Homers thrash holders as they march on in County Antrim Junior Shield

Harryville Homers sent out another signal of their intentions in the Toals COunty Antrim Junior Shield at the weekend.
The Mortgage Shop, Church Street, Ballymena; staff members Ryan O'Neill and Judy Conway present new T-shirts to Seven Towers FC members Ally Gordon and Seamus McDonald. INBT 46-805HThe Mortgage Shop, Church Street, Ballymena; staff members Ryan O'Neill and Judy Conway present new T-shirts to Seven Towers FC members Ally Gordon and Seamus McDonald. INBT 46-805H
The Mortgage Shop, Church Street, Ballymena; staff members Ryan O'Neill and Judy Conway present new T-shirts to Seven Towers FC members Ally Gordon and Seamus McDonald. INBT 46-805H

Back in the competition after a three year ban, Robert Duddy’s men produced another impressive performance to thrash holders Tullycarnet 7-1.

And the strength of the firmus energy Saturday Morning League was once again illustrated with impressive away wins in the same competition for Carniny Rangers and Ahoghill Thistle.

CO ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Ian Gregg, of Rainey & Gregg, presents a sponsored match ball to Stephen Tully, of All Saints Old Boys.Ian Gregg, of Rainey & Gregg, presents a sponsored match ball to Stephen Tully, of All Saints Old Boys.
Ian Gregg, of Rainey & Gregg, presents a sponsored match ball to Stephen Tully, of All Saints Old Boys.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Harryville Homers 7, Tullycarnet 1: In blustery conditions at Wakehurst the Junior Cup holders got the perfect start when they opened the scoring on six minutes. Jason Logan collected the ball 25 yards out on the left, cut inside and smashed the ball low past the visiting keeper to give his side the lead.

Midway through the half the visiting side drew level with a header at the back post giving Ryan Martin in the Homers goal no chance.

Homers got their noses back in front two minutes before the break when David Nicholl nicked the ball and knocked the ball back to Mark McKay who found Paul McNeill wide on the right, he nutmegged his marker before driving into the box and placing the ball into the corner of the net.

Thirty seconds into the second half Homers opened up a two goal lead. Substitute Ricky Nicholl fed Alan Rainey on the right and he drilled the ball across the box for David Nicholl to fire home with a one touch finish.

Neil O'Hara, of Neil O'Hara Painting, presents Jordy Craig, of Harryville Homers FC, with a match ball for the recent game against Abbeyview.Neil O'Hara, of Neil O'Hara Painting, presents Jordy Craig, of Harryville Homers FC, with a match ball for the recent game against Abbeyview.
Neil O'Hara, of Neil O'Hara Painting, presents Jordy Craig, of Harryville Homers FC, with a match ball for the recent game against Abbeyview.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This goal knocked the stuffing out of the Shield holders as Homers started to dominate and it was soon 4-1. Paul McNeill headed the ball into David Nicholl who brilliantly flicked the ball over his marker back into the path of Paul McNeill to fire the ball home from 20 yards out. Homers were rampant now and Alan Rainey hit a quick fire brace to make it 6-1. Both goals came after good link up play from the Homers front pairing of Paul McNeill and David Nicholl.

Homers rounded off a great display in the dying minutes when David Nicholl brilliantly brought down a long ball beat his man and curled the ball home from the edge of the box to complete the scoring.

Rooftop 0, Carniny Rangers 7: After missing a few early chances Carniny opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Tyler Caulfield and Ryan Balmer combined to release Dean Dunlop who stroked the ball past the keeper.

Four minutes later Alan Norton split the home defence with a pinpoint pass for Dean Wright to add a second. Darren Kidd was causing problems with his pace for the Rooftop rearguard, on 30 minutes he was fouled in the box and Dean Dunlop netted from the spot. Carniny made it four goals in ten minutes when Alan Norton shot home in the box after a corner kick. On 43 minutes the visitors made it five with another Dean Dunlop spot kick.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Seven minutes after the break Ryan Balmer burst down the left and his cross was turned in by Dean Dunlop for his fourth of the game. The seventh and last goal of the tie came on 68 minute when Darren Kidd finished from close range after keeper spilled Dean Dunlop’s shot to cap a brilliant away victory.

Ballycastle United 1, Ahoghill Thistle 4: Despite their early dominance Thistle fell behind when Ballycastle opened the scoring on 25 minutes. Thistle then had keeper Ryan Curry to thank as he made a fantastic save to prevent Ballycastle from doubling their lead.

This stop seemed to inspire Thistle as moments later they drew level when David Drummond hit a thunder drive from 30 yards giving the home keeper no chance. Soon after Thistle took the lead when an in swinging corner from Gavin Kernohan was volleyed home by Matt Boyd. Ballycastle were rattled now and Thistle capitalised on this making it 3-1 before the break when George Courtney cut in from the left and planted the ball in the corner of the net.

The second half was a tight affair with chances at both ends, but it was Thistle who got the all important next goal when Matt Boyd played in Ryan Sands to score and make it 4-1.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Round four draw (ties to played on December 12): Killough FC v Ahoghill Thistle; Waveney Swifts v Dunmurry YM II; Ballybogey v Carniny Rangers; St Luke’s FC v Sporting Ballymoney; Rosario YC II v Harryville Homers; Mountainview FC v Southside Rangers.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

Ballykeel 1, Raceview 3: In a scrappy opening Ballykeel took the lead on 12 minutes when a Stephen Steele cross was turned into his own net by a Raceview defender.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Raceview took the game to the home side and got their rewards on 56 minutes. Colin Craig and Timmy Cunningham combined to release David Cameron and he coolly slotted home.

Raceview were on top now and got themselves in front just after the hour mark when a Mark Robinson cross forced a mistake in the Ballykeel defence as one of their men deflected the ball into the corner of the net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Raceview added a third goal with 15 minutes to go when Ian Watt punted a long ball up field and the ball evaded everyone except Colin Craig who collected the ball and rounded the Ballykeel keeper to secure three valuable points.

OTHER RESULTS

Toals Co Antrim Junior Shield 3rd Round: Belfast Celtic 3, Clough Rangers 1; Kashmir Bilbao 3 Glenravel 2.

firmus energy Division One: Newpark Olympic 9, Riverdale 1.

firmus energy Division Two: Ahoghill Rovers 1, Michelin 2; Cushendall 5, Galgorm Blues 2; Seven Towers 3, Sporting Ballymoney 1.

firmus energy Division Three: Braid United 2, Templepatrick 0; Carniny Amateurs & Youths 5, Steadfast 2; Ruby’s Rovers 5, Northend and District 2; Southside Rangers 8, Cullybackey Olympic 0.

FIXTURES

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Saturday, November 21 - Co Antrim Post O’Kane Cup semi-final (10.15am): All Saints OB v Harryville Homers (Broughshane).

firmus energy Division One: Ahoghill Thistle v Riverdale (Ahoghill); Ballykeel v Abbeyview (Ballykeel); FC Moylena v Clough Rangers (Forum); Glenravel v Raceview (Cargan).

firmus energy Division Two: Cloughmills v Galgorm Blues; FC Penarol v Ahoghill Rovers (Showgrounds 5); Holywell v Seven Towers (Forum); Michelin v Cushendall; Sporting Ballymoney v Randalstown; Woodside v Waveney Swifts (Wakehurst 2).

firmus energy Division Three: Atletico Antrim v Braid United (Forum); Northend & District v Templepatrick (Dunfane 1); Rubys Rovers v Wakehurst Star; Steadfast v Carniny Amateurs (Galgorm); Southside Rangers v St Comgalls (Wakehurst 1).