Ballynagross and Newcastle Swifts tangle in an 11-goal thriller at Mountain Quarter
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Premier Division, League Match,
Venue: Mouitain Quartter, Saturday 25 1 25,
Final: Ballynagross 7xa0Vxa0xa04xa0xa0Newcastle Town Swifts.
Newcastle travelled to a chilly Mountain Quarter and were on the receiving end of a 5 star performance from Ballynagross number 9 Oran Cunningham who helped himself to 5 goals but could easily have had more writes Cyril McKinney.
The visitors started well and carried the game to their hosts with long balls into the box causing problems for the Ballynagross defence.
But it was a pass back on 14 minutesxa0xa0from the Ballynagross right winger that somehow bobbled past the unlucky Holland who missed his kick and before he could react the ball was judged to have crossed the line to put Newcastle 1-0 to the good.
Gradually Ballynagross settled and got to grips on the game and on 35 minutesxa0forward Oran Cunningham made a strong surging run down the left channel and he cut in on his right foot and unleashed a fierce low shot which nestled in the far corner of the net giving the visiting keeper no chance.
And again he repeated his run down the left channel and put his side ahead with another rocket of a shot which ended up in the net despite the keeper’s best efforts on 41 minutes.xa0xa0
Three minutes later Daniel Taggart was on hand to fire home his sides third goal taking advantage of a loose ball six yards out to make it 3-1 to Ballynagrossxa0at half-time.
Four minutes into the second half Taggart set up Cunningham with a perfect header who crashed home his third goal. Minutes later Cunningham got his 4thxa0and his teams 5thxa0goal with another powerful shot deceiving the visiting keeper at his near post.
At this point Ballynagross appeared to be in cruise control but to their credit Newcastle refused to lie down and from a free kick near half-way the ball fell to Newcastle number 6 James Jennings on the edge of the six yard box who fired home to reduce the deficit to 5- 2 after 68 minutes.
Ballynagross scored two goals within a minute of each other on 73 and 74 minutes through substitute Keenan Curran from a through ball by Taggart and then that man Cunningham helped himself to his 5thxa0and his sides 7thxa0with another clinical finish from close range.
Newcastle did mange another two goals – one on 76 minutes through a free kick near half-way which managed to find its way past Holland in the home nets.
And then on 88 minutes the visitors scored again taking advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Ballynagross defence.
Despite a shaky start Ballynagross took control of this game and Newcastle found the front two of Taggart, player of the match, a handful all afternoon.
