Ardee’s trophy dream ended
MUIRHEVNAMOR ARDEE CELTIC 3 1
ARDEE Celtic’s hopes of Tully Bookmakers Cup glory were extinguished on Friday night as hosts Muirhevnamor set up an unlikely semi-final pairing against Carrick Rovers following Newfoundwell’s exit.
This competition is the one Muirhevnamor have had their eyes on after a poor first half to the season left them with too much to do to defend their league crown.
They have been on a unbeaten roll since Christmas, although Ardee threatened to end that run on Friday night at the Muirhevnamor all-weather pitch when they took the lead as James McMullen found the home net from 25 yards in the 34th minute.
There was a hint of offside, but in the event Ardee’s advantage only lasted four minutes as Tiarnan Mulvenna made it level pegging when he cut between two Ardee defenders and beat John Flanagan, deputising in goal for the visitors.
Ardee had a shout for a penalty when Conor McGill was clipped by a home defender as he shot over the Muirhevnamor crossbar.
But they also had a let-off when Mickey O’Kane struck their crossbar late in the opening half.
Although the game went into a lull after the break, with few real scoring chances, Ardee were the more threatening. Bryan O’Connor snatched at a good chance when free at the back post after a cross from the right had eluded the Muirhevnamor defence.
Niall Sharkey snuffed out the best opportunity Muirhevnamor had when O’Kane slipped the ball through to Brendan Hughes whose attempted shot was blocked by the central defender.
Michael Cooney, the Muirhevnamor goalkeeper, then had to react sharply to retreat and dive low to gather the ball before it crossed his goal-line after a ricochet off one of his defenders.
Against the run of play Colin Hoey put the home side further ahead on 71 minutes. He anticipated well to run onto breaking ball inside the Ardee box following a headed tussle between a colleague and a defender. Hoey’s shot was straight and weak enough but squirmed under Flanagan and dribbled over the line.
O’Kane sealed Muirhevnamor’s place in the semi-finals five minutes later with a terrific finish. MUIRHEVNAMOR: Michael Cooney, Gary Clarke, Paul Mallon, Chris Caulfield (Craig Dixon), Jimmy Cooney, Colin Hoey (Sean Conlon 87), Thomas McShane, Nathan Murphy, Brendan Hughes, Mickey O’Kane, Tiarnan Mulvenna.
ARDEE: John Flanagan, Lorcan Malone, Robbie Reynolds, Niall Sharkey, Ross Gaynor, Stuart Osborne, Gareth Kane, Paul Matondo, James McMullen, Bryan O’Connor (Seanie Downey 73), Conor McGill.