Bellurgan scupper Glenmuir’s title hopes

THE visitors to Glenmuir Park destroyed whatever slim chance Glenmuir had of winning the under-13 premier division title. The finish to the season has not gone as the losers would have wished as regards results and one of their players also suffered a bad leg injury.

Bellurgan on the other hand strengthened their position in mid table with the result, the foundation for which was laid firmly in the first-half.

Playing against the wind blowing down and across the end they w ere defending, they turned over leading by the only goal of the period, scored by the impressive Gerry Rafferty.

They took command in the second-half and the winning margin didn’t flatter them in the end although Glenmuir didn’t make the most of the scoring openings that they created over the course of the match.

Bellurgan goalkeeper Jamie Burns was in a big way responsible with a number of important saves in the first-half.

The first was quickly after Jason Sharkey opened up the home defence on the right and crossed for the in-rushing Rafferty who miss-connected with his attempted volley.

Callum Clarke who posed the most consistent threat to Bellurgan reached a ball on the endline that he could easily have given up on and turned it into the near post for Burns to deny Liam Rogers .

The visiting ‘keeper, again down low at the foot of the post, denied Clarke after Rafferty put his side ahead.

The latter produced a lovely piece of skill as well as strength to hold off the challenge of bigger and stronger defenders in the middle of the Glenmuir half from Niall O’Donoghue’s pass. He accelerated into the penalty box and curled a low shot into the corner of the net.

Clarke broke free again on the right wing only for Burns to advance off his line to cut out his cross as the second half commenced.

Bellurgan’s James Spain then won a corner kick and it proved a defining point in the game as Daniel O’Shaughnessy and Rafferty proceeded to play leading roles in wrapping up the win with Conan Fox.

O’Shaughnessy swung the corner flag powerfully with his accomplished left foot to the far post where Fox in space merely needed to allow it strike off his body to find the net.

Rafferty with another delightful piece of skill cut through the middle of the home defence for the ball to break to Fox and he made no mistake.

O’Shaughnessy put the outcome beyond doubt with a rasping wind aided free-kick from the best part of 40 yards. Home goalkeeper Eric Nomika did well to stretch up to reach it with his hands but couldn’t stop it crossing the goal line.

Glenmuir had one last chance to get on the score sheet from another opening created by Clarke on the right wing.

He crossed into the box to the unmarked Ben Keenan whose shot flew straight at Burns.

GLENMUIR: Eric Nomika, Sean Reilly, Ben Keenan, Finn Flanagan, Leon Yore, Callum Clarke, Daniel Craven, Shane Farrell, Dylan Arrowsmith, Mathias, Colin Drumm, Liam Rogers, Jack McLaughlin.

BELLURGAN:JAMES Burns, Niall O’Donoghue, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Niall Morgan, Dan Finnegan, Dylan Clarke, Ross Hynes, AJ Bothwell, Jason Sharkey, Adam Sharkey, Gerry Rafferty, Conan Fox, James Keenan, James Spain, Jason Brady