L-R Josh Nicholl, Luke McGaughey, Dylan Duff & Bailey King-Hay.
Cullybackey’s Under 16 football team progressed to the second round of the Northern Ireland U16 Plate competition with a terrific win over near neighbours Ballymena Academy in a superb match. Cullybackey took an early lead through Luke McGaughey and, despite resisting some intense Academy pressure, they scored two more goals just before half time through Bailey King-Hay and Dylan Duff to give them a three goal cushion at the break. The Academy came out fighting in the second half and soon reduced the score. Soon after they scored a penalty which left the game on a knife edge at 3-2 going into the last fifteen minutes. However, led by captain Isaac Wylie and Man of the Match goalkeeper Josh Nicholl, they stood firm to advance to the next round. Here they will play St. Colm’s (Draperstown) for a place in the quarter finals.
