THE STAR CRASH OUT OF THE IRISH CUP!

                                                Immaculata 2-0 Crumlin Star

The Star crashed out of the Irish cup on Saturday to West Belfast rivals Immaculata at Grovsnor Road. The West Belfast side were well worth their win as another dismal performance seen the Star only have one shot on target all game. Last week the Star drew 3-3 at home to Rathfriland Rangers and could thank themselves lucky as the Mid-Ulster side totally out played them for the ninety minutes. Although the Star were missing key players such as McLarnon, Savage, McDowell and Stephen Brown the starting XI was still very strong on paper but out on the field they were outfought and outplayed by the hungrier Immaculata side. The Mac went in front early on after Joe McNeill was judged to have used his arm when he charged down a shot, up stepped Dynes to make it 1-0 albeit a bit fortuitously as his badly hit shot somehow went under the body of Thompson in goal. Throughout the half the Star offered very little upfront and soon found themselves 2-0 down when O'Riordan let fly from just out side the box and the ball flew in to the top corner.

H/T 2-0

A disappointed management team rang the changes at half time as O'Neill, C.Murphy and Ciaran Reid replaced Hawkins, F.Murphy and Paul Brown. It was Ciaran Reid's first game back since he broke his leg in the summer. The changes did improve the teams performance slightly but the Mac where never in any danger of letting their two goal lead slip. Ciaran Murphy had the Star's best chance of the game but he somehow blasted the ball over the bar from a few yards out when it looked easier to score. Thompson kept the scoreline respectable with a stunning save from a Dynes volley which he tipped on to the crossbar.

Next week the Star face Newcastle in the Semi Final of the Border Cup down in Druminess, Kick Off 1:30pm

The only bright point on Saturday was Ciaran Reid's return to first team action.