HISTORY was made on day one of the 2024 Super Cup NI, as our 2010/11 girls team became the first female squad to represent the club at the competition.
Debuting against strong American opposition in Surf Select, the girls put in a battling performance before narrowly losing out 3-1 come full-time. The positive to come out of the game was a first tournament goal, scored by Leah Hepburn who was also named as Player of the Match for the Inver Reds.
The team will now face FC America at 1.30pm this afternoon at Mossley, before taking on Linfield in their final group game tomorrow at Monkstown, once again a 1.30pm kick-off.
A record number of Larne academy players are taking part in the competition this year within our boys’ set-up, with a total of 15 players representing their county or guesting for other professional clubs.
JUNIOR SECTION
Defender Alfie Mulvenna will spend the week guesting for Glasgow Rangers in the junior section of the competition and featured yesterday for the Scottish club in a 2-1 defeat to Co. Fermanagh. The defender will hope that his side can open their account for the tournament against FC America this afternoon.
Six 2010 players have been called up to represent Co. Antrim at this year’s tournament, with Phoenix Blayney, Jude Crawford and Jamison Rainey all starting in the opening game against Blackburn Rovers yesterday alongside Finlay Millar, Alex Kennedy and Callum Tweedie who all made appearances from the subs bench. In a thrilling 5-4 victory, Jude Crawford captained the team and bagged a brace to ensure his side took the three points. The boys will face Co. Tyrone this afternoon and will no doubt be seeking to make it two wins from two against their fellow county opposition.
Two of our academy players faced off against each other on day one of the group stages, with Daniel Hashim’s Co. Down facing Zach O’Hara’s Co. Armagh. It was Hashim and his teammates who took the bragging rights on this occasion, coming out 3-1 winners in the inter-county clash.
Rounding off day one for our academy players, Tomas O’Kane’s Co. Londonderry team suffered a 3-1 defeat against West Ham United. O’Kane will face St. Francis this afternoon, aiming to get a first win on the board to add to yesterday’s experience against English Premier League opposition.
PREMIER SECTION
Barry McKervey, Zak Robinson, Alex McAllister and Jamie McIntyre were named in the Co. Antrim squad at premier level for this year’s tournament, with McKervey starting for Antrim in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Co. Armagh yesterday, giving fellow academy player and Co. Armagh squad member Alex Eakin the bragging rights in a closely fought encounter. Antrim will face Japanese side Shoshi High School tomorrow, whilst Eakin’s Co. Armagh will take on Middlesborough.
Academy player Matthew Hayman will be representing Co. Tyrone this week, with his side suffering a 2-0 defeat to Glasgow Rangers on the opening day. Tyrone will hope to claim their first win of the tournament this afternoon when they face Scottish club Hamilton Accies.
