unused subs: Oisin McStay, Jordan Mooney, Odhran McCart.

Referee: Mark Milligan.