Crumlin Star win the Junior Shield                                            

                                                       Crumlin Star 1-0 Ardoyne W.M.C

On Thursday night at Solitude Crumlin Star took on fierce rivals Ardoyne working mens club in the County Antrim Junior Shield final. It was billed as the battle of Ardoyne once again as the previous two encounters between the sides seen no less than five red cards and multiple yellows. With one win a piece this game was seen as a decider as the Star are looking  to move up to intermediate football which would put an end to anymore cup duels between the sides. Four years ago the League beat the Star 1-0 in the semi final of the Shield up atDonegal Celtic Park and after an abandoned match the Star got their revenge in the Junior Cup with a 4-2 victory at the Junior Stadium.
The opening stages of the final were a tense affair with both sides playing little football but it was the Star that looked the more dangerous asDevenny went close with a headed opportunity but put his effort over the bar. Midway through the half Burns out muscled Murphy deep in his own half and carried the ball effortlessly toward the half way line then put a pin point through ball for Mark Mooney to run on to and the energetic winger powered through on goal with the defender left in his wake to poke the ball past the out coming Gibson to put the Star 1-0 up. The League then lifted their game in search for an equaliser but the Star defence limited them to half chances. On a rare defencive mistake fromNellis PJ O'Neill found space at the edge of the area but dragged his shot agonisingly wide of Thompson's post. As the half drew to a close the Star almost doubled their lead when Sean Brown curled a great effort from the edge of the box but Gibson got down well to his right to palm the ball away for a corner.

H/T 1-0

Again the Star started brightest of the two sides at the beginning of the half as they went in search of that killer second goal with Mooney again giving his maker all sorts of problems. The Star had the ball in the net on the hour mark but Brendan Mailey's own goal was ruled out for an offside against Devenny. The game was then held up for a long period after a horrible tackle on Mark Mooney which resulted in the little winger being stretchered off. As the game wore on the Star were happy to sit back and see what the League could throw at them then hit them on the quick counter attack. Thiscould've backfired on them when the ball broke to big P.J O'Neill in the area and what looked like an easy finish the big striker some how steered his shot wide of the post to the relief of the Star players and supporters. With the game coming to it's final minutes the League threw everything at the Star which left them vulnerable at the back which young JoeGormley took to his advantage when left a couple of defenders in his wake and passed to Paul Brown in the box but his effort was excellently saved by Gibson in goal. Soon after the Star had another opportunity to kill the game of  whenwhelan went through on goal but again was denied by the sprawling Gibson. After seven long minutes of injury time the referee finally blew his full time whistle to send the large Star support into raptures as their team not only won the Junior Shield but the bragging rights of the district.

The squad before the final

The starting 11 in the Shield final

All the boys with the Junior Shield

Saucy Brown lifting the Shield

The team celebrates with the Shield