Joomla! site syndication http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk 2012-02-08T19:57:43+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2012-02-06T12:12:19+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/content/view/359/29/ Crumlin Star 3-0 Ballywalter RecThe Star got back to winning ways after a hard fought victory over Ballywalter at Solitude. A man of the match performance from Fra Murphy seen the silky striker bag himself a brace and an assist for PJ O'Neill's goal which helped the Star to keep on track for their fourth title in a row. After being left out of last weeks starting line up Murphy could've easily took the managers decision to drop him the wrong way but instead he showed what true class he has by chasing every lost cause, always sprinting back to help his team mates and of course scoring two crucial goals. It all started of well for the Star with a bit of early pressure and an early goal when O'Neill charged down a sloppy clearance and squared the ball to the unmarked Murphy for an easy tap in. McNeil went close on a number of occasions with fierce efforts from just outside the box as did O'Reilly with a fine left foot curling shot which just missed the far upright. H/T 1-0Again Ballywalter where hit with an early goal just after the restart when O'Neill bent the ball past the helpless keeper to double the Stars advantage. But credit has to go to Ballywalter who's heads never dropped as they came out fighting and created a host of goal scoring chances. For the second week running the Star were reduced to ten men when Philip Savage received his marching orders after two needless yellow cards, one for dissent and one for a clumsy challenge. As Ballywalter pressed to get back into the game the Star broke away on several occasions but Paul McLarnon wasted two glorious chances to kill the game of. As the game came to a close a quick counter attack from the Star released McLarnon and his first time through ball was brilliantly finished of by Fra Murphy to make the final score 3-0 to the Star. Next week the Star are home to Abbey Villa in the Clarence cup, Kick off 1:30pm. text/html 2012-02-05T12:16:27+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/content/view/358/29/ Rathfern Rangers II 1-6 Crumlin Star IICrumlin Star II's took on Rathfern Rangers at the Diamond as they looked to get another 3 crucial points in their push for the 3A title.With a strong wind in the Star's favour, the Ardoyne team took the game to the Gers early on.On 5mins James Doyle turned the defence inside out and instead of shooting passed the ball to Braniff though the keeper saved easily . Again Doyle had a great chance to score only the Ger's keeper was equal to his shot with a great save. The Rangers were dangerous on the break with their pacey forward but the strong Ardoyne defence were dealing with threat well with Mc Kernan and Hawkins working well . The Star took the lead on 35 mins when great work from O'Neill and Whelan on the wings found Doyle on the edge of the box and his pass to Braniff who hit it first time to curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner giving the Gers keeper no chance. The Ardoyne team went further ahead when Braniff and Doyle combined again and Doyle nipped the ball passed the advancing keeper to put the Star 2 goals up. However on the stroke of half time the Gers got 1 goal back when a long throw in caught the Star defence out and the pacey forward was on to the ball in a flash and drilled the ball passed the advancing McNeill. HT 1-2Larry Toner and assistant McAlea encouraged their players to keep playing fast flowing football and in the second half the young Star team did that with the Gers finding it hard to keep up with the pace. The Gers almost equalised on 60 mins only Ciaran McNeill made a super save to deny the Gers forward. On 65mins the Star got there third goal when great football from Mc Dowell and Osbourne found Doyle in the box and he passed to Stiofon Brown who drilled his shot past the keeper. Gerard Foster and Tony Reilly replaced Braniff and Mc Dowell as the Star team were well in controll. The Star got a fourth goal when a Tony Reilly cross was headed into the net by James Doyle. Stiofan Brown added a fifth goal and Gerard Foster intercepted a bad back pass to make it 6. Ciaran Cairns had the chance to make it 7 but failed to hit target from close range. Manager Toner was delighted with the effort of all his players!Starman: Gary Mc Kernan and James Doyle text/html 2012-02-01T15:18:22+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/content/view/355/29/ The hall of Fame section has been fixed!! text/html 2012-01-30T13:03:47+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/content/view/354/29/ Dunmurry Rec 2-1 Crumlin Star The Star crashed out of the Intermediate cup on Saturday after a dogged display against a youthful Dunmurry Rec side. After being reduced to ten men after 35 minutes the team battled brilliantly but fell to an injury time winner which was harsh on them in all honestly. The team started with a make up defence as Captain Ciran Burns was ruled out through suspension so Sean O'Reilly moved in to sweeper with Ciaran Reid filling in at full-back. The first real chance of the half fell to Paul McLarnon after Ciaran Murphy broke down the left flank and drilled in a low cross but with the goal at his mercy McLarnon sliced the ball well wide of the goal. Dunmurry's best moment of the half came from a free kick just out side the area, as the ball looked to be heading into the top corner Thompson pulled of a magical save to keep the scores level. Then the main talking point of the half came when Ciaran Murphy closed down the homes sides right back and as he tried to block the defenders clearance he caught him with a sliding tackle, its a tackle you see week in week out on television but sometime referees see it as a red card offence. H/T 0-0 The Star actually coped well with a man short as they battled hard all over the pitch and at times you would've struggled to see which team was in fact a man down. Midway through the half the Star were awarded a soft penalty after Joe McNeill was upended in the box and the reliable Barry McKervey stepped up and put the Ardoyne side a goal up to the good. Straight from the restart Dunmurry where awarded a penalty of their own and this time there was no doubt about it when O'Reilly chopped down the home sides striker with a silly tackle. Although Thompson guessed right for the penalty there was just too much power in it as the sides where brought level once again. For the remainder of the game the Star where happy to play counter attacking football and always looked dangerous with the pace and power for the midfield where as Dunmurry also looked dangerous at times with their nippy attackers always causing problems. As the game looked to be going into extra time Thompson came and punched a cross clear but only to the head of a Dunmurry player who's looping header was cleared of the line but the rebound fell to another striker and he bundled the ball over the line to send the Ashley Park men into the next round. Next week the Star are home to Ballwalter in a league fixture, Kick off 2:00pm. text/html 2012-01-22T14:40:54+01:00 http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk http://www.crumlinstarfc.co.uk/content/view/353/29/ Crumlin Star 3-1 Sirocco WorksIt was first against second at Solitude on Saturday as the Star faced league leaders Sirocco Works. The Star ran out 3-1 winners and now trail Sirocco by seven points but have five games in hand over their rivals. In the opening stages both sides knocked the ball about well without creating too many chances though it was the Star that always looked the more threatening upfront. Star took the lead after 20 minutes when Barry McKervey weaved a bit of magic out on the left flank and when his cross found O'Neill in the box he fired a low shot beyond the Sirocco keeper to put the Ardoynions in the driving seat. McKervey was in the thick of the action again shortly after when he turned his marker and put a defence splitting ball through to the charging Joe McNeill who was subsequently upended in the box by the Sirocco keeper for a stone wall penalty. McKervey stepped up and drove his penalty hard and low to the keepers left to double the Stars advantage. H/T 2-0Sirocco started the brighter in the second half but although they passed the ball around confidently at times they seemed to run out of ideas in the Stars final third which was again brilliantly marshalled by Ciaran Burns. Out of nothing Sirocco did half the deficit when a hopeful long ball somehow evaded two Star defenders and fell invitingly for the busy Sirocco forward who poked the ball past the oncoming Thompson in goal. This gave the away side a lift and for ten minutes they put the Star under a bit of pressure but failed to really trouble Thompson in goal with ex Glentoran star Darren Fitzgerald going closest with a speculative drive that flew by Thompsons post. Thats as good as it got for Sirocco as the Star went into a 3-1 lead courtesy of Ciaran Reid. Murphy found space out on the right and picked out Reid at the edge of the box and with the outside of his boot he brilliantly bent the ball into the far corner to bring to an end of any thoughts of a Sirocco come back. The last quarter of the game was all Star as they had numerous chances to add to their tally but it probably would've been cruel on Sirocco who battled hard all day.Next week the Star are away to Dunmurry Rec in the 4th round of the Intermediate cup, Kick off 1:30pm. The league table: PosTeamPWD L GF GA GD Pts1Sirocco Wks (http://www.thenafl.co.uk/act/teams/id/26)14 10 224416 2832 2Crumlin Star (http://www.thenafl.co.uk/act/teams/id/57)9 810319 2225