ACTION-PACKED PAGES OF UNRIVALLED WEEKLY COVERAGE A GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSES

Shannon double helps the lowest ranked team in the competition set themselves up for a dream draw this Thursday at Windsor By

SCOTT Shannon may have had his eyes shut in this picture of him challenging Ronan Young of Queen’s, but the Rosemount striker certainly had both eyes on the ball at the weekend when his brace of goals helped put his team in the hat for Thursday’s fifth round Irish Cup draw at Windsor Park. Their 3-1 victory against Amateur League top flight side Islandmagee means the 1C club are the lowest ranked team left in the competition.

Reflecting on their march to the fifth round, the furthest they’ve ever been in the Irish Cup, Rosemount manager Lee Cathcart (circled) singled out their 2-0 Steel & Sons Cup second round defeat at Queen’s University back on August 25 as the catalyst for their subsequent good run, which includes the scalps of Annagh United and Newtowne.

“The players have been brilliant,” said Cathcart.

“We had a rough start to the season and at the very start, we were really, really struggling for a team through injuries, suspensions and holidays and it showed.

“But the Queen’s game was probably a turning point for us. We got beat 2-0 but they scored two in the last few minutes against us, and apart from a bad result against Holywood, I think we’re unbeaten since that.

“Myself, the chairman, the secretary and two of our players will be going up to Windsor on Thursday and we’re looking forward to it.

“It will be a proud moment for all involved at the club.”