Bellurgan prove too strong for Division 1 outfit
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE Rusty Glens fall to league leaders
THIS was Glenmuir’s first game in six weeks with the bad weather playing havoc with the fixtures.
They were also missing no fewer than six players from their previous game and it was a tall order to try and end Rathmullen’s unbeaten run so far this season.
The away side made a frantic start and created some very good scoring chances, but Glenmuir went in front in the tenth minute. John Byrne smashed home a half volley from the edge of the area after a superb cross field ball by strike partner Luke Murray.
It wasn’t long before Rathmullen drew level. Good play down the left seen a wonderful cross field ball headed home by the away side’s right sided midfielder.
At this stage there was nothing between the teams, but inside 10 minutes it all went wrong for Glenmuir. Rathmullen took the lead when the home side failed to make a routine clearance and ‘keeper John Burlingham spilled the ball into the path of a Rathmullen striker who was left with a simple tap in.
Moments later it was 3-1. Again it was all the home side’s own doing as captain Niall Hand crucially slipped and allowed a Rathmullen player get in on goal. He made no mistake to finish past the Glens goalkeeper.
Glenmuir looked shellshocked and in truth they really needed the half time whistle to regroup. The second half was a better affair for Glenmuir and they can take great encouragement from their display that seen them go toe to toe with the title chasers.
Glenmuir only have one league game remaining but they are also still in the quarter-finals of the Fitzsimons cup.
GLENMUIR: John Burlingham, Mark Molloy Edgar Bitanis, Liam Mc Kenny (Dave Mc Kenny), Niall Hand, Liam Cunningham (Ashraf Bin Jamel) David O’ Donovan, Danny Mullen, Brendan Shiels, John Byrne Luke Murray.
BELLURGAN UNITED KENTSTOWN 2 0
BELLURGAN were happy to negotiate a tricky hurdle against lower division opposition to advance to the quarter-finals of the Tully Bookmakers Cup on Sunday at Flynn Park.
The home side were short- handed with several suspensions and an injury to Ray Finnegan. This led to a very disjointed performance in the first-half as the team had to adjust with so many different players in the line-up.
However, two goals either side of half-time effectively clinched victory.
The first was by top scorer Ciaran Sheelan who got in between the Kentstown defence and their goalkeeper to flick home with his head a measured cross by Shane Finnegan to round off the winger’s fine run, beating the Kentstown full-back.
Sheelan looked like he had given a dream start to the home side when after five minutes from another great cross by Shane Finnegan his header from 12 yards looked destined for the top corner of the net. But somehow the visitors’ goalkeeper managed to push it over the crossbar.
Robert Arthur made two vital saves after that to keep it scoreless. First he was faced with a Kentstown attacker who got clean through his defence , but he made a great save with his left hand to push the ball out for a corner.
He then made a brilliant save with his right hand to turn a shot round the post.
A fantastic strike by Gavin Gregory ROCK kept alive their prospects of a return to the premier division as they rebounded from falling behind to record a decisive win over what looks now a doomed Navan who needed to win this game to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.
Navan took the lead after what is for the superstitious number of 13 – minutes that is , when Rock failed to properly clear a corner and the home side capitalised after a scramble ensued in the visitors goalmouth.
Rock drew level after wasting a couple of half chances, with five ten minutes into the second half from 30 yards after he rounded two players yielded Bellurgan’s second goal and Kentstown never looked like they could recover.
If anything Bellurgan had a couple of opportunities to extend their winning margin when Daniel O’Connor from another opening made by Shane Finnegan shot inches wide.
Then Niall Donnelly making a welcome return after an extended period out injured was denied by a great save to mark his return with a goal, minutes left in the half. Derek Delany and Liam Keenan worked an opening for Aidan Curtin to cross for Des McKeown to head home.
Rock’s play was much superior in the second half, and with eight minutes gone took the lead. An overhead volley by Des McKeown provided Brendan Rogers with a simple tap in and the visitors simply pulled away after that from their opponents.
With less than 20 minutes elapsed McKeown made it 3-1, when he was put through to slot the ball past the home goalkeeper
The striker completed his hat-trick when he nipped in ahead of the advancing Navan goalkeeper to knock the ball past him from the edge of the 18 yard box. with his shot turned round the post.
Bellurgan now have to try and secure their premier division place with three matches left, starting with title favourites Newfoudnwell this Sunday and a corresponding game at home against them, as well as a home fixture against Ardee Celtic. DUNDALK: Robert Arthur, Aoghan McGuinness, Diarmuid Murphy, Owen Traynor, Chris Lawson, Gavin Gregory, Daniel O’Connor(Niall Donnelly 80), Shane Finnegan, Daniel McDonnell, Ciaran Sheelan, Tadhg O’Connor ( Dermot Traynor 85).
Derek Delany completed the scoring five minutes from time, scoring at the second attempt after fine link-up play involving Oran Duffy, Aidan Curtin and himself.
The home goalkeeper parried his initial shot and he slotted home the rebound.
Rock face a crucial game against Kentstown this Friday night at home, which they need to win along with their remaining fixture, away, against relegation threatened Kells Backwater.
ROCK: Shane McCoy, Conor McDonnell, Oran Duffy, Paddy Reilly Shane O’Callaghan (Conor Rafferty), Brendan Rogers (Kizito Ekewueme), Aidan Curtin, Derek Delany (David McGeough), Liam Keenan (Garry Lennon) David Ward, Des McKeown (Jamie McCaul).