Release Date: 16/03/2011

Trailblazers, Northern Irelands only Powerchair Football Club, enjoyed a successful cup competition in Firhouse Sports Complex, Dublin on Saturday 12 March.

Trailblazers joined Dublin sides Sporting Fingal A & B and Joeys in a 4 team invitational tournament.

Sporting Fingal B 0 V Trailblazers 1

The Trailblazers, in their first ever competitive match, started off in terrific fashion, young midfielder Scott Hilland combining well with Carl McVeigh for the latter to slot home from close range after just 5 minutes.

Trailblazers continued to dominate for the remainder of the game. Marc Bigger and Talia McDowell kept Sporting Fingal at bay with impressive defensive displays enabling William Graham to have a quite debut in goal. Despite long periods of pressure theTrailblazers failed to add to that early strike and the game finished with that 1-0 scoreline, much to the delight of the travelling fans.

Sporting Fingal A V Trailblazers

Sporting Fingal A team were a different proposition altogether. This was evident almost from kickoff as they pushed the young Trailblazers side back. They created chance after chance but Marc Biggers excellent defending and  William Grahams goalkeeping were particularly impressive as the score remained 0-0 at half-time.

Sporting Fingals breakthrough came early in the second half, Graham finally beaten with a sharp finish from the edge of the box. Two further goals went in as Sporting Fingal pressed home their advantage. The 3-0 scoreline was perhaps a bit harsh on the Trailblazers, particularly after the impressive first half display.

Joeys v Trailblazers

Trailblazers final game was against Joeys, an experienced squad from the Dublin area. Despite the huge gulf in match experience, Trailblazers held their own with young Hilland and McVeigh once again impressive in the attacking half.

The match was end to end but with no clear cut chances created by either side. It really looked like penalties would be required to separate the sides but Joeys snatched it with a deflected shot from the edge of the box in the last minute of the game.

The Trailblazers, who play out of The Valley LC in Newtownabbey, were  formed in 2010 and are part of the IFA Disability Football Program. Their coach, Sharlene Rainey, was clearly delighted with the performance despite the two defeats when she said: “An unbelievable effort from our young squad considering that was our first competitive fixtures. We are looking to develop the program with more players in Northern Ireland playing the game, better, faster equipment for our squad and more competitive opportunities like today which was a great experience”

If any Power Wheelchair users would like to join the Trailblazers club they can contact Alan Crooks at the IFA on 02890684714 or acrooks@irishfa.com . The club is on this Saturday 19 March, 9.45am – 11.15am, Indoor Hall, Valley LC, Newtownabbey.

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