It is fair to say this is above the pay grade of the North Down Cup. It has been a hell of a long time since these respective forces clashed in a context like this. A fixture packed with as much heartbreak as history, Bangor and Ards are back in the same league and back to battle in one of the most highly regarded derby encounters Northern Ireland has to offer.
There is great enthusiasm from both sides of the divide, matched by an eager anticipation that the first three points of their seasons could be headed their way come the end of play. Following an encouraging account in their opener, how beautiful it would be for the Seasider following to read in the next day’s newspaper that their first taste of victory at the second-tier level came at the expense of the eternal enemy. This is big.
Pulsating derby day beckons as North Down bragging rights are up for grabs
Nothing conquers the feeling of derby day.
And despite only falling on the second matchday, there will still be an air of make or break about it.
The bragging rights of North Down feel firmly at stake for the first time in seven gruelling years; this is what it’s all about.
This is what senior football is all about.
With the buzz of Friday night kicks, Bangor and Ards are foes in a league setting for the first time since 2016 – and much has been afoot since.
While the latter rose up to the Premiership and back down again, the former fell a further two divisions following their drop-out of the second-tier and have worked their way back. Hard as it may be to believe, hard as perspective may be to gauge, it was as recently as 2019 that these two clubs were split by three whole tiers.
And now they are equals again.
Lee Feeney was assistant to his cousin Warren when Ards dropped down courtesy of a play-off defeat to Carrick Rangers four years ago.
He could yet now be the first Bangor boss to topple the eternal rivals in over 12 years.
Typically meticulous preparation will have gone on to ensure that the Seasiders are given the best chance possible of a big early scalp. If the display against Ballyclare Comrades in last week’s curtain-raiser is any measure to go by, the occasion certainly won’t overawe the brave band of brothers who will take to Clandeboye Park’s artificial turf.
That endeavour in defeat was a showcase of the way those in yellow and blue will approach the Championship. Even though the visitors to Dixon Park fell by the odd goal in five, Feeney and his players left a bright impression upon match-going followers with a front-footed and attractive brand of football that inspires belief that they can assert a strong berth early on.
Nights like these are what supporters dreamed of; late-night feasts of football under the floodlights, spectacles to be savoured.
Friday feast:
Bangor were spurred on by the occasion when taking on Crusaders in the Irish Cup last season, with Ben Arthurs racing through and slotting home to find the net against the eventual winners of Ireland’s oldest football cup competition. The Friday nights seem to bring the best out of this group. Image from Gary Carson.
The players love them, too.
“Listen, it’s all about experience, isn’t it? Playing in these sorts of games, the high level,” commented centre-back Ryan Arthur following a valiant Irish Cup Sixth Round showing against Crusaders in February.
“We should have more of these Friday night games too, these games under lights”
Ryan Arthur’s enthusiasm for Friday night kick-offs has reverberated around the whole playing squad
“We should have more of these Friday night games too, these games under lights, it’d probably help get these bigger crowds and atmospheres.”
No one will be left short in that department; this derby extraordinaire kicks off a run of three straight kick-offs on Friday evenings.
Following this early-season epic, Dundela are the visitors to Clandeboye Park seven days later (August 18) before newly-relegated Portadown will roll out the red carpet for their freshly promoted rivals a week later (August 25). But, as you gauge among fans which of these three tussles they are most eagerly awaiting, you can anticipate a swift response.
There is no sensation like the bragging rights from a derby triumph. And the size of the crowd in attendance will surely reflect that fact.
With Bangor listed as hosts for this first of at least three battles that the sides undertake – Ards are the named home team for the next duel on Boxing Day, while hosting rights then revert back to the Seagulls for a February 10 clash – a first home win back as a senior-status club against such adversaries as these would be most welcome.
Under the tutelage of Matthew Tipton for the past year and a half, last season could be said to have been one of flattering to deceive for Ards.
While the goal-getting exploits of eventual second-tier top scorer Adam Salley helped the Red and Blue Army to memorable highs, a two-month-long winless run in the winter was a dampener when it appeared a promotion push was on.
The season summary: Ards (2022-23)
- Position: fifth-place
- Ground: Clandeboye Park, Bangor, Co Down
- Points: 56
- Goals for: 72
- Goals against: 75
- Top scorer: Adam Salley (27)
- Manager: Matthew Tipton (since February 6, 2022)
However, they resurrected their stronger selves and ended the campaign in better form, going on to book a fifth-place finish from which they will be hopeful of building on.
But, like Bangor, the 1958 Irish League champions – one of two current Championship clubs, alongside Portadown, to have been kings of Northern Ireland football – were beaten on the opening day, defeated 3-1 by Newington at Clandeboye.
Focal point Zach Barr, who has linked up with Paul Hamilton’s green-shirted panel from Ballymacash Rangers this summer, took all of seven minutes to register a debut goal, and though it was answered back when fellow new boy Jamal Dupree levelled for Ards before the half-hour, strikes from Patrick Downey and Darren Stuart consolidated the points for The ‘Ton to take back to Larne.
Killer instinct:
It took less than 420 seconds for striker Zach Barr to net his first finish for Newington at the expense of Ards. He had success at the third-tier level with both Portstewart and Ballymacash Rangers and has found early joy in a green shirt thanks to that opening-day win. Image from Ards FC Website.
It was a red-and-blue-striped outfit that featured plenty of alterations from 2022-23.
Of the 11 who started, only goalkeeper Neil Shields, Scannell brothers Eamon and Conor, winger Salou Jallow and midfielder Aidan Steele played for them last year – of which three were winter arrivals in January 2023.
Alongside Dupree, there were competitive bows handed out to Max Greer, Connor Maxwell, Callum Dougan and Adam McCallum, while returnee Michael Ruddy reintroduced himself and walked out with the captain’s armband.
Stat attack:
The Ards side fielded by Matthew Tipton against Newington was very much one with a fresh coat of paint on it; only Eamon Scannell and Salou Jallow had been there for in excess of a year.
George Tipton – the manager’s son – and James McLaughlin debuted off a bench that had featured a few more regular faces; Ross Hunter, Patrick Cafolla and DeeDee McAllister.
And it is that blend of old guard and new blood that Tipton Snr hopes will spur on their fight.
Player to watch:
Returning to the red and blue shirt as an Irish Cup winner with Crusaders and a recent survivalist of a Relegation Play-Off with Dungannon Swifts, full-back Michael Ruddy was immediately handed the captain’s armband on his comeback to Ards and will be eager as ever to light up their fire. Image from Ards FC Website.
Ards know how to pick their fights. As an established unit at the senior level, and having been through all the motions in their 123-year history, they are seasoned in the art of finding a way through trial and tribulation.
| Playr-Fit Championship | Matchday Two (11-12/8/23) | |
| Ballinamallard United | vs | Dergview |
| Bangor | vs | Ards |
| Dundela | vs | Ballyclare Comrades |
| Knockbreda | vs | Annagh United |
| Newington | vs | Harland and Wolff Welders |
| Portadown | vs | Institute |
All the same, Bangor have been through a lot in the recent past which means they re-enter the senior rungs with an added sense of perspective.
Seeing the other side of the tunnel after the dark days of the Ballymena League – seven years, it feels like such a long time – is bringing renewed energy to everyone.
The supporters rally the players, the sense of unity firing the team in the right direction; yet, as last week showed, there is a sense of acknowledgement that reality may strike different.
In a game the visitors were firmly in, the Comrades still found an answer and drilled home a late dagger two minutes from time that kept the points in east Antrim.
Taking on the learnings of last week and delivering here would brighten everyone’s mood.
Well, not quite everyone…
Ladies show their steel and lock down third-place in the Championship
There was delight to be had in midweek, meanwhile, as Bangor FC Ladies all but secured a third-place finish in their first season at the second-tier level.
A draw against St James’ Swifts would have been sufficient to fulfil that target, but the Seasiders managed to prise all three out of west Belfast with a battling 4-2 success.
An eighth-minute strike by Leah Robinson had shot the visitors into an early advantage at Whiterock Leisure Centre before Amber Dempster doubled the lead just before the hour – she bagged her 25th goal of the season in the process – but the hosts were to come back fighting when, less than 20 minutes later, they had totally reduced their two-goal arrears to be back on a level pegging again.
A fine distance finish was followed by a delicate chip that had the hosts believing a complete comeback success was possible – but Bangor heads did not drop.
Former St James’ star Dempster restored the Yellows’ initiative when she blasted home from a tight angle, while the clinching effort was to come from Toni Stewart, who converted the all-action striker’s cut-back from barely a yard out.
The achievement delighted manager Ethan Boylan, who was elated to secure a place on the league podium in his first campaign in the hotseat.
“Third in the league, outstanding” he beamed firstly. “Not too shabby for a first season in management! And when there was the expectation before the season that we’d be fighting closer to the bottom, fighting to survive in this league; to be at the top end of the table and go and get third-place, it’s a sweet feeling.
“To be at the top end of the table and go and get third-place, it’s a sweet feeling”
Bangor FC Ladies boss Ethan Boylan beamed at his side’s third-place achievement in the NIWFA Championship
“It’s been tricky, it’s been a long hard season and we’ve had to grind out a few results, but we’ve had a strong end to the season and we’ve managed to achieve that main target in the league, which was to end third. The players worked hard for this and I’m delighted for them.”
The quotes section:
“It’s been tricky, it’s been a long hard season and we’ve had to grind out a few results, but we’ve had a strong end to the season and we’ve managed to achieve that main target in the league, which was to end third. The players worked hard for this and I’m delighted for them” – Bangor FC Ladies supremo Ethan Boylan was full of praise for his players following their 4-2 triumph over St James’ Swifts that booked them a third-place finish in the NIWFA Championship. Image from Sarah Harkness.
Boylan also reserved praise for Dempster, whose lung-busting efforts in the latter stages of the match helped deliver a collective second wind to the whole team.
The 30-year-old has naturally caught the attention for her goalscoring, but there is more to her game than merely being a sharpshooter and she highlighted the completeness of her game when taking to the Whiterock surface.
As a player with experience of delivering at the top level of the women’s game – she has represented both Linfield and Cliftonville in the top-flight before – her routinely excellent performances in the NIWFA Championship have not been much of a shock to observers.
Yet that is not lost on Boylan, who firmly knows the influence Dempster has on his team.
“She knows where the net is, a pure finisher who epitomises what this team’s all about”
Amber Dempster’s prowess in front of goal and teamwork skills came under praise from Bangor FC Ladies boss Ethan Boylan
“Amber, she can really change a game, can’t she?” he continued.
“She knows where the net is, a pure finisher who epitomises what this team’s all about.
The quotes section:
“She gave it absolutely everything, kept running and running after every ball and pushed us on right to the end. It would’ve been easy for our heads to drop (after St James’ made it 2-2) but we picked ourselves back up and fought right to the end, and I was really proud of that. Now we’ve a Super Cup semi-final, the 23rd against Ballyclare. You can never say no to a Cup final, the chance to get to one, so you can be sure that we’ll be fighting really hard to get into that” – Ethan Boylan heaped praise on Amber Dempster’s industry during the latter phases of the St James’ Swifts success. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
“She gave it absolutely everything, kept running and running after every ball and pushed us on right to the end. It would’ve been easy for our heads to drop (after St James’ made it 2-2) but we picked ourselves back up and fought right to the end, and I was really proud of that.
“Now we’ve a Super Cup semi-final, the 23rd against Ballyclare. You can never say no to a Cup final, the chance to get to one, so you can be sure that we’ll be fighting really hard to get into that.”
Featured image from Gary Carson.
- It’s unfair to put blame at feet of Linfield and Cliftonville for Irish Cup Final crowd disorder
A penny for the thoughts of Linfield and Cliftonville this week. This year’s Irish Cup Final was a spectacular in every sense. Nearly 15,000 packed inside Windsor Park for the biggest-attended domestic fixture in Northern Ireland this century and an occasion to… Read more: It’s unfair to put blame at feet of Linfield and Cliftonville for Irish Cup Final crowd disorder - Irish League chiefs must improve provisions in place to attract younger fans and families
Let’s get a basic fact of life out of the way first – no one likes a price hike. No one likes a price hike in the same way that no one likes paying taxes, bills, debts, insurance and other such necessary… Read more: Irish League chiefs must improve provisions in place to attract younger fans and families - How the Irish FA’s new ‘Conference Layer’ for intermediate football can be big hit or own goal
Changes to the intermediate football sphere in Northern Ireland have long been touted and, going by the Irish FA’s latest update on the topic, closer than ever to coming to fruition. From the 2026-27 campaign, a new ‘Conference Layer’ will be in… Read more: How the Irish FA’s new ‘Conference Layer’ for intermediate football can be big hit or own goal - Steven McCullough’s crucial goal in relegation play-off seals him as a Ballymena United great
There’s been a change in priorities for Ballymena United during recent years – albeit not necessarily the type supporters would’ve perhaps wanted. In 2019, the Braidmen were the second best team in the Irish League. Runners-up behind Linfield that year, and just… Read more: Steven McCullough’s crucial goal in relegation play-off seals him as a Ballymena United great - Ending Cliftonville’s Irish Cup drought proves Jim can fix it… now he must target league glory
Finally, it’s Cliftonville’s year in the Irish Cup. An agonising waiting game ends at last and a drought that lasted 45 painful years is over in one burst of champagne rain. Since 1979, the Reds have contrived to fail in various ways… Read more: Ending Cliftonville’s Irish Cup drought proves Jim can fix it… now he must target league glory
Football Chatters 
Leave a comment