City Colts the big winners as new league season kicks off

City Colts grabbed the result of the weekend as they shocked Brandywell Harps with an emphatic victory on the opening weekend of league action.

Kevin McGowan was the star of the show for City Colts, scoring four goals while Adam Hannaway also chipped in with two goals as Brandywell were well beaten at Prehen. It was the perfect start for the Colts who responded very well to a defeat to Creggan last week in the Gilfillan Cup.

Creggan were even more emphatic in their game against Du Pont as they scored seven on their way to three big points on day one of the new league campaign. The most impressive aspect of this victory was undoubtedly the fact that Creggan had such a wide spread of goal scorers, six in all, with Mark Doherty (2), Seamus Ferry, Emmett Coyle, Danny Edgar, Con McAllister and James Edgar all finding the net. Jack McMonagle took the Man of the Match award after he put in a tremendous shift in a deep lying midfield role. The Colts now go into a fascinating tie with Rosemount next week.

In the Championship, there were big wins for Newbuildings, Tamnaherin Celtic and Tristar, as they won against Mourne Celtic, Sion Swifts and Foyle FC.

Curtis Heaney, Jordy Curry and Kingsley McKeegan were the match winners for Newbuildings at Glebe. It was a strong showing from Newbuildings, especially away from home and they will be hoping to continue that good start against Phoenix Athletic Colts next time out.

Elsewhere, Connor McGee scored a hat trick and Josh Lynn scored twice as Tamnaherin hit Sion Swifts for five, while Tristar had four different scorers in Dean Loughrey, Noah McGrotty, Gerald McLaughlin and James McCafferty in an impressive performance against Foyle.

In the only remaining Gilfgillan Cup Group game, Rosemount proved to be too strong for Strabane, winning 4-1 with Ryan Cleare scoring twice.

Results

Saturday 9th September 2023

Group B

Strabane Athletic 1 (Kyle Harte)

Rosemount 4 (Conor Deane, Ryan Cleare 2, Liam Dobbins)

Premiership

Brandywell Harps 1 (Ryan Toland)

City Colts 6 (Kevin McGowan 4, Adam Hannaway 2)

Creggan Swifts 7 (Mark Doherty 2, Seamus Ferry, Emmett Coyle, Danny Edgar, Con McAllister, James Edgar)

DuPont 1(OG)

Championship

Mourne Celtic 0

Newbuildings 3 (Curtis Heaney, Jordy Curry, Kingsley McKeegan)

Tamnaherin Celtic 5 (Connor McGee 3, Josh Lynn 2)

Sion Swifts 1 (No scorer recorded)

Tristar FC 4 (Dean Loughrey, Noah McGrotty, Gerald McLaughlin, James McCafferty)

Foyle FC 1 (Gavin Harkin)

Forthcoming Fixtures Saturday 16th September 2023

Premiership

City Colts Vs Rosemount (St Columbs Park 2)

Creggan Swifts Vs Maiden City Soccer (Prehen 1)

DuPont Vs Brandywell Harps (Swilly Stadium)

Championship

Magee FC v Mourne Celtic (Prehen 4)

Newbuildings v Phoenix Athletic Colts (Newbuildings)

Foyle FC v Tamnaherin Celtic (Ryan McBride Stadium)

Sion Swifts v Churchill Colts (Camus)

Sperrin Rovers v Tristar FC (Lisnagelvin 2)

Saturday 23rd September 2023

Premiership

Brandywell Harps Vs Strabane Athletic (Ryan McBride Stadium)

Culmore Colts Vs Creggan Swifts (Culmore)

DuPont Vs Rosemount (Prehen 1)

Maiden City Soccer Vs City Colts (Lisnagelvin 2)

Championship

Pheonix Athletic Colts v Mourne Celtic (Brooke Park)

Magee FC v Foyle FC (Leafair)

Tamnaherin Celtic v Sperrin Rovers (Lettershandoney)

Churchill Colts v Tristar Colts (Wilton)