Ahmed Ali Mussa lit up a damp and dreary Coleraine Showgrounds to inspire St Patrick’s Athletic to a 3-0 victoryover Plymouth Argyle and lift the Budget Energy SuperCupNI Boys’ Junior Cup for the very first time.
Jack Moore’s two first-half goals set the Inchicore side on course to lift the trophy before Mussa netted the goal his performance deserved with 12 minutes to go. He duly picked up the Sterling Insurance Player of the Match award to cap a memorable afternoon.
St Pat’s started on the front foot, with Moore getting an early shot away, which Harry Woodruff did well to push away at the near post.
Moore got another effort away on five minutes, but his shot sailed over the Plymouth crossbar.
Three minutes later, though, Moore made no mistake as Mussa threaded a great pass into the striker’s feet, and he turned and fired into the far corner.
The Dublin side were rampant, and only a great save by Woodruff on 11 minutes prevented Mussa from doubling the lead with a curling effort from outside the box.
From the resulting corner, captain Jack Palmer rose highest, but his header was deflected onto the bar and out for another corner.
St Pat’s weren’t to be denied, however, with Moore doubling his and his side’s tally on 17 minutes. The striker was alert to fire home after Eidanas Orlovas’ initial effort was parried by Woodruff.
Plymouth were unlucky not to halve the arrears on 24 minutes as Freddie Lewis crashed a 25-yard free-kick off the underside of the bar before St Pat’s were able to mop up the danger.
Mussa continued to cause problems as half-time approached as he raced clear before drilling a shot at Woodruff, which the goalkeeper did well to push away.
Mussa should have grabbed the goal his performance deserved seven minutes after the restart as he weaved his way around the Plymouth defence but blazed his shot over the bar.
With 12 minutes to go, Mussa finally grabbed the goal he deserved as he was in the right place at the right time to tap in from close range after Danny Davis had teed him up.
Mussa should have doubled his tally before the final whistle after another trademark run saw him breeze past several Plymouth defenders and the goalkeeper, but he couldn’t finish from a tight angle.
Co Down rounded off their tournament by securing third place in the SuperCupNI thanks to a 3-1 win over last year’s winners, Co Antrim, with Josh King helping himself to a double at Seahaven.
Celtic were victorious in the Globe Final, running out 2-1 winners over Leeds United at Riada Stadium.
Co Londonderry wrapped up third place in the Globe section thanks to a 2-1 win over West Ham.
Tottenham Hotspur secured the Vase after a 7-6 penalty shoot-out win over Co Fermanagh in the final.
Blackburn Rovers made sure of third place in the Vase as they beat Helsingor in the play-off.
Co Tyrone secured the Bowl on the final day as they came out on top in a five-goal thriller against Charlton Athletic at Anderson Park.
Co Armagh made sure of third place in the Bowl as they ran out 2-1 winners over Chicago City.
Boys’ Junior Section Results (Friday 31st July 2026)
SuperCupNI Cup Final
St Pat’s 3-0 Plymouth Argyle
3rd/4th Place Play-off
Co Down 3-1 Co Antrim
Globe Final
Celtic 2-1 Leeds United
3rd/4th Place Play-off
Co Londonderry 2-1 West Ham
Vase Final
Co Fermanagh v Tottenham Hotspur
(Tottenham Hotspur won 7-6 on penalties)
3rd/4th Place Play-off
Helsingor 0-3 Blackburn Rovers
Bowl Final
Charlton Athletic 2-3 Co Tyrone
3rd/4th Place Play-off
Co Armagh 2-1 Chicago City
For more information on the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, visit www.supercupni.com
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For further information please contact:
AY.
Russell Lever
Mob: 07841676976
Email: russell@ay.studio
