ICD 2 – 3 Lurgan Junior High

The under-13’s lost the Mid-Ulster Cup Final, as well as their unbeaten record, when they went down 3-2 to a good Lurgan Junior High School side on Wednesday 3rd May at Dungannon Swifts F.C. Marty Gervin gave the ICD a first-half lead from a corner but Lurgan equalised just before the break. After a handball by Joe Collins, the visitors were given a penalty which they duly converted. With time running out, Aaron McCann went on a dangerous run but was then upended by the opposition keeper. Seanan Clucas slotted home the resultant spot-kick to take the game into extra-time. Towards the end of the first period, Lurgan scored the decisive goal to win the trophy.

This was an incredibly exciting game for the 200 plus spectators at Stangmore Park with the ICD giving as good as they got against their physically bigger opponents. It was very difficult to pick a man of the match for ICD but the four players that stood out the most were Seanan Clucas, Ryan Donnelly, Marty Gervin and Michael Harte. Indeed, an interested spectator at the match was Swifts’ manager Joe McAree who subsequently made contact with Joe Collins and big Marty to invite them into his very successful Dungannon United set-up.

Although disappointed, the under-13 lads can look back on a phenomenally successful season when they became the first side from the College to win the Mid-Ulster league, remaining unbeaten in the process. The squad have trained very hard all year and played all their games against schools which had a much greater number of players to choose from. ICD are already looking forward to next season and have vowed to make that campaign even more successful than this one!

ICD support - year 8, 9, & 11

Marty Gervin gets ready to launch a free kick

A good defensive line by ICD

Lurgan Junior High go 2-1 up. Justin Cumberland nearly saved this penalty

Marty Gervin about to launch another attack

Cormac Dolan heads it clear

Seanan Clucas about to convert a last minute penalty to take game into extra time at 2-2

Players celebrate the equalising goal

Celebrations after penalty is converted

Team talk before extra time

ICD support prepares for extra time

Ryan Donnely (no. 7) organises a free kick

Another mazy dribble from captain Clucas