St Mary’s squared up to East Antrim side Larne Youth FC on Saturday in a NIBFA Cup match at Hydebank with St Mary’s determined to improve upon last seasons’ cup results having been dumped from both competitions at the first hurdle.
St Mary’s adapted quickly to the cold artic conditions as Eoin McNicholl flashed an early effort narrowly wide in the opening minutes.
But the deadlock was broken on eleven minutes when McNicholl’s delightful cross was swept home by Eoin O’Reilly. O’Reilly had a second opportunity to add to St Mary’s tally when collecting a Patrick Ross through ball but with the Larne keeper stranded, he fluffed his lines.
With goalie Niall McGinnity unavailable, the St Mary’s defence of Oisin Donaghy, captain Oliver Breen, Aidan Begley and Conor O’Malley were determined to give stand-in Aidan Quinn adequate protection while the dangerous Larne frontman was being well shackled by Trevor McCormick.
Eoin McNicholl increased St Mary’s lead on twenty minutes having been set up by Cathal McGarrity and Conal Breen. Oisin Donaghy was in the right place at the right time to tuck home number three from twelve yards after Eoin O’Reilly had nudged the ball beyond the Larne custodian just as the half time whistle sounded.
Larne opened the second half brightly but Conor O’Malley tackled everything that came down his side of the pitch snuffing out most of the danger.
It was until Cathal McGarrity picked up an Aidan Begley pass before rifling home number four that the St Mary’s management could look forward to their name being in the hat for the second round draw.
The goals panel will surely have to sit within the coming days to make a ruling on St Mary’s goal number five when Eoin McNicholl delivered a free-kick in the penalty box with Eoin O’Reilly appearing to make the merest of contact to the ball with his head as the ball nestled in the netting. Both players wheeled away in delight claiming a brace but I think we will have to leave that one for the panel.
St Mary’s took their eye of the ball momentarily as Larne mounted their best attack of the game but the Larne striker could only scoop his effort beyond the post with Quinn relieved to watch the ball drift past.
If there was uncertainty over the scorer of the fifth goal, there was certainly no disputing the identity of the scorer of the sixth and final goal of the game. McNicholl again delivered a cross into the box which O’Reilly nodded onto the edge of the area where Oisin Donaghy took a touch to control the ball before unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the bottom corner of the net…...job done……safe passage into the second round………that’ll do nicely!!!
Young Eoin McNicholl was again outstanding and just pipped two goal hero Oisin Donaghy to the man of the match champagne.
