Triangle F.C. School of Soccer

Playing on a tired Megaw Park pitch in Ballymoney Triangle U14’s played Glebeside in their quarter final Mid Ulster Cup fixture. The game well supported by both clubs at times was a scrappy affair with interruptions for injuries. Glebeside player Darryl McIntyre in particular had to receive special attention, all at Triangle wish him well. Full time over and with no goals the game entered extra time. Soon into extra time Gideon Cordiner clinched the first Coleraine goal. The second period of extra time and Archie Quinn added the second. Full praise to Glebeside for their fair, determined play but Triangle are the first to progress to the final four of the cup competition.

Sadly there was wasn’t a Christmas present of all the points against Cookstown on Saturday but at 

least the boys enjoyed a proper home game in Coleraine and a good turnout of supporters for the 

fixture against current Mid-Ulster League leaders Cookstown. At the final whistle the spoils were 

shared with a 3-3 draw but there was also plenty of high quality football from both sides, three 

penalties during the hour and a goal from free kick specialist Jay Hamilton in the second half. 

The two other Triangle goals came from Archie Quinn from the penalty spot and Archie also provided 

a superb cross for Ryan Campbell to get on the score sheet. Goalkeeper Jamie McAlister had to be 

substituted late in the second half after being injured, hopefully it won’t put him off eating his 

Christmas dinner. Last game of the year sees the boys facing Garvey Boys. On behalf of the boys 

they would like to wish their parents and supporters a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year

Triangle were up against the highly rated Celtic Boys club from Belfast for the first time since their NIBFA Cup semi final meeting back in April (when the Belfast boys emerged 3-1 winners and went on to win the Cup) so Triangle were up for this match from the start. After 6 minutes centre forward pairing Archie Quinn and Chris McNeill hooked up well forcing the Celtic keeper to make a fine save from Chris. Both teams then settled in and took the game to each other, Triangle however grew stronger with every attack and Gideon Cordiner again tested the Celtic keeper with a shot from the edge of the box which was well saved. Triangle were now dominating and forcing Celtic boys to defend in numbers. A Jay Hamilton free kick was floated into the box and Archie Quinn shot
powerfully towards goal unfortunately straight at the keeper who held onto the ball well. Right on the stroke of half time another well hit free kick from Jay Hamilton bounced off the right hand post and was cleared to safety.
 Triangle started the second half as they had finished the first and with not more than a minute gone Archie Quinn powered a cracking half volley past the Celtic keeper for 1-0 after some great work by the midfield. This seemed to spur Celtic into action and for long periods they took the game to Triangle but the Coleraine boys never looked in any real danger until an in swinging corner from Celtic wasn't cleared fully by the Triangle
defence and after what seemed like an eternity of scrambling around in the 6 yard box a Celtic player got his toe to the ball and poked it over the line to make it 1-1.

Straight from the start Triangle were up for  this match and on the attack and with less than 5 minutes on the clock 

found themselves 1 up after some good link up play by Dean Murray and Ryan Campbell, who powered an 

unstoppable left foot volley into the roof of the net. Triangle then fell asleep slightly and let Windmill in to equalize 

after some sloppy defensive work. The boys took the game by the scruff of the neck after this set back and had the 

game wrapped up by half time. Chris McNeill chipped the advancing keeper for 2-1 and within another 5 minutes 

Triangle were 3-1 up after jay Hamilton scored from a Ryan Campbell corner. Just before the half time whistle, 

right back Paul Douglas found himself in the opposition half and crossed into the 18 yard box for Gideon Cordner 

to slide in and bundle the ball over the line 4-1 Triangle. Triangle made 4 substitutions at half time giving run outs to 

Delwyn McLaughlin, Lee Lindsay, Conor Ferguson and Darryl Wills who all slotted in comfortably. This win lifts 

Triangle into 5th spot in the league with a game in hand over leaders Ballinamallard.

Under 14’s Hamilton heads home

Triangle U14's travelled to Fairhill Cookstown on Saturday for their tie against Omagh Utd, who are current Mid 

Ulster League champions and unbeaten in league football in 18 months. From the start both sides got the ball on 

the deck and played some great attacking football. Omagh started the strongest and for 5 minutes or so Triangle 

were finding their feet against a good footballing side. Triangle grew in confidence as the lf progressed and had the 

first chances of the match with Quinn and McNeill shooting just wide. Approx 15 minutes in and Omagh opened 

the scoring from a corner when their big striker ran in unchallenged to knock the ball into the net off his knee. 

1-0 Omagh. Triangle took the game to Omagh straight from the whistle and for a good 10 minutes all the play was 

in the Omagh half with some great work from the Triangle midfield. On 27 minutes Triangle won a corner and a 

great in swinger from Dean Murray was met powerfully by centre back Jay Hamilton's head to make it 1-1. The 

second half was again hard fought with both sides having their share of possession and attacks, in the end a draw 

was probably a fair result. Every single member of the Triangle team battled from the start and this was another

excellent team performance against a very good Omagh side.

Triangle u’14’s VS Glebe Rangers, Mid Ulster youth league. Sat 22 Sept:
 
Triangle started the match strongly against a decent Glebeside Rangers team
with the first goal coming on 14 minutes when Triangle midfielder Dean Murray played a superb ball from just inside the Glebe half that split their defence wide open, Craig Moore timed his run to perfection from the right wing and after taking a touch to steady himself lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 1-0 Triangle.  The game was fairly even over the next 15 minutes with both sides having some good possession however just on the stroke of half time Craig Moore got the better of the Glebe left back and powered a great ball from the touchline into the box where the Glebe keeper made a good save from Chris McNeil.

Triangle started the second half as they had finished the first with some great possession & link up play from the back out and with only 6 minutes gone left back Harry Shaw found himself just outside the Glebe 18 yard box
and receiving a lay off from Ryan Campbell powers a cross come shot over the keeper’s head & into the top corner. 2-0 Triangle.
 
On 16 minutes Triangle put the game to bed with the goal of the match from centre back Jay Hamilton. Triangle won a free kick  on the left about 25 yards out which was hit with a sweet right foot drive that flew over thewall & keeper into the top left corner of the net….
 
Another good win for triangle  who are now finding their feet in the mid
Ulster league with 2 wins out of 3 played so far.