Youth Report
Thursday 24 Sep – Sunday 27 Sep 2026
Boys
Age group
2009s
Town
v Lisburn Distillery
Hard luck — great effort! 👏The 2009 Town boys were in action against Lisburn Distillery in an evening game last week, and though the result didn't go their way, there was plenty to take from it. Lisburn Distillery edged the first half, but the second half was a different game entirely — the lads came out firing, played some much better football and created plenty of chances.
💬 Coach's report
Oisin got the goal the performance deserved and took home the man of the match trophy for his efforts, with the boys pushing hard right to the final whistle looking for more. Just not to be on the night, but the character shown in that second half is exactly what the coaches want to see — plenty to build on for the next one.
Age group
2011s
Town
v Hillsborough Boys Tigers
We won! 🎉The 2011 Town boys came through a highly competitive game against Hillsborough Boys Tigers last weekend, in a contest that could have gone either way in the first half with chances at both ends. The breakthrough after the break was worth waiting for — good distribution from Rhyan released Odhran, who collected the ball and curled a fantastic effort over the keeper with the outside of his left foot. Hillsborough hit back quickly, but the boys responded straight away: James reacted sharpest when the Hillsborough keeper raced out of his box to clear, finishing calmly into the empty net.
💬 Coach's report
Odhran then scored again direct from an excellently whipped corner — the keeper got a hand to it, but the ball had already crossed the line. The final five minutes were frantic, and Rhyan came up huge with some fantastic reaction saves to make sure of the win. A strong display of character from start to finish — well done, boys!
Age group
2013s
Town
v Warrenpoint Town
We won! 🎉The 2013 Town boys put in a fantastic performance against Warrenpoint Town last weekend. Warrenpoint started brightly and edged ahead early on, but the boys grew into the game and Odhran brought them level midway through the first half. From there the lads improved in every aspect — more intensity, more positivity and some great link-up play — with Conan and Shay both finding the net before the break.
💬 Coach's report
The second half started with the same great intensity, and some really brilliant football saw Jamie get on the scoresheet and Adam help himself to goals too. A very enjoyable match to watch and the coaches were really proud of every one of the lads. Well done, boys!
Forest
v Camlough Rovers
Hard luck — great effort! 👏The 2013 Forest boys put in a tremendous effort in an entertaining evening match against a Camlough Rovers side who came into the game in great form. It was a real battle between two committed teams on a tight pitch, and the boys more than played their part — even the referee remarked afterwards that a draw would have been a fair result. Camlough started the quicker, but the lads grew into the game and finished the first half on top.
💬 Coach's report
Special mention for Ruairi in goal, who took a heavy fall and looked like he might have to come off, but dusted himself off and soldiered on — that's the spirit this group is all about. The game slipped away late on, and the coaches were especially pleased with how the boys responded, pushing forward bravely right to the final whistle. Dylan took the man of the match award for a solid game marshalling the defence with some excellent tackling. On to the next one!
Age group
2014s
Town
Hard luck — great effort! 👏The 2014 Town boys produced a fantastic performance last weekend, and though the result didn't quite go their way, there was so much to be proud of. The boys fell behind but dug deep, kept their shape and worked tirelessly for each other — exactly what the coaches asked of them. They created lots of excellent chances too, with only a very good opposition keeper keeping the score down.
💬 Coach's report
The goals were worth the wait when they came: Niall finished off a super run, Oisin scored straight from a corner, and Cormac rattled in an edge-of-the-box blockbuster that earned him the player of the match award. All the fitness work and drills at training are really starting to pay off — well done, lads!
Age group
2016s
Town
v Lisburn Youth
Hard luck — great effort! 👏The 2016 Town boys came up against a strong Lisburn Youth side last weekend and found the going tough against a team who played some confident football. The boys stuck at it, and their response after the break was great to see — a much stronger second-half performance full of effort and determination.
💬 Coach's report
Shealin got his reward with a well-earned goal, battling hard in the box to force the ball home. Lawson took the man of the match award for a great performance in the back line, with Fionn alongside him steady as ever and giving everything for the team. This group will dust themselves off and go again — plenty to build on for next time.
Forest
v Glendowan
We won! 🎉The 2016 Forest boys produced a fantastic performance from the first whistle to the last against Glendowan last weekend, putting them under constant pressure from the off and thoroughly deserving their win. Lorcan and Lochlainn got themselves on the scoresheet with the team playing some great stuff throughout.
💬 Coach's report
Every single player was fantastic on the day. Thomas stayed focused in goal whenever he was called upon, and Stephen was excellent at the back, deservedly picking up the man of the match award. A big thank you to Stephen and Riley for stepping up from the 2017s to help the team out — well done, boys!
Colts
v Glendowan
We won! 🎉The 2016 Colts were brilliant to a man against Glendowan last weekend, with a superb team effort from start to finish. The boys defended tightly, pressed high up the pitch and dominated the midfield battle, and the opener was a great passage of play — a lovely ball releasing Mikolaj, who charged at the keeper and finished with real confidence. Credit to Glendowan too, who showed some lovely individual skill of their own and made a real game of it.
💬 Coach's report
The second half carried on in the same way, with Luke showing great determination to get himself on the scoresheet. There was real self-belief in this group — the concentration never dropped and they defended doggedly when they needed to. Michael was brilliant all game, battling hard in midfield with great feet, and it was his free kick won late on that Mikolaj smashed home, before Zach capped the day with a great save. A thoroughly deserved win!
Age group
2017s
Town
v Sunnyside
We drew 🤝What a game this was for the 2017 Town boys last weekend — a really enjoyable contest between two fantastic sets of players, with every single one of them fighting for every ball. Cillian wore the captain's armband and led by example at the back alongside the ever-dependable Adam, while Reon's lung-busting runs set the tempo throughout. Noah covered every blade of grass in midfield and showed real quality on the ball, with the midfield and forwards controlling large spells of the game.
💬 Coach's report
The boys fell behind against the run of play despite creating chance after chance, and the second half brought even more sustained pressure — including hitting the post three times! Just when it seemed their efforts wouldn't be rewarded, Riley popped up with almost the last kick of the game to score one of the goals of the season. A brilliant team performance full of work rate, team spirit and some really slick attacking football.
Age group
2018s
Town
v Ballymacash, Rosario and Crewe
Fun football — no scores kept, loads of smiles! ⚽The 2018 Town boys had a weekend to remember, facing Ballymacash, Rosario and Crewe and coming out on top in all three games. Ballymacash gave us a brilliant contest and full credit to them for pushing us all the way — the boys fell behind but never panicked, playing some lovely football throughout. Conleth dragged us back into it, and then Senan stepped up when it mattered most, grabbing a winner at the death that showed the unbelievable heart in this group.
💬 Coach's report
The Rosario game was just excellent to watch, with every player sharp, pressing well and giving Rosario very little time on the ball, and some really well-worked goals to cap it off. Against Crewe, who gave us a real battle last time out, the passing and movement were top class, and Callum produced a strike into the top corner that will take some beating for goal of the season. A few things to sharpen up at training as always, but these lads made everyone proud last weekend.
Forest
Fun football — no scores kept, loads of smiles! ⚽Match #1 - Win
💬 Coach's report
The 2018 Forest boys made the trip down to Lisburn last weekend and got off to a flying start. The coaches had a wee chat with the group beforehand about starting games on the front foot, and the response could not have been better — the boys were sharp from the first whistle and played some brilliant football.
Lorcan, Harry, Shane and Thomas were all on the scoresheet, with some great goals and plenty more chances created. A performance full of energy and confidence that set the tone for the rest of the day.
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Match #2 - Loss
The 2018 Forest boys took on a strong Hillsborough side in Lisburn last weekend, and while the result didn't go our way, this was a performance to be really proud of. The boys had Hillsborough under pressure for long spells and played some of their best football of the season.
The Hillsborough keeper was in inspired form, and there were some mad goalmouth scrambles where the ball somehow just wouldn't go in — at one point there were more players on the ground than standing! The boys came away with heads held high, knowing a result against this side is well within their reach next time.
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Match #3 - Win
The 2018 Forest boys rounded off their trip to Lisburn last weekend with another really strong performance. The biggest improvement was the football itself — slowing things down, getting heads up and passing the ball, exactly what the group has been working on at training.
Harry, Shane and Jack got the goals, and the work rate of Jack and Harry was massive for the team, their recovery running giving everyone else the confidence to push higher up the pitch. Lorcan was excellent again too, looking so composed when asked to drop into a deeper role. A really positive day out, and it feels like this group is starting to turn the corner.
Colts
v Newtownbreda, Dromara Village, Crewe United
Fun football — no scores kept, loads of smiles! ⚽Match #1 - Draw
💬 Coach's report
The 2018 Colts started last weekend with a cracking battle against Newtownbreda. The boys were on the front foot for most of the game, peppering the Newtownbreda goal, and got their reward when Donnchada finished off a well-deserved goal — no less than his performance merited.
Noah and Oryn both came on and were excellent at the back, barely letting Newtownbreda out of their own half. A performance full of effort from every single player, and plenty of encouragement to take into the rest of the day.
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Match #2 - Win
The 2018 Colts produced a dominant display against Dromara Village last weekend, on top from the first whistle and not giving Dromara an inch all game. Logan capped a hard-working performance with an excellent opening goal.
Jude came off the bench and scored with his very first touch — you won't see a quicker impact than that — and Cormac added a lovely solo goal to round things off. Another big step forward from a group that keeps on improving.
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Match #3 - Win
The 2018 Colts finished last weekend in style against Crewe United, once again looking much the better side. The boys flew out of the blocks, with Zach on the scoresheet and some really neat finishing
from Alex, who took home the man of the match trophy for his performance.
Crewe kept battling to the end, but there was only ever going to be one winner. The coale player for effort across the whole day — every one of these boys is really coming on.
Girls
Age group
Under 14s
Town
v Downpatrick
We won! 🎉The Under 14 girls took on a strong Downpatrick side last weekend, and while the result didn't go their way, there was so much to be proud of. Just two weeks ago there were only six or seven girls at training, so getting a full team onto the pitch was a huge achievement in itself — with new faces in the squad, several girls playing out of position, and younger players stepping up at short notice, including the twins and Bella, who all did brilliantly. Ella was outstanding at centre-back from start to finish, and Aoife C had a great game alongside her in a defence that worked incredibly hard all game.
💬 Coach's report
Ellie was excellent in midfield and very unlucky not to get herself on the scoresheet, while Chloe, Aoife M and Holly grew into the game brilliantly and became more and more influential as it went on — Chloe also going close to a goal. Myla deserves huge credit in goal, making some excellent saves and never stopping battling. This group has only been together for two weeks, the numbers are growing every session, and there are four more players joining the panel next week — plenty to be encouraged by, and these girls will keep working, keep smiling and go again next week.
Age group
Under 12s
Town
v Ballynagross
We won! 🎉The u12 girls had an impressive win over Ballynagross last weekend with all 5 goals came in the first half. Ballynagross had no answer to our blistering start, the workrate and effort from the off was fantastic. Some brilliant passing and movement allowed the girls to create numerous attempts on goal.
💬 Coach's report
Kate and Cara both got a brace each and Sorcha scored the other. It was a very close call for player of the match but Kate just edged it after two super goals and we thought she had the hat trick but the ref ruled it out for off side. Well done Kate and well done to every one of the girls - super shifts from you all.
Really pleasing performance - let’s keep working hard and moving in the right direction girls.
Age group
Under 10s
Town
v Ballynacross, Kilmore Rec, Ballynahinch and Rossglass
Fun football — no scores kept, loads of smiles! ⚽The Under 10 girls enjoyed a brilliant day of football last weekend, coming through their matches against Ballynacross, Kilmore Rec, Ballynahinch and Rossglass unbeaten, with three wins and a draw. As pleasing as the results were, what delighted the coaches most was the quality of the passing and the way the girls worked together — several goals came from tremendous build-up play, with the team confidently moving the ball from defence through midfield before finishing brilliantly. A big thank you as well to the Ballynacross player who kindly stepped in to help us out in the first match of the day.
💬 Coach's report
Rioghnach, Saorla, Amara and Caitlín all got themselves on the scoresheet across the day, with Saorla capping an outstanding all-round performance by sealing the Rossglass match with a fantastic strike into the top corner. This group's work rate, attitude and teamwork can never be questioned — the girls gave everything in every game and fully deserved their results. Best of all, Castlewellan fielded two Under 10 girls teams on the day, a fantastic sign of the growth of girls' football at the club. The future is looking very bright — well done, girls!
Forest
v Ballynahinch, Rossglass, Downpatrick and Ballynacross
Fun football — no scores kept, loads of smiles! ⚽The Under 10 Forest girls had a fantastic day of football last weekend, taking on Ballynahinch, Rossglass, Downpatrick and B/Gross and coming away with three wins. They came straight out of the traps in the opener, showing excellent energy that set the tone for the whole day, with some lovely link-up play from strikers Caragh and Lara. Rossglass then provided a much tougher test that needed all six outfielders and the goalkeeper on their guard, and it was nip and tuck until Eabha swept home a breakaway counter-attack in the last minute.
💬 Coach's report
The Downpatrick game arguably brought the best performance of the day — the girls created chance after chance, with Clara's passing outstanding, only for a worldly display from the opposition goalkeeper to deny them and the result to narrowly slip away. There was no stopping them in the final match though, a free-flowing game where a strong showing from debutant Phoebe and endless running from Lucie saw the girls end the day on a high. Plenty of goals, plenty of smiles and plenty to be proud of — well done, girls!
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Thanks to all our coaches, parents and volunteers for making youth football happen.
