Crumlin Star 3-1 St Pauls

The Star made it through to the next round of the Junior shield on Saturday with a hard fought victory over West Belfast side St Pauls. In wet blustery conditions both sides still managed to play some decent football at times as both teams where well motivated for the occasion. The Star where without first team regulars Ciaran Reid & Sean O'Reilly to the Flu while Joe McAlea was suspended. Man of the moment Joe Gormley had to be content with a place on the bench as manager Hawkins wanted to give other players a chance to prove themselves. James McNally was one of them and he took his chance with both hands as he opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Paul Brown flicked a cross into his path and the right midfielder guided the ball past the oncoming St Pauls keeper to put the Star 1-0 up. St Paul's to their credit never let their heads drop as their pressed hard to try and get an equaliser but found the Star's defence in fine form with Burns in particular having a great game. The half ended with both teams keepers not really having a testing save to make though the Star always looked as though they'd be the ones who'd score the next goal.
H/T 1-0
The second period was again more of the same with St Pauls huffing & puffing but never really testing Thompson in goal as the Star always looked dangerous on the break. Anto Braniff scored for the fourth game running when Paul Brown looked to have fouled the St Pauls keeper in the air but the Referee waved play on which left the big midfielder with the easiest of tap ins from a couple of yards out to make it 2-0. It was to be a rare double for Braniff when he rose highest from a Sean Brown free kick minutes later to head the Star into a 3-0 lead to score his fifth goal in four games. With the game over as a contest Hawkins brought on McConnall & Gormley to freshen things up and Gormley had a chance to score straight away when he found himself free at the back post but his header was brilliantly saved by the St Pauls keeper. Late on the Star conceded their first goal from open play this season when a St Pauls free kick beat everyone and seemed to be slowly going in but Braniff some how made a mess of his goal line clearance which resulted in the ball going in of the post much to the annoyance of the Star defence.
Next week its back to some league action for the Star with a home game against Grange Rangers, kick off 2:00pm.

Team: Thompson, Hamilton, Nellis, Burns, Keenan, Whelan, S.Brown, Braniff, McNally, Mooney, P.Brown
Subs: McConnall, Gormley

Anto Braniff scored his 5th goal in 4 games on Saturday

Jamesy McNally opened the Scoring