Ballymena International TournamentMatch Reports - 24th AprilDean McCormick was the hero for Northern Ireland as they got their Ballymena International Tournament campaign off to a fantastic start with a 6-0 Group A win over Finland at the Showgrounds.
Chris Ramsey opened the scoring on six minutes when he bundled home an inviting free-kick from William Faulkner. Dessie Curry's side had chances to put the game beyond the Scandinavians before the break but it was not until two minutes into the second half that McCormick doubled their advantage, heading home an Andrew King cross.
McCormick added another in the 44th minute when he knocked home the rebound following a mazy run and shot from Paul Gallagher, and took advantage of a defensive mix-up to claim his hat-trick on 50 minutes.
McCormick wasn't finished there though, and he bagged a fourth in the 64th minute, being in the right place at the right time to slot home after the Finnish goalkeeper failed to hold a cross. Faulkner headed home a Ramsey free-kick a minute later to conclude the scoring.
In the night's other Group A match, the USA battled back from a goal down to defeat Switzerland 2-1. Mario Rocca beat the US offside trap to put the Swiss ahead on 19 minutes, but Sheanon Williams headed an equaliser ten minutes after the break. Ellis McLoughlin blasted home from distance with just four minutes remaining to give the three-times runners-up a vital win.
The Czech Republic, winners of the tournament last year, got their defence of the David Cairns Memorial Trophy off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Belgium at Inver Park, Larne. Lukas Palko put the Czechs ahead on 50 minutes, but Belgium hit back ten minutes later, against the run of play, through Nill de Pauw. However, Jaroslav Kaspar's 25 yard free-kick somehow managed to fins a way through the Belgian wall and past Stijn van der Kelen and was enough to give his side maximum points.
Canada narrowly overcame Scotland at Larne Tech Old Boys, courtesy of a 33rd minute strike from Philippe Davies. Canada were the better side in the first half, and deserved their lead which Davies gave them after taking advantage of a defensive slip to fire home from 25 yards. Scotland battled hard in the second half and had one effort rebound off the post and another cleared off the line, but the north Americans held out for victory.
http://www.ballymena-tournament.org/y2006/reports1.htmlMatch Reports - 25th AprilDessie Curry's Northern Ireland U-16 side took a step closer to reaching the final of the Ballymena International Tournament courtesy of a fine 3-0 win over Switzerland at Islandmagee FC this evening.
The first half ended goalless, but Northern Ireland made the breakthrough three minutes after the break. Pat McLaughlin's initial shot was saved by the Swiss goalkeeper, but Paul Gallagher was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
Jonathan Sergeant made an excellent save to deny Omar Baljic an equaliser on 53 minutes, and it proved crucial in more ways than one as Northern Ireland broke immediately and scored a second, Dean McCormick bagging his fifth goal of the competition from a Gallagher cross.
That sequence of events was repeated seven minutes later when Brian McCaul hammered home a third goal following an excellent stop at the other end by Sergeant.
The Swiss tried in vain to respond, but Northern Ireland held firm and need just a draw tomorrow against the USA to ensure that they will be playing for the David Cairns Memorial Trophy.
The USA lost ground on Northern Ireland when they dropped two points against Finland. Indeed, they were lucky to come out of the game with anything at all and had substitute Brek Shea to thank for salvaging a point with an injury time equaliser.
The US took the lead courtesy of a 4th minute own goal by Henri Toivomaki, but Finland hit back five minutes later through a superb Tapio Heikkila half-volley from fully 40 yards. The Scandinavians took the lead soon after, Andre Karring firing a low shot across US goalkeeper Josh Lambo and into the far corner. An amazing 15 minute spell was then rounded off by a US equaliser, Jared Jeffrey firing home via the post from 16 yards.
The Finns re-established the lead in the 58th minute when Toivomaki headed home a Mikko Sumusalo, but Shea netted late on to keep the US in the hunt for victory.
The Czech Republic are in command in Group B having defeated Canada 4-0 at the Showgrounds. They opened the scoring just before the half hour mark through Lukas Hejda, but had to wait until the second half before doubling their advantage. Jan Smidrkal put the Czechs two ahead then turned provider for Lukas Palko who notched a third. Jakub Petr rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time with a 20 yard free-kick.
In the night's final game, Belgium took advantage of two defensive blunders to defeat Scotland 2-0. Nill de Pauw claimed the first on 29 minutes and Bryan Del Vigne made sure of the three points five minutes from time.
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