The Northern Ireland Walking Football squads continued their preparations for this year's IWFF World Championship in Sweden by taking part in tournaments in Belfast and Cheshire.
Their final warm-up tournament ahead of the global competition next month - the International Walking Football Federation event is being staged in Malmo from 4 to 6 July - saw them face strong teams from the Republic of Ireland at Avoniel Leisure Centre.
The Over-70s won their first tournament of the season when they edged past a Northern Ireland Over-65s team and two Over-65s teams from the Republic in Belfast.
Despite losing their first game 1-0 they came back strongly to win the next three with a goal from David Marcus and three from David Lemon. They just managed to pip the NI Over-65s, who won two and drew two with goals from Sam Arbuthnot, Tom Faulkner and three from Michael Haddock.
The Northern Ireland Over-60s fielded two teams in their competition. The 'A' team lost one, won one and drew two to finish runners-up behind the Republic’s Over-60s 'A' team. The Northern Ireland goals came from Michael Mahood, David McEachern and debutant Paul Black. And Anthony Cafolla also chipped in with two goals.
The NI Over-60s 'B' team found it tough going but managed two creditable draws, with Jim Rea scoring both of their goals.
The Belfast tournament followed a successful trip to Cheshire where they took on teams from Wales and the Isle of Man.
In their first game the Over-60s came from behind to defeat Cymru 2-1 thanks to goals from Michael Mahood and Gary McKeown. In game two they drew 0-0 against a strong Welsh Dragons team. Northern Ireland keeper Ray Ritchie emerged as the hero after saving a penalty.
The third and final game was against the Isle of Man. And going in to the final set of matches all four teams were still in with a chance of winning the tournament.
With almost the final kick of the game Cafolla fired past the keeper to secure a 1-1 draw. It was enough to win the tournament, by virtue of goals scored, after Northern Ireland and the Welsh Dragons tied on points and goal difference.
The Over-70s started the tournament off in fine style with a 4-0 victory over Cymru. Drew Mearns and David Lemon (hat-trick) got the goals.
In game two, however, they fell to a surprise 5-2 defeat against the Welsh Dragons. George Gribben got the first goal and Lemon added a penalty.
But they redeemed themselves in their final game with a 3-0 victory over Isle of Man, Gribben once again finding the back of the net and Lemon adding the other two goals. It meant Northern Ireland finished runners-up in the Over-70s competition.
