Ardglass hang at the end

Ardglass hang at the end

15 November 2023

ARDGLASS held on for all three points in a close encounter against Ballynagross.

Ardglass were in control for most of the first half, holding a two goal lead at half time.

Ardglass’s first chance came in the seventh minute when Jamie McDarby made a run down the left wing and found Michael Magee, who headed straight at Ballynagross keeper Cathail Arnold.

Ballynagross made a break in the tenth minute when John Shields found Aodhan Harney, Harney passed to Joseph Burns and his quick touch found Daniel Taggart, whose shot was brilliantly saved by James Crangle. Ballynagross had a real chance to go ahead in the 19th minute when Burns sent a low ball to Shields, whose shot was cleared off the line by Caolan O’Shea. 

The opening goal came in the 23rd minute when McDarby shot past Arnold, who could do little about it.

Jordan Finnegan nearly made it 20 on the half hour mark, but his effort was well saved.

Seven minutes before the break, Magee’s header from an Ardglass corner was cleared off the line by Tom Savage.

The home side did get their second goal five minutes later when Malachy Crangle sent a screamer into the back of the net. 

Both teams made a number of substitutions at half time, Ardglass making two changes, McKinney on for McDarby, Dorrian for Magee, and Ballynagross bringing Dowie on for McNeill.

The first 20 minutes saw few chances, but Ballynagross were showing more appetite for attack, although the Ardglass defence was holding solid.

The game looked to be wrapped up when Marron took McKinney down and Aidan Watson made it 3-0 from the penalty spot.

However, Aodhan Harney pulled a goal back from a corner. Into the last ten minutes, Ballynagross won another corner and Conor Campbell made contact to make it 3-2.

Ardglass changed formation to build up their defence and it made the difference. Into added time and with every Ballynagross player up for a corner, home keeper Crangle caught well and cleared the ball. 

Ardglass: J Crangle, M Clarke, M Halpin, C O’Shea, M Crangle, J McDarby, A Watson, J Finnegan, M Magee, J Beattie, R Deegan. Subs: S Dorrian, C Mahon, R McKinney.

Ballynagross: C Arnold, T Savage, C Laverty, C Davis, C Campbell, C Marron, J Shields, A McNeill, J Burns, D Taggart, A Harney. Subs: D Dowie, L Graham, R Tumelty.