Co Antrim's dream of adding a Budget Energy SuperCupNI Boys' Premier title to their three Boys' Junior crowns remains alive after earning the point they needed against Manchester United to book a place in the semi-finals.
The county side went into the decisive Group D clash at the Riada Stadium knowing a draw would be enough to finish above the Red Devils on goal difference, and they delivered in front of a packed crowd of 2,200 supporters to set up a last-four meeting with Japanese newcomers Kamimura Gakuen.
Co Antrim carved out the game's first opportunity when Caoimhin Connolly fired over after seeing his initial effort blocked.
United responded through Simon Okeke, whose header from Ben Lyne's cross was comfortably saved, before JB Camlin and Oscar Spence both tested the Manchester United goalkeeper at the other end.
County Antrim and Manchester United competing across the boys' premier section. (Photo by Brian Little/PressEye)placeholder image
County Antrim and Manchester United competing across the boys' premier section. (Photo by Brian Little/PressEye)
The Red Devils eventually broke the deadlock when Lyne produced a fine finish, but Co Antrim responded almost immediately in bizarre fashion as an attempted defensive clearance cannoned off Eoin Harden and into the net.
Manchester United started the second half on the front foot, with Lyne curling one effort wide before seeing another blocked.
A defensive mix-up almost gifted Harden a second goal, but his close-range effort was well saved.
Knowing only victory would be enough, United piled forward in the closing stages. Jaice Dore first curled narrowly wide before rattling the crossbar with another effort.
Northern Ireland's Grace Murray (left) up against Shamrock Rovers in the girls' premier section. (Photo by Jonathan Porter/PressEye)placeholder image
Northern Ireland's Grace Murray (left) up against Shamrock Rovers in the girls' premier section. (Photo by Jonathan Porter/PressEye)
Deep into stoppage time, Dore turned provider with an inviting cross for Mane Balde Soares, but the forward's first-time effort flew high over the crossbar.
Co Antrim nearly snatched all three points themselves in the closing moments as Padai O'Kane weaved past several challenges before seeing his effort blocked, but the final whistle sparked celebrations as the county side secured the point they required.
They will now face Kamimura Gakuen, who have enjoyed a dream debut tournament by reaching the semi-finals at the first attempt.
Goals from Nanato Uchida and Ayuto Higa secured a 2-0 victory over Co Armagh at The Ropewalk to maintain the Japanese side's perfect record.
Defending champions Southampton also progressed after goals from Luke Fletcher and Samuele Fox earned a 2-0 victory over Tigres UANL in their Group C decider at Limavady Showgrounds.
The Saints will now face Right to Dream, who marked their return to the SuperCupNI for the first time since 2019 with a 2-0 victory over Co Tyrone at Parker Avenue.
Mohamed Gouda and Milan Jovanovic were both on target as the Ghanaian academy secured their place in the last four.
Co Down rounded off their Group A campaign with a 3-0 win over Derby County but had to settle for a place in the Globe Trophy semi-finals, where they will face Tigres UANL.
The other Globe semi-final will be an all-English affair as Sunderland take on Manchester United.
The Black Cats marked their return to the competition after a 27-year absence in emphatic fashion, thrashing Co Fermanagh 8-2 in Broughshane to set up a mouth-watering tie with the Red Devils.
Rangers claimed their first victory of the tournament with a 5-3 success over Intercontinental FA in Bushmills and will now face Co Armagh in the Vase semi-finals, while Co Tyrone take on Iconz Elite in the other last-four clash.
The American debutants played out a goalless draw with Co Londonderry in their final group match at the Coleraine Showgrounds, although chances were plentiful.
Michael McColgan and Steven Coyle both went close for the county side during an entertaining first half.
Co Londonderry continued to ask questions after the break, but Iconz Elite almost stole all three points late on when Chase O'Neill headed against the crossbar before the danger was eventually cleared following a frantic goalmouth scramble.
Co Londonderry will now face Derby County in the Bowl semi-finals, with the winners taking on either Co Fermanagh or Intercontinental FA.
BOYS’ PREMIER SECTION: Kamimura Gakuen 2-0 Co Armagh, Right to Dream 2-0 Co Tyrone, Derby County 0-3 Co Down, Rangers 5-3 Intercontinental FA, Co Fermanagh 2-8 Sunderland, Co Londonderry 0-0 Iconz Elite, Manchester United 1-1 Co Antrim, Tigres UANL 0-1 Southampton
Co Antrim's pursuit of a fourth Boys' Junior title continues at the Budget Energy SuperCupNI as they marched on to the semi-finals following a 1-1 draw with Celtic at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
The Antrim boys knew a point would be enough to pip the Glasgow giants to top spot in Group B and so it proved as they move on to face Plymouth Argyle on Thursday.
But they had to do it the hard way after they were reduced to 10 men following Jools McCann's dismissal three minutes before half-time.
The county side were already one-goal to the good after Riley McCreery fired them in front on 21 minutes sparking wild scenes of celebration in the stands, and it was just rewards after a bright start.
As we approached the break McCann was given his marching orders for hauling down Joel Drumah on the edge of the box.
Celtic came out with intent at the start of the second half as they took the game to Co Antrim, and the pressure finally told with 10 minutes to go when centre back Lucas Niven stepped forward before lashing home the equaliser.
The Glasgow men kept pushing for a winner but in the second minute of additional time they too were reduced to 10 men as goalkeeper Dylan Taylor was stranded from his goal on a breakaway and he handled the ball to block a goal-bound shot.
Plymouth Argyle pipped Co Londonderry to a place in the SuperCupNI last four after they played out a 1-1 draw at the Riada Stadium in Group D.
Co Down will join them in the last four, where they will face St Pat's, after a 2-2 draw with Leeds United at Seahaven with Oliver Prenter and John McElroy on target for the group toppers while Nono-Tima Tayron and Basheer Abdullah responded for the Premier League outfit, who drop into the Globe competition.
In the other game in Group A Danish newcomers Helsingor secured their place in the Vase last four, where they will face Co Fermanagh, thanks to a 1-1 draw with Co Armagh.
St Patrick’s Athletic remained on course for a third top four finish in a row as they topped Group C thanks to a 2-1 win over West Ham, who drop into the Globe Trophy and will face Leeds United.
Also in Group C Co Fermanagh picked up their first points as they beat Charlton Athletic 3-1 at Parker Avenue to secure a pot in the Vase competition. The Addicks now face Co Armagh in the Bowl semi-finals.
Tottenham Hotspur, also picked up their first victory as they ran out 5-1 winners over new boys Chicago City, who now move into the Bowl semi-finals to face Co Tyrone, who missed out on a place in the Vase semi-finals as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn Rovers, who now face Spurs.
Linfield set up a Boys' Minor semi-final meeting with Portadown at the Budget Energy SuperCupNI after making it three wins from three thanks to a hard-fought victory over Surf Select in Kells.
The Blues spurned a great opportunity to break the deadlock inside one minute after Gideon Lower tripped Harri Niblock in the box, who dusted himself down but saw his spot kick saved by Hayden Beadell.
But the Striker would go on to have a big say in this game Surf Select grew into the game and went close to going in front on 14 minutes, but Ethan Esquivel blazed over from close range.
Beadell was called into action again on 21 minutes this time to field a powerful shot from Tom Lyness on the edge of the Surf Select penalty area.
The keeper then was off his line swiftly to deny Niblock again as the Linfield forward closed in on goal.
That was to prove vital as the Americans edged in from on 26 minutes thanks to a composed finish from Revere Thomas.
Thirty seconds into the second half the Blues were level as Niblock showed great technique to volley home from Lyness' cross.
Four minutes later Niblock showed his class once again as he fired Linfield in front from a tight angle.
Surf Select were still posing a threat going forward with Esquivel breaking from his own half before drawing a good save out of Noah Sloan on the 45-minute mark.
Surf Select tied things up again with 10 minutes to go through, but the Blues kept pushing and secured the win late on as Odhran McGarrity bagged his second of the tournament to make it 3-2.
Portadown maintained their 100% record to seal top spot in Group B thanks to a 6-1 win over Chicago City at The Warren.
Ballymena United topped Group A with nine points thanks to a 1-0 win over Atlas FC at The Warren to set up a semi-final meeting with Cliftonville.
The Reds also maintained their 100% record as they beat Ross County 3-0 in Kells to make it an all-Irish League contingent in the semi-finals.
Elsewhere in Group D Newell Academy secured their place in the Globe Trophy semis with Glenavon despite losing to Blackburn Rovers in Castlerock.
New boys Al Jazira and Maiden City played their final group game at Anderson Park with the honours finishing even at 1-1.
It was an even enough opening 30 minutes with both sides carving out half chances. The deadlock was finally broken by Al Jazira on 34 minutes as Yousof Magdi Ahmed Abdellhadi Eldib rose highest to head home after a cross had been nodded back across goal.
Two minutes before the end Maiden City drew level as substitute Tom McKeever won a penalty which he duly dispatched to earn his side a point.
Mid-Ulster rivals Glenavon move into the Globe Trophy to face Newell Academy after securing second place thanks to a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Anderson Park.
Rosario YC made it back-to-back wins in Group A to secure a place in the Globe Trophy against Ross County thanks to a 3-0 win over Helsingor at Castlerock.
BOYS’ JUNIOR SECTION: Chicago City 1-5 Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic 1-3 Co Fermanagh, Co Down 2-2 Leeds United, Celtic 1-1 Co Antrim, Co Tyrone 1-1 Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Co Londonderry, Co Armagh 1-1 Helsingor, St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 West Ham
BOYS’ MINOR SECTION: Maiden City 1-1 Al Jazira, Portadown 6-1 Chicago City, Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Newell Academy, Linfield 3-2 Surf Select, Glenavon 3-1 Kilmarnock,Ballymena United 1-0 Atlas, Rosario YC 3-0 Helsingor, Cliftonville 3-0 Ross County
Defending champions Shamrock Rovers booked their place in the Budget Energy SuperCupNI Girls' Premier final with a convincing 4-1 victory over Northern Ireland at Dixon Park.
The Dublin side needed only a point to secure top spot and set up a repeat of last year's final against Manchester United, but they made sure of qualification in style.
Rovers were on course at the break after Ciara Milton and Grace Guest found the net before they pulled away in the second half. Milton grabbed her second of the afternoon, with further goals from Faith Dawson and Matylda Stelmaszek completing an emphatic victory and a perfect group-stage campaign.
Manchester United also secured their place in Thursday's showpiece final after cruising to an 8-1 victory over Desert Empire Surf at Rathcoole.
The American side will now face fellow newcomers Chicago City in the Bowl final after the Illinois outfit suffered an 11-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
Villa, meanwhile, will take on IL Heming in the Globe final after the Norwegian side defeated Liverpool 3-1 to top Group A.
Northern Ireland will meet Liverpool in the Vase final after the Reds finished second in their group.
Surf Select booked their place in the Girls' Junior final with a dominant 5-1 victory over Crusaders at Rathcoole, setting up a repeat of last year's decider against Manchester United.
The American side will be hoping to go one better this time after falling to United in last year's final.
Surf Select made a fast start, with Lexi Ashton producing an excellent save inside six minutes to deny Victoria Eshragh.
The breakthrough arrived just two minutes later when Camila Rosenthal's header from a corner took a deflection off the unfortunate Daniela Žvinklaitė before finding the net.
The Americans doubled their advantage on 13 minutes through Evangeline Czynski, whose effort went in off the post, before Annabelle Abbott added a third just two minutes later.
Christina Ruiz Arleo made it 4-0 on 21 minutes with a clinical finish at the near post.
Crusaders responded well and pulled a goal back a minute later through Kelly Robinson.
Surf Select almost added a fifth on 45 minutes after Ashton parried Rosenthal's free-kick into the path of Eshragh, who fired the rebound wide.
They did get their fifth before the final whistle, courtesy of an own goal.
Manchester United, who are yet to concede a goal in this year's competition, reached a second successive final with a 3-0 victory over Glentoran at Chimney Corner.
Neve Warbrick, Ellie-Mae Rayson and Emmanuella Lututa were all on target as the holders continued their impressive defence of the title.
Glentoran will now face Cliftonville in Thursday's Bowl final.
Linfield secured their place in the Globe final with a 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Monkstown and will face Peamount United, who defeated Cliftonville 5-0.
Crusaders and Kilmarnock will meet in the Vase final.
GIRLS’ PREMIER SECTION: Aston Villa 11-0 Chicago City, Liverpool 1-3 IL Heming, Manchester United 8-1 Desert Empire Surf, Shamrock Rovers 4-1 Northern Ireland
GIRLS’ JUNIOR SECTION: Manchester United 3-0 Glentoran, Kilmarnock 0-2 Linfield, Crusaders 1-5 Surf Select, Cliftonville 0-5 Peamount United