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.

Barry McKervey scored his second penalty in two weeks.