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Written by Anto
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Sunday, 07 February 2010 |
Sion Swifts 1-2 Crumlin Star
The Star made it through to the quarter finals of the Junior Cup on Saturday after a hard fought victory in Strabane. It took the Star 20 minutes to actually get going in this game and by that time they could've been 3-0 down as the home side struck the woodwork and forced the Star's stand in keeper Ciaran McNeill into a couple of outstanding saves. It was the 16 year olds debut for the first team as Mal Thompson was injured and the youngster didn't disappoint with a faultless display between the sticks. On the half hour Sion Swifts took a deserved lead from a corner when their big centre half beat everyone in the air and nodded the ball into the back of the net. This was the wake up call the Star needed as they began to get more and more into the game as Ciaran Reid forced the home keeper into a fine save from an acute angle. Not long later the Ardoyne side where awarded a penalty when Joe Gormley was hacked down by a Sion defender. For the second week in a row Sean Brown stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to bring the sides level. The Star grew in confidence after the equaliser with Mooney, Gormley and Paul Brown giving the Swifts defenders all sorts of problems. On the Stroke of half time the Star took the lead when Anto Braniff tried his luck from distance as his shot looped over the stranded keeper with the help of a slight deflection.
H/T 1-2
The second period the Star were happy to soak up any pressure the home side could put on them as the Ardoyne side always looked dangerous on the counter attack. The back four of O'Reilly, Burns, Nellis & McAlea defended like lions as Sion struggled to get any where near the young inexperienced Star keeper. Devenny replaced Gormley on the hour and had the best chance of the half when Braniff put him through one on one with the keeper but when he skillfully rounded the keeper a Sion defender came rushing in to clear the danger. The Star had another couple of half chances to finish of the game but where unable to but a great defencive display from the team ensured they marched on into the last eight of the competition.
Next week the Star are at home to Suffolk Swifts in the Clarence cup, Kick off 1:30pm
Team: McNeill, O'Reilly, Burns, Nellis, McAlea, S.Brown, Reid, Braniff, Mooney, P.Brown, Gormley
Subs: Devenny, Whelan, McConnall
Ciaran McNeill: Outstanding debut on Saturday  Anto Braniff scored the winner  |
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Written by Anto
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 |
Park View 0-6 Crumlin Star
The Star produced their best display of the season when they travelled to Newry on Saturday to play a Park View side that where top of the Carnbane league. The winners of the tie would be rewarded with a place in the last 16 of the Junior Cup so the pressure was on for both sides. Straight from the off the Star put the home team under intense pressure as the Ardoyne side opened up their counterparts at will and made a host of goal scoring chances. Their pressure was to be rewarded as early as the 10th minute when the home side's keeper hauled down Mark Mooney inside the box and the Referee pointed to the spot without any hesitation. The reliable Sean Brown stepped up and fired the ball home to settle any nerves the Ardoyne side had. The Star kept the pressure on the home team as they again created chance after chance with Ciaran Reid being the guilty party with a couple of glaring misses. Park View did manage to create a few chances on the half hour but Thompson in goal was in fantastic form as he made a couple of outstanding saves. The second goal of the game was started and finished by Sean Brown when he collected the ball in his own half and played a series of one-twos with Gormley and Reid which seen him break free on goal and coolly slot the ball into the bottom corner to double the Star's lead.
H/T 0-2
The half time team talk from manager Hawkins was for his players to keep doing what the where doing and that the next goal of the game was the most important one, and it was a wonder goal from Sean O'Reilly that did it for the Star when he broke down the right in the 50th minute and let fly from just inside the area and steered the ball into the corner of the net to send the large Star support wild on the line. Two minutes later the Star where in wonderland when Mark Mooney tried his luck from 25 yards out as his dipping effort flew into the top corner to make it 4-0 to the Star. Hawkins, Whelan & Devenny all came on for the Star on the hour as game was as good as over but there was no let up from the three subs as they where straight into the thick of the action. Hawkins was the provider for the Star's 5th goal when his goal bound shot was headed home by Paul Brown from all of 2 yards and the inform striker got his second and the Star's 6th when Devenny unselfishly squared the ball to him in the 80th minute to slot the ball into the empty net. It capped of an excellent team performance and the Star now face Sion Swifts next week in the last 16. There will be a bus leaving the Star next week at 11:00am so all supporters are welcome.
Team: Thompson, O'Reilly, McAlea, Nellis, Burns, S.Brown, Reid, Braniff, Mooney, P.Brown, Gormley
Subs: Hawkins, Whelan, Devenny
Sean Brown scored the first 2 goals on Saturday  |
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Written by Anto
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Monday, 25 January 2010 |
STAR MAKE IT INTO THE LAST 8 OF THE JUNIOR SHIELD
Crumlin Star 1-0 Newington YC II
Crumlin Star reached the last 8 of the junior shield after victories over Newington YC II & Colin Vally in the space of five days. On Tuesday the Star played a youthful Newington side at the Junior Stadium in front of a large crowd. The start of the game was played at a blistering pace with some fierce tackles put in from both sides. The Star struck the woodwork no less than three times in the opening stages with Newington also going close as McAlea had to clear a goal bound effort of the line. Paul Brown missed the best chance of the game on the stroke of half time when Joe Gormley's shot was push into Browns path but the Star strike blazed over from a couple of yards out. The second half was dominated by the Ardoyne side but again some bad finishing and dogged Newington defending kept the score level. The Star finally got the break through they deserved midway through the half when Braniff put Paul Brown through on goal for the prolific goalscorer to fire the ball home and put the Star into the next round.
Colin Valley 0-3 Crumlin Star
The Star travelled to Poleglass for the next round of the shield to face new Amateur league side Colin Vally. The first half was a dire encounter as the home side played with one upfront and crowded the midfield to try and stop the Star from getting into any rhythm. Chances where few and far between but Mooney & Gormley did miss two guilt edge chances when they broke clear only to be denied by the home keeper. Straight from the second half kick off the Star where awarded a penalty when Burns's through ball somehow made it through to Mooney only for the striker to be hauled down by the Colin Valley keeper. Sean Brown stepped up and made no mistake with the finish to give the Star the lead. Soon after it was 2-0 to the Star when Reid and Mooney worked an excellent move down the right with the latter crossing the ball in for Dam Whelan to flick the ball home with an exquisite back heel. The home side then pushed forward to try and save the game but the Star where happy to soak up any pressure and hit them on the break. As the game came to an end the Star did hit the home side on the break for Joe Gormley to fire the ball past the Vally keeper to cap of an excellent five days for the Ardoyne side.
Next week the Star are away to Newry to face Park View in the Junior Cup. |
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