Strangford FC Beat Ardglass In Penalties After A Very Close Match
Strangford got through this neck-in-neck battle with Ardglass FC on penalties. It’s always a brutal way to end a match but there has to be a winner at the end of the day writes Jim Masson.
The first half was nothing to write home about as both teams struggled in a fast-paced game with neither side getting a clear advantage.
Strangford with a slightly younger side cracked off at a fast pace and although Ardglass were the most experienced of the two and the holder of the 2023 Bobby Dalzell Cup, they found it hard to settle against the frenetic pace they both went at.
Play went up and down the pitch with a few opportunties unclaimed until Owen Kelly took his chance in a goal mouth scramble and forced the ball over the line to put Strangford a goal up on the whistle for half-time.
However, the second half was more entertaining – just. Both teams continued to attack but they were getting closer to actually scoring.
Then in the 51st minute, Karl O’Neill equalised for Ardglass from a spot on pass from Michael Magee first hitting the keeper Cathal Kinsella with his volley to see the ball bounce back at him when he then made sure with the second effort.
Strangford were playing well and Jack Fitzimmons was in excellent form taking the game to Ardglass.
Ardglass then tried to force their way again into the Strangford goal area and won a free kick a couple of yards outside the box but the kick by Magee hit the crossbar. But Ardglass had raised their game and as the game moved on players started to cramp up.
Ardglass opened up the play a good bit from the many quick tackles that the game had seen so far but still the goals did not come.
In went into extra time and still not deciding goal, the teams drawn at 1-1.
Then the referee blew the final whistle and penalties were looming for two battle worn sides. Strangford had held their ground against tough opponents Ardglass and the game was now 50:50.
Shea Dorian missed the second penalty and Sean Carr missed the fourth one leaving Strangford’s Jack Fitzsimmons to net the ball and claim the bragging rights.
Overall, Ardglass keeper James Crangle had played an excellent game, but the final result was very very close and you could not separate the teams with a five pound note. It was tight to the end.
Strangford FC are now through to the final to face Drumaness Reserves.
Strangford FC: 1 Cathal Kinsella (GK) 4 Thomas Fitzsimmons 5 Fion McFall 6 John Polley 7 Rory Reilly 8 Shane Taggart 9 Conal Fitzsimmons (C) 10 Eoin Kelly 11 Jack Fitzsimmons 14 Aodhan Harney 15 Owen Curran. Subs: 2 David Shields 3 Michael Shields 12 Eoin Watterson 16 Michael Lawson 17 Luc Tolan.
Ardglass FC: 1 James Crangle (GK) 2 Dara O’Shea 3 Malachy Crangle 4 Jordan Deegans 5 Corey Mahon 6 Michael Clarke 7 Shea Dorrian 8 John Beattie 9 Michael Magee (C) 10 Karl O’Neill 11 Ryan McKinney. Subs: 12 Sean Carr 14 Padraig O’Shea 15 Matthew Rooney 16 Jamie Cusack.
