OLYMPIC KEEPER HAS

Walsh penalty heroics see off 1st Bangor

LIAM SLOAN hailed goalkeeper Ryan Walsh after his penalty shootout heroics sent Ballynahinch Olympic through to the last 16 of the Border Cup on Saturday.

The Division 1A leaders recorded another impressive win in what has been a dream start to the new campaign as they saw off Premier Division pacesetters 1st Bangor at the Drome after a pulsating tie had ended all square at 3-3.

So far this season, Olympic have been in prolific form, with the capture of Nathan Jones over the summer, the form of Chris Mcnamara and the return to fitness of Niall Murray combining to give the Bellsbridge men one of the most potent attacks in the Amateur League.

Jones and Mcnamara are into double figures for the season already, with Olympic averaging well in excess of four goals a game to date.

However it was the man between the sticks, Walsh, who Sloan sought out for special praise after the game. Although at fault for 1st Bangor’s injury time equaliser, he came into his own in the penalty shootout, clawing away two spot-kicks to set up a last 16 showdown with reigning Premier Division champions Crumlin Star.

“Our goalkeeper is one of the best in the league in my opinion,” said the Olympic chief.

“He’s fantastic and would save you a couple of goals a game. For me, he’s been overlooked in that league -- he’s the best keeper I ever had behind me and I played in the league a long time.”

Murray and Mcnamara got the goals for the visitors in normal time at the Drome on Saturday, the second coming as an 89th minute equaliser.

Mcnamara then doubled his tally in extra-time to edge Olympic towards a win, only for TJ Young’s men to cancel it out and send the game into penalties.

All in all, however, Sloan felt his side were worthy of the win.

“We created a lot of chances and missed a lot of chances,” he said.

“In saying that, they had a lot of chances too but I think overall, on the day we deserved the win.

“It was a good game, attack after attack after attack, and there was good football played, it was competitive and after they beat us in the semifinal of the Clarence last year, it was revenge for us.”

Away from the cups, Olympic are thriving on the league front too, with a flawless four wins from four league outings. And Sloan feels the threat they pose in attack means his Olympic should be in the mix come the business end of the season.

“We have started really well in the league and we are firing on all cylinders going forward,” he said.

“That’s been the big difference from last season. We didn’t have Niall for much of the season (through injury), Nathan wasn’t there either and Chrissy was struggling with injuries but if we keep those guys fit, it keeps us in with a chance, but it’s a strong, strong league.

“We still haven’t kept a clean sheet which is something we need to work on, and we have a tough game this week.

“St Pat’s come to us on Saturday which is a big, big test for us.

“But everything is going well so far.”