SML round-up: Homers and Carniny fly flag in Junior Cup

As the Province’s Blue Riband junior knockout competition reaches its latter stages, the local league will have two representatives in the quarter-finals, with Carniny Rangers and holders Harryville Homers still very much involved.

But Ahoghill Thistle’s quest to make it three BSML teams in the last eight were dented as they found Cumann Spoirt An Phobail too strong as they crashed out with a 4-1 home defeat.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP

Armagh City Youth 1, Carniny Rangers 4: A strong second half performance from Carniny took them past the Mid Ulster League side, who had opened the scoring on eight minutes with an impressive 25 yard effort by Ben Rice.

It was a different Carniny after the turnaround and after a spell of early second half pressure, skipper Ryan Bamber glanced a header into the net after Frazer Young and Shane Donnelly’s well worked corner on 63 minutes.

A minute later Dean Wright doubled the lead with a near post finish after some good play again from Frazer Young and full back Alan Fullerton.

Carniny’s third came on 79 minutes after Shane Donnelly’s pass split the City defence and Alan Fullerton rocketed his shot from 12 yards past the Armagh keeper.

Fullerton capped a fine second half performance with his second goal of the afternoon on 89 minutes to complete Carniny’s victory and put them in the hat for Wednesday’s draw.

Harryville Homers 2, Finaghy 1 (AET): Holders Homers had to dig deep to knock out a well drilled Finaghy outfit at Wakehurst.

The weather conditions and poor pitch made this a war of attrition with flowing football all but impossible.

After a scoreless first half, the Harryville side upped the pressure and were rewarded when Paul McNeill gave his side the lead ten minutes into the half.

The inform striker controlled a Jasin Magill flick on before firing an unstoppable, right foot shot into the corner of the net.

Having got in front, Homers conspired to let Finaghy back into the tie when they conceded a penalty which the Amateur League side duly converted to draw level. The visitors almost snatched a late winner, but they squandered two chances as the game finished 1-1.

Two minutes into extra time Homers struck what proved to be the winner. Tireless work from Richard Reid resulted in him being fouled just outside the box and a free kick awarded. Ryan Stewart hammered the ball beyond the reach of the Finaghy keeper to give his side the lead.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Clough Rangers 4, Glenravel 2: Clough kept up their fading hopes of getting back in the Top Four this season with this hard fought victory over ten men Glenravel who are starting look over their shoulder as they bid to avoid relegation.

There were chances for both teams in the first half but the two goalkeepers, Johnny Reid and Dean Adams, were equal to anything that came at them. Just before half time Glenravel were reduced to ten men when they had a man sent off for violent conduct.

Clough got the perfect start to the second half when they took the lead on 50 minutes. Andrew Simms hit a low in swinging corner from the right which caught everyone out and finished in the bottom corner of the net.

Three minutes later Clough were awarded a free kick on the left hand side which Andrew Simms fired into the box and in an attempt to clear a Glenravel player diverted the ball into his own net to give Clough a two goal lead.

The home side were then awarded a penalty kick when Adrian McDonald was brought down by Glenravel keeper Reid. Simms stepped up and fired home the spot kick to make it 3-0.

Midway through the half Glenravel got their rewards for battling hard when they were awarded a penalty after Conan Dunne was fouled. Chris Djorjani made no mistake from the spot to put his side back in the game.

Clough killed off any hope of a Glenravel comeback when they regained their three goal cushion with 15 minutes to go. Simms took a corner on the left hand side and floated the ball to the near post where Jonathan Rice rose highest to head home.

Glenravel never stopped battling and got a consolation goal when Chris Djorjani drilled the ball into the net from 20 yards, but Clough had done enough to claim all three points.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION TWO

Holywell 0, Michelin 5: The visitors took control of the game right from the start but their early pressure was proving fruitless until just before the half hour mark when the deadlock was finally broken.

Leroy Kennedy clipped a diagonal ball from the right to the back post where Derek Montgomery placed his header back across goal and into the corner of the net.

The second Michelin goal came straight away when Joey Patton split the home defence for Montgomery to race onto and he slipped the ball under the keeper to give his side a two goal half time lead.

Michelin were quick out of the blocks in the second half as they added a third goal almost immediately.

Thomas McCullough played a great through ball into the path of Paul O’Neill and he fired his shot across the keeper.

Paul O’Neill then became the provider as he drifted out wide and crossed beautifully for Montgomery to head home and complete his hat trick six minutes into the second half.

Michelin were rampant and soon added a fifth goal when Graham Adams’ low cross was met by Paul O’Neill and he placed the ball in the bottom corner.

OTHER RESULTS

Rainey Cup round one: St Comgalls 2, Ahoghill Rovers 4; Woodside 0, Sporting Ballymoney 3; Templepatrick 2, FC Penarol 3.

firmus energy Division One: FC Moylena 2, Ballykeel 0; Newpark Olympic 8, Raceview 0.

firmus energy Division Three: Rubys Rovers 1, Atletico Antrim 1

FIXTURES

Tuesday, February 9 - firmus energy Division One: Harryville Homers v Ballykeel (The Cliff, Larne).

Saturday, February 13 - Toals COunty Antrim Junior Shield (1.30pm): Waveney Swifts v Ballyvea (Waveney 2).

Rainey Cup round two (10.15am): Southside Rangers v Holywell (Wakehurst 1); Michelin v Carnlough Swifts; Rubys Rovers v All Saints OB; Randalstown v Cullybackey Olympic; Galgorm Blues v Cloughmills (Galgorm); Seven Towers v Ahoghill Rovers (Showgrounds 4); Atletico Antrim v Braid United (Forum); FC Moylena v Riverdale (Forum).

firmus energy Division One: Ahoghill Thistle v Newpark Olympic (Ahoghill); Glenravel v Abbeyview (Cargan); Harryville Homers v Carniny Rangers (Wakehurst 2); Raceview v Clough Rangers (Broughshane).

firmus energy Division Two: FC Penarol v Cushendall (Showgrounds 5).

firmus energy Division Three: Northend & District v Carniny Amateurs (Waveney 1).