A previous hearing at Belfast Crown Court heard that, despite trying to cover his face with a 'hoodie' and scarf, Robert Jay Magee, an Ards player who turned 19 this week, was so well known to the owners of Bella Pizza they were able to recognise him anyway.

Prosecuting lawyer Fiona O'Kane told the court that, at around 11.30pm on December 1, 2005, Magee and Martin McNaul (19) went into the Belfast shop brandishing a hammer and knife, respectively.

Magee banged his weapon on the counter and shouted "open the f****** til, give me the f****** money".

She revealed that, just before the botched robbery, the delivery driver had been called away on a job, but it turned out to be a hoax. Magee had placed the fake order from his mobile phone.

Mrs O'Kane said that the pair ran off when Magee was challenged by the pregnant owner, who shouted at him: "Jay, what are you doing".

Although McNaul was arrested a short distance away, Magee was not interviewed about the incident until a week later.

During police questioning McNaul claimed he had been at home with Magee and denied that CCTV footage was of him.

Magee, his accomplice, said "no comment" at an interview with police.

However McNaul, from Inverwood Gardens and Magee, from Hills Avenue, both Belfast, eventually admitted to a charge of attempted armed robbery.

Defence lawyer Neil Rafferty, acting for Magee claimed that, at the time, he had been experimenting with drugs and had got himself into debt with paramilitaries.

He claimed that the robbery was an attempt to make some money.

He revealed that Magee is a rising star in the football world. He has had trials with English football clubs, competed in last year's Milk Cup and is currently a player at Ards F C.

Giving evidence on Magee's behalf the manager at Ards, Tommy Kincaid, described him as "probably one of the finest young players in Irish League football".

Norman Hall, defence lawyer for McNaul, said that there was no doubt that both his client and Magee were genuinely remorseful about the incident.

Ordering that both Magee and McNaul each be detained for two years with a further year of probation to follow, Judge Norman Lockie said the attempted robbery was aggravated by the fact that the pair had used disguises and threatened staff with weapons.

He also noted the degree of planning that went into the robber and the vulnerability of their target.

"It is my sad duty to impose immediate custodial sentences as the protection of the public must be paramount," Judge Lockie said.