History

Down through the years quite a number of players who started their playing careers in the Carnbane League’s youth sections have progressed to play soccer at a higher level with distinction.

Listed below are some of those players who have brought honour to the Carnbane League and the Newry and Mourne area.

Hugh Dowd played in the Carnbane Youth League and was a member of the Carnbane Rovers Youth Team which played Portadown Reserves in the first round of the Northern Ireland Youth Cup in October 1968. Hugh was signed up by Glenavon in the Irish Senior League and he was transferred to Sheffield Wednesday for an estimated Fee of £25,000 in July 1974. He made a total of 150 league and cup appearances for Sheffield Wednesday whose manager, Jack Charlton, sold him to Doncaster for £15,000 in August 1979. Hugh gained five Amateur International caps, and went on to also win three full international caps.

On Boxing Day, 1972, Carnbane Rovers (the Carnbane League’s Representative Youth Team) won the Northern Ireland Youth Cup for the first time when they defeated Distillery Colts in the Final played at Mourneview Park, Lurgan. The team reached the Youth Cup Final again the following season, only to be defeated by Coleraine. Two of the young stars on the team -- striker Ronnie Taylor and goalkeeper Michael Keenan -- won International Youth Honours in 1972 in the games with England, Scotland and Wales. Michael Keenan went on to have a long successful career with Newry Town and Portadown.

Colin Clarke of Mullaglass played for Millvale Swifts in the Carnbane League and later started his professional career with Ipswich Town. He won his first N.I. international Cap in 1986 and went on to be capped 38 times, scoring 13 goals which set a new record which was eventually broken in 2004.

Tommy Connell was attached to St. John Bosco Youth Team in the Carnbane League and after gaining youth international honour was signed by Manchester United and made three appearances. He also won a full International Cap in 1978 against Wales. He returned home to have a successful career with Glentoran.

Paddy Lundy of Hereford United Youth Team, won NI Youth International Honours in 1980 and was signed up by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, Paddy received a serious injury which prevented him from continuing as a player in England. He returned home to play for both Dundalk and Newry Town.

Tommy Mooney who played for Bessbrook teams in the Youth League went on to win Under-16 Schoolboy International Caps as well as N.I. Youth International Caps. He played for Huddersfield Town in 1992-93.

In recent years a number of local boys who started their soccer careers in the Carnbane Youth League have been encouraged to join English League Clubs as Apprentice Footballers.

Three former players in the Carnbane Youth League, Raymond McGuigan, Michael Keenan, and Martin Magee, went on to win N.I. Player of the Year awards playing for Irish Senior League Clubs. Raymond McGuigan also had the distinction of winning the FAI League player of the year in the Republic of Ireland.

Ryan McGivern from Damolly played as a youth player for Christian Endeavour and then Drumcashlone. He is now attached to Manchester City and was a star on their youth team in the 2007-08 Season when they won the English FA Youth Cup. He has also made quite a number of NI Youth International appearances. He won his first full NI International Cap when he played against Scotland in a friendly game early in the 2008-09 Season. He is currently on loan to Leicester City.