Barrett hits first-half hat-trick to send Augher Stars through
Augher Stars 3 Irvinestown Wanderers 1
SAM Barrett scored a first-half hat-trick to seal Augher Stars’ place in the next round of the Mulhern Cup after a 3-1 win in Aughnacloy. Barry Goodwin gave Wanderers hope with an early strike in the second half, but they would go on to rue missed chances as Augher held on, with goalkeeper Conor Mcanenly being called into action on a number of occasions.
Barrett opened the scoring after six minutes on Saturday – a long ball was flicked on by Ashley Mcfarland and Barrett lobbed the oncoming Jerome Carlton in goal for 1-0.
Gary Maguire thought he had equalised instantly as he caught Mcanenly out from the kick-off, but referee Eunan Devine chalked it off much to Irvinestown’s frustration.
Ten minutes before half time, Barrett made it 2-0 as he tapped home after Carlton saved a long-range free kick from Christopher Mckenna.
The third came on the stroke of half time. A blocked shot came to Barrett, and he drilled home into the left side of the net from the edge of the box.
Wanderers pulled a goal back at the beginning of the second half when Christopher Mcmulkin’s cross into the box was controlled and volleyed into the net by Goodwin.
Stephen Sheridan headed wide from a Caolan Ward cross moments later as Irvinestown put Augher’s defence under pressure for most of the half. Goodwin had another shot saved well by Mcanenly and
Irvinestown also had a shout for a penalty in the closing stages when Ward went down in the box that was waved away.
“Naturally disappointed to be out of the cup, I felt particularly in the second half we created enough chances to be in the tie, their goalkeeper made a number of fantastic saves in the second half which is full credit to him,” said Irvinestown manager Darren Higginbotham.
“We need to be more clinical in critical moments and learn to shut up shop at the back despite doing well defensively recently, and Saturday, hopefully, was just a blip.
“We have a very important game now against Enniskillen Rangers which we look forward to because that’s why you’re in Division One, to play these games against these good opponents.”