Five-star Bellurgan come good in the end

A stern interval talk provoked the desired reaction as Bellurgan advanced to the semi-finals of the Tully bookmakers cup with a five-star second half performance at Flynn Park on Sunday.

The home side forced four corners in the opening ten minutes, but that was as good as it got as they barely created a goal opening in the first period which endless scoreless.

But with Paudie Gollogley’s strong words still ringing in the players’ ears they scored five minutes into the second-half, and they were a transformed team after that.

John Smith floated a free-kick from out on the left into the box for the Black Bull goalkeeper to punch to the edge of the box. Standing there was Daniel O’Connor who spearheaded the turnabout in the team’s play, flicking the ball up with his right foot and striking it on the volley with his left into the top corner of the net.

The home side took control of the play, but struggled to add a second goal, with Cormac Renaghan twice foiled when one on one with the goalkeeper, who saved his first effort with his feet, and flicked his second round the post.

Also Sean McEvoy’s glancing header from Stephen Finnegan’s curling free-kick hit the inside of the post and rolled into the hands of the grateful goalkeeper.

Then Owen Armstrong capitalised on indecision in the Black Bull defence as their goalkeeper and a defender dithered over a Niall Donnelly pass, allowing Armstrong to slide in and finish to an empty net.

With 20 minutes to go it opened the floodgates, as O’Connor laid on two goals in the space of five minutes with a defence breaking run on the wing and crossed for Niall Donnelly to score at the back post.

Then he made a similar run only this time he knocked a cross to the near post where Ray Finnegan popped up as he joined the attack to send a diving header to the net.

The last goal was the best of the match, and was supplied by substitute Dermot Treanor, only a couple of minutes after he entered the pitch.

He received a pass from Owen Armstrong and from 25 yards out he flicked the ball up and as it bounced he hit it on the half volley and it flew into the top corner of the net. BELLURGAN: Robert Arthur, Owen Traynor, Ray Finnegan, Sean McEvoy, John Smith, Diarmuid Murphy, Stephen Finnegan, Daniel O’Connor, Owen Armstrong, Niall Donnelly (Daniel McDonald 75), Cormac Renaghan (Dermot Treanor 80).