SML round-up: Homers warm up for huge week with cup demolition of Thistle

Robert Duddy’s side warmed up for their two deciders by thumping Saturday Morning League title rivals Ahoghill Thistle 5-0 in the Rainey Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Meanwhile, All Saints Old Boys overcame a huge test of their title credentials by beating fellow challengers Carniny Rangers.

RAINEY CUP

Harryville Homers 5 Ahoghill Thistle 0: The cup holders were in no mood to surrender their trophy and ran a lacklustre Thistle ragged.

Homers took an early lead when Alan Rainey skipped past David Drummond before centering for the on rushing Darren Campbell to open the scoring.

It wasn’t a case of if but when the Harryville side would add to their total and Alan Rainey duly obliged in the second half. The on fire wide man fired in a well placed right footer to beat Stephen Watson for three nil.

Number four came courtesy of Gary Bonnes when he pounced on the loose ball in the box to sweep his effort into the net. Ahoghill keeper Stephen Watson produced a one man show to keep the score down but was unable to prevent Paul McNeill scoring a fifth and Homers’ 200th competitive goal of the season.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Carniny Rangers 0, All Saints OB 1: A Gavin Burnside goal 15 minutes from time proved to be the winner in this top of the table clash which keeps alive Saints hopes of winning the Division One title.

Carniny fresh from their Top Four Trophy win the previous Saturday started the game bright as they looked to strike an early blow and they came close on 15 minutes when Zach Barr saw his shot tipped round the post by Brian Martin in the Saints goal.

Carniny almost took the lead on 65 minutes when the ball broke to Ryan Bamber 18 yards out and he tried to place the ball in the corner of the net, but Brian Martin did brilliantly to get a hand to the ball and knock the ball to safety.

It was Saints who got the breakthrough on 75 minutes. Alan Telford slipped in substitute Stephen Sexton whose shot deflected to Gavin Burnside and he bundled the ball over the line from close range for what proved the winning goal.

FIRMUES ENERY DIVISION TWO

Seven Towers 2, FC Penarol 4: Penarol sealed a spot in the end of season playoffs with this hard fought win over fellow promotion chasers Towers.

Towers took an early lead when Gary Taggart split the defence for Chris Graham to score after only two minutes. Penarol got back into the game 10 minutes before the break when prolific striker Kenny Wright fired home.

Player Manager David Paul gave his side the lead a minute after the restart before Wright again found the net to make it 3-1 on 68 minutes.

Towers got a goal back two minutes later when two players making their first appearance of the season combined. Steven O’Neill crossed to the back post for Simon Murray to head home.

Penarol regained their two goal cushion five minutes later and sealed the win when Darren Fletcher got on the score sheet to clinch all three points.

SAMMY MOORE CUP

Carniny Amateurs 5, Steadfast (Carniny won 9-0 agg): Heading into this game with a 4-0 lead from the first leg, Carniny missed a penalty on 24 mins but made amends only two minutes later when Adam Greene crossed in from the right for Shane McWilliams to force the ball home from inside the six yard box. The same player doubled their lead on 40 mins from a Ricky Hanna corner nodding home for his second.

Just after half time young Benji Agnew was introduced and injected some pace into the game and directed a header into the goal from a corner on the hour mark and only five mins later scored his second as he weaved in from the left to set up a right foot shot into goal. On 82 mins Scott Buxton finished the game off with Lloyd White winning the ball with a header in the middle of the park, where it was flicked on for Buxton to send in a lovely looping shot on the half volley.

OTHER RESULTS

Rainey Cup 3rd Round: Glenravel 4, Newpark Olympic 3 (AET); Carniny Rangers 3, Abbeyview 2.

Rainey Cup Quarter Final: Ahoghill Rovers 0, Raceview 0 (Ahoghill Rovers win 3-1 on penalties)

firmus energy Division One: Abbeyview 1 Ahoghill Thistle 2; Raceview 3 Glenravel 0; Ballykeel 0 All Saints OB 9 ; Clough Rangers 0, Harryville Homers 3.

Ace Cup 1st Round: Harryville Homers 4 Glenravel 2 (AET); Riverdale 0 Ahoghill Thistle 12.

firmus energy Division Two: Cushendall 3 Woodside 0; FC Penarol 3 Carnlough Swifts 5; Michelin 2 Sporting Ballymoney 2; Randalstown 3 Cloughmills 1; Seven Towers 8 Galgorm Blues 2; Cloughmills 2 Ahoghill Rovers 6; Cushendall 4 Waveney Swifts 1; Galgorm Blues 2 Sporting Ballymoney 5; Seven Towers 1 FC Penarol 4; Sporting Ballymoney 0 Cushendall 2; Waveney Swifts 4 Woodside 2.

George McAuley 1st Round: Waveney Swifts 0 Ahoghill Rovers 1

George McAuley Cup Quarter Finals: Michelin 0 Seven Towers 0 (Michelin win 3-2 on penalties); Randalstown 0 Carnlough Swifts 2

firmus energy BSML Division Three: Braid United 4 Wakehurst Star 2; Templepatrick 0 Cullybackey Olympic 8.

CGRSC Sammy Moore Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg: Braid United 3 St Comgalls 2

CGRSC Sammy Moore Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg: St Comgalls 6 Braid United 2 (St Comgalls Won 8-5 on Aggregate)

firmus energy BSML Division Three: Southside Rangers 2 Northend & District 1

FIXTURES

Tuesday 26th April, 6-45pm - Rainey Cup Quarter Final: Glenravel v All Saints OB (Cargan).

firmus energy Division One: Ballykeel v Abbeyview (Ballykeel); Riverdale v Ahoghill Thistle (Wakehurst 2); Raceview v Carniny Rangers (Broughshane).

Wednesday 27th April - Toals Co Antrim Junior Shield Final 7-45pm: Harryville Homers v Ballyvea (Seaview).

Thursday 28th April 6-45pm - firmus energy BSML Division One: Clough Rangers v Ahoghill Thistle (Clough).

Saturday 30th April 10-15 KO - Ace Cup Quarter Final: Newpark Olympic v Abbeyview (Forum).

firmus energy BSML Division One: Ahoghill Thistle v Carniny Rangers (Ahoghill); FC Moylena v Glenravel (Forum).

firmus energy BSML Division Two: Carnlough Swifts v Holywell; FC Penarol v Sporting Ballymoney (Connor); Michelin v Ahoghill Rovers; Waveney Swifts v Randalstown (Waveney 2).

CGRSC Sammy Moore Cup Semi Final 2nd Legs: Northend & District v Carniny Amateurs & Youth (Dunfane 1); St Comgalls v Ruby’s Rovers.

firmus energy BSML Division Three: Steadfast v Southside Rangers (Galgorm).

Montgomery Cup Group A: Braid United v Templepatrick (Broughshane).

Monday 2nd May Irish Junior Cup Final 2.30pm KO: Rosemount Rec v Harryville Homers (Windsor Park).