Bellurgan set for final fling on the double
BELLURGAN gained sweet consolation after exiting the last 32 of the national cup at under-16 and under-12 age level the previous weekend by winning their respective semi-finals to advance to the North Leinster finals at both age grades on Sunday.
The under-12s were runaway 9-1 winners over their Dundalk Schoolboy League rivals Ardee Celtic, while in the under-16 competition the Peninsula club prevailed 4-2 in a shoot-out after finishing level at two-all with Trim at the end of extra time.
The home side twice took the lead in the opening half, but were pegged back each time for the teams to go in at two each at the break and that was how it remained with neither side able to add to their total.
Cian Murphy put Bellurgan ahead after ten minutes, converting a cross to the back post by Calum O’Hanlon.
Within five minutes Trim equalised with a goal over which there was a suspicion of offside, but the visitors player put in with only the home goalkeeper to beat duly found the net.
Bellurgan went back ahead after 20 minutes as a result of excellent play by Conor Conway. He won possession and crossed for O’Hanlon to control and fired the ball past the Trim goalkeeper.
A goalkeeping error allowed Trim to gain parity five minutes from the break, but Bellurgan regained the impetus in the second-half. Still Trim were very dangerous on the counter attack.
Both sides created a number of scoring opportunities but were unable to avail of them. The best fell to O’Hanlon who was left with only the Trim goalkeeper to beat, but the latter pulled off a very fine and important save.
Trim started the first period well in extra time, pressing Bellurgan goalkeeper Thomas Mulligan into action and he kept it level pegging, and enabled his side to regain supremacy.
However, with both teams tiring the score remained deadlocked.
Bellurgan converted their first four kicks in confident fashion, courtesy of Cian Murphy, Cian Connor, Calum O’Hanlon who was the Man of the Match and Conor Doris.
Trim missed two of their kicks, striking the crossbar with one, and sent another wide.
The prize for Bellurgan is a likely meeting with Bohemians in the North Leinster final.
The victorious under-12 comprised: Thomas Mulligan, Calvin Duffy, Conor Dorris, Cian Connor, Diamnas, Thomas McCarragher, Ronan Cotter, Peter McCarthy, Cian Murphy, Miguel Estsaban, Conor Conway, Evan Liu, Calum McGee.