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Written by Anto
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Monday, 15 February 2010 |
Crumlin Star 3-0 Suffolk Swifts
The Star faced West Belfast side Suffolk Swifts in the first round of the Clarence Cup on Saturday. Goals from Dam Whelan and a brace from Joe Gormley was enough to send the Ardoyne side through to the next round. For the second week running the Star were slow out of the blocks and couldve been 1-0 down as early as the 5th minute but the Suffolk striker steered his shot wide when it looked easier to score. Dam Whelan broke the dead lock on the quarter hour mark when Mark Mooney's cross evaded everyone in the middle but Whelan smashed a cracking half volley into the back of the net from the back post to give the Star the lead. Suffolk had the chance to equalise soon after but again they where wasteful in front of goal as they again failed to even hit the target. Towards the end of the half Devenny raced through on goal but the Swifts keeper did well to block him but unfortunate for him the ball fell for Braniff out wide and he had the simplest of tasks of picking out Gormley in the middle who nodded the ball into the empty net.
H/T 2-0
The second half was a far better performance from the Star as their movement and superior fitness made the second 45 minute for the Swifts one they'll want to forget as the Ardoyne side had them under relentless pressure for most of the half. On the hour the management made a triple substitution as Nial Hawkins, Sass McConnall & Ciaran Gormley replaced Braniff, McAlea & Mooney. It was Gormley's first appearance for the first team and he didnt look out of place with some fine passing in the middle of the park. In the 80th minute a great ball over the top from Ciaran Burns put Joe Gormley through on goal and the inform striker crashed the ball home from out side the box which left the Swifts keeper with no chance.
Next week the Star are away to York Street Baptist in the quarter final of the Junior Shield @ the Grove playing fields, KO 2:00pm
Team: Thompson, O'Reilly, Nellis, Burns, McAlea, Whelan, Reid, Braniff, Mooney, Devenny, J.Gormley
Subs: Hawkins, McConnall, C.Gormley
Dam Whelan opened the scoring on Saturday  Joe Gormley scored two  |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 February 2010 )
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Written by Stephen Murray
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Tuesday, 09 February 2010 |
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NEW FIXTURES AND GUESTBOOK Upcoming fixtures for both teams can be found in their respective fixture/results page. The guestbook is also back online for use. |
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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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