Boys Brigade Northern Ireland Inter Battalion Junior Final

East Antrim 1 – Portadown 3

A highly entertaining game, played between two technically proficient sides, ended with Portadown sneaking a game, which on another night could have gone the other way.

East Antrim had the chance to win the shield for the first time and entered the game full of confidence.  An excellent 3-1 victory against Belfast in their first group game was followed by a 6-1 trouncing of Lurgan in their second group game.  Ainsley Gray was proving to be the main man up front, helping himself to four goals over the two games.  Ryan Garrett on the right wing and David Thompson on the left wing were also chipping in with three goals between them, both displaying real quality on their right and left feet respectively.  Captain Paul Stewart showed his prowess from outside the box with two long-range efforts to complete the scoring. 

Those two wins enabled East Antrim to win their group and thus avoid the fancied Portadown team in the semi finals. 

Ards were the eventual semi final opponents and they were ruthlessly disposed off with a 6-1 scoreline.  Ards may feel aggrieved with the final result as their play did not deserve such a mauling but the finishing of East Antrim was clinical.  This game was also notable for the fantastic save made by keeper Ross Stewart early in the game.  Had a goal been scored then by Ards, the game could have been so different but breathtaking reflexes from Ross prevented what looked a certain goal.  The save was certainly of the quality you would expect to see on the Premiership on a Saturday night.

So down to the final.  East Antrim lined up with the same team that had started all but the first group match.  It was a young side, with only six members of the starting line up, and indeed the squad, in third year at school, the upper age limit for this section.  Portadown were a big, strong, physical side, blessed with a number of talented players. 

The first half started off tense from both teams.  Strong tackles were being made by both sides, with East Antrim’s Adam Bogle immense in the middle of the field.  The forward line of Stewart McGarry and Ainsley Gray were getting very little change out of the Portadown back four, with their goalkeeper commanding when called upon.  Much of East Antrim’s positive play came down the right hand side, with Ryan Garrett having the beating of the Portadown left back.  It was from an attack down this side where East Antrim opened the scoring.  The ball came on the ground to Stewart McGarry, who held the ball up well before slipping it through for Ryan Garrett to chase.  His speed took him by the left back once again and this time a quality finish was applied.  1-0 East Antrim.

The scoreline stayed like that until just before half time.  Portadown had threatened on set pieces with their stronger physical presence earlier in the match, a free header by one of their players having been put over previously.  This time, though, no such mistake was made.  The ball came in from the left and bobbled about the penalty area like a pinball before an orange jersey poked it into the back of the net.  It was poor defensive play by East Antrim as opportunities had been there to clear the ball.  The goal was practically the last kick of the half as the referee blew for time.  It is often said the best time to score is just before half time and this was certainly the case in this game.

A stern talking too at half time sent the East Antrim players out ready to reclaim the lead and their play for the first ten minutes of the second half deserved it.  Paul Stewart started to get a hold of midfield alongside Adam Bogle and the two full backs, Jonny Bingham and Michael Rodgers also looked more assured on the ball.  Unfortunately, pressure did not pay and they were left to rue that when Portadown scored their second goal.  Poor marking at the back and a lack of cover from midfield contributed to the goal which was well taken by the Portadown forward.

In truth, East Antrim created little after this but the one opportunity which did come produced a super save from the Portadown keeper.  Ainsley Gray showed his speed to outpace the Portadown rearguard and hit an excellent shot towards the far corner but the keeper spread himself well and made the block.  Ainsley probably hit the shot too well as a bobbled effort might have sneaked under the huge frame of the keeper.

Stewart McGarry, who played well upfront alongside Ainsley, made way late in the game for Karl Love, but the elusive equaliser could not be found.  One further fumble by the keeper was the only real sniff East Antrim had of a goal.

The misery was compounded late in the game when Portadown scored their third with East Antrim caught upfield chasing an equaliser. 

So the final result ended 3-1 to Portadown.  The same scoreline as the semi final last year between the same two teams but a much closer match.  East Antrim certainly had a genuine chance of winning this game as there was very little between the two sides.  Some of the East Antrim players froze on the big day and did not play to their full potential, the experienced Portadown side, having won the final last year, had been there and done it before.

Hopefully next year will be the year for East Antrim, after this year’s disappointment.  Nine members of this squad will still be eligible for next year and experience is vital at any level of football.  The emergence of young Allan Clarke at centre back, alongside the ever impressive Kenneth Keyes, and Jonny Bingham at left back is very promising for the future.  Ainsley Gray also showed some real quality up front.  All will be back to hopefully wrestle the shield from Portadown’s grasp next year!

But back to this year, and credit should be given to the whole team for getting so far and playing some excellent football along the way.  The boys are a credit to what is a fantastic organisation, the Boys Brigade.  I can say it has been a pleasure working with every one of the boys and I hope to be back, alongside Donald Blair, next year to win the Junior Inter Battalion Shield for the first time for East Antrim!

The full squad for the competition was: Ross Stewart, Michael Rodgers, Jonathon Bingham, Kenny Keyes, Allan Clarke, Adam Bogle, Ryan Garrett, Paul Stewart (Captain), Ainsley Gray, Stewart McGarry, David Thompson, Andrew McCurry, Kenny Graeley, Karl Love and Allistair Bell.