Ardglass surge forward in Kitroom Plate win against Ballynagross
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
The Kitroom Plate Section A,
Venue: Mountain Quarter, Saul. On 8 3 2025,
Final Score: Ballynagross FC 0 6 Ardglass FC.
Mountain Quarter was bathed in bright sunshine for this Kitroom Cup game between near neighbours Ballynagross and Ardglass and it was the visitors who controlled the game from start to finish writes Cyril McKinney.
Ardglass had the game well in their grasp by half-time. They took an early lead on 16 minutes through Dara O’Shea who lashed home a loose ball in front of goal giving Gross keeper Jay Curran no chance.
Four minutes later a left wing corner from Karl O’Neill was met at the near post by Malachy Crangle and he flicked it home to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Ballynagross kept trying to play their football but were no match for the visitors who closed them down and crowded them out.
Ardglass continued to look threatening and went further ahead on 37 minutes when Malachy Crangle steamed in to powerfully head home a Mick Magee right wing corner and then 2 minutes later Michael Clarke volleyed home a screamer from the edge of the box to leave it at 4-0 to the visitors at the break.
Neither side created anything of note in the opening minutes of the second half.
Urged on by the industrious John Beattie in midfield and the physicality of Mick Magee up front, it was no surprise that Ardglass increased their lead on 62 minutes when Magee got on the end of a long ball over the top from Jamie McDarby and showed great physical strength and good ball control and rounded the keeper to finish in style.
Ballynagross were awarded a penaltyxa0xa0when Ardglass midfielder John Beattie was deemed to have handled the ball in the box.
Up stepped Daniel Taggart to take the penalty but he was superbly denied by Ardglass keeper James Crangle not once but twice when the referee ordered a retake.
With the game won, Ardglass made changes which included a rare outing for their player manager Aaron Beattie who for a number of years was a player for Ballynagross.
Try as he might he could not conjure up a goal opportunity, but Ardglass scored another goal in the closing stages through Karl O’Neill who volleyed home from close range to leave the final score 6-0 to the visitors.
Overall it was a tough day at the office for a very young Ballynagross squad who kept playing their game, but Ardglass had too much quality and were deserved winners.
Ballynagross FC: Jay Curran, Callum Byrne, Odhran Hynds, Corey Davis, Karl Kearney, Ciaran McGrady, Jamie Boyd, Connor Morrison, Darragh Higgins, Daniel Taggart, Luca Carew. Subs: Aidan McNeill for Callum Byrne,
Ardglass FC: James Crangle, Corey Mahon, Malachy Crangle, Jordan Deegans, Dara O’Shea, John Beattie, Jamie McDarby, Caolain O’Shea,Michael Magee, Karl O’Neill, Michael Clarke. Subs: Shea Dorrian for Jamie McDarby, Pabhraig O’Shea for Michael Clarke, Aaron Beattie for Michael Magee
