SUPERCUP NI: Armagh denied draw by late Rangers goal

Awokoya-Mebude’s late strike gave the young Gers a 2-1, in an entertaining Junior encounter in front of a busy a Showgrounds.

Billy Gilmour opened the scoring for the Rangers Junior team with a stunning strike in the 15th minute. The midfielder showed quick feet inside the area, creating space, before curling a shot into the top corner.

Chris Hutchinson hit an equaliser for Armagh in the fifth minute of the second half. His low free-kick slipped through the hands of Rangers goalkeeper Brian Kinnear and into the back of the net.

Rangers found the winner in the third minute of stoppage time when Awokoya-Mebude slipped the ball underneath Walsh, although it looked as if the striker may have pushed an Armagh defender in the back.

Fellow county side Tyrone had a little bit more luck. They beat New Zealanders MS Select 1-0 at Rugby Avenue, with Adam Young winning and converting a penalty.

Tyrone will look to build on their success today when they play local rivals Armagh in Coleraine.

There was also opening day glory for Down and Antrim. David Bryson’s Down claimed a hugely impressive 3-1 win over Glaswegians Partick Thistle at Anderson Park, while Stefan Seaton’s Antrim beat North Dublin 1-0 at the same Coleraine venue.

At Roe Mill, Londonderry and Cherry Orchard drew 0-0. However, there was disappointment for Fermanagh in Portrush, as they lost 2-0 to American club Strikers.

Club NI made their SuperCup debut in Limavady. The Irish FA’s school of excellent entered an Under 14 side into this year’s Under 15 tournament, to avoid any dispute over players with the county teams. Unfortunately, Sheffield United had a little too much for our boys, claiming a 3-0 win.

Holders Right To Dream were the pick of the foreign sides. The Ghanian football academy made short work of America side GPS Bayern at the Coleraine Showgrounds, winning 4-0.

English side Plymouth Argyle also got off to a flying start at Clough, hammering Columbian side Alset 10-1.

There were also big wins for Mexican side Chivas, American select side First Choice and Middlesbrough.

Chivas put five past Swindon in Castlerock, First Choice beat Chilean side Collina 2-0 in Portstewart while Middlesborough beat Dundalk Schools 7-2 in Ballymoney. Southampton drew 0-0 with County Donegal.