Ardglass show Ballynagross no mercy with demolition job

12 March 2025

ARDGLASS displayed a ruthless streak against Ballynagross, achieving the perfect start to their Kitroom Cup campaign at Mountain Quarter on Saturday.

The visitors’ attacking options gave them the edge over the hosts, with three of the goals coming from set pieces.

It was Ballynagross who found the first opportunity of the match, when Darragh Higgins laid the ball off to Daniel Taggart, whose long-range strike went inches over the crossbar.

The first goal of the match came when Ballynagross failed to clear the danger and Dara O’Shea powered through to give Ardglass an early lead.

They only had to wait four minutes to double their scoring, with Malachy Crangle meeting It Karl O’Neill driven corner and flicking the ball into the net.

Ardglass increased the pressure with 27 minutes on the clock and although Jamie McDarby’s free kick found Caolain O’Shea, the midfielder’s header was on the wrong side of the post.

Ballynagross needed to gain some sort of foothold in the match and came agonisingly close to reducing the deficit.

Taggart latched onto a quick ball and while his shot had the power, it could only find the upright.

Ardglass were determined to put the game to bed before half-time, and they did just that.

Michael Magee’s corned looked to be curling straight into the net and, taking no chances, Crangle applied the final touch to ensure the ball crossed the line.

There was virtually no time to wait for the dominant away side’s fourth goal either, with Michael Clarke smashing the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

It was nearly 5-0 before the break and Clarke would have secured his brace, was it not for Corey Davis recovering to clear off the line.

There was no change in pace when the second half commenced, and Ardglass showed no signs of slowing down.

Magee should have scored when a McDarby corner presented him with a free header, but his effort wad straight at ‘keeper Jay Curran.

Ballynagross started to play better football in the second period, carving out some chances of their own.

Oran Hynds delivered a searching ball up right wing and picked out Higgins, who, despite using his skill to beat his man, spooned his shot wide of the post.

The home side were not disheartened by the scoreline, continuing to push forward in search of a reply.

Aidan McNeill’s corner allowed Jamie Boyd direct an effort on goal, but Jordan Deegans somehow scrambled to block on the line.

Ard-glass seemed to take the Ballynagross chances personally, firing right back and increasing the gap to five.

McDarby delivered a long pass into the feet of Magee and the striker kept his composure to round the ‘keeper and slot into an open net.

A John Beattie hand-ball gifted Ballynagross a penalty in the 70th minute and while it would be no more than a consolation, a goal would have done no harm to their confidence.

Taggart stepped up to take and although he was denied by an expert save from Crangle, he made no mistake on the rebound.

However, the referee explained that he had not blown the whistle and called for a retake.

Crangle produced yet another outstanding save, holding onto the ball this time and protecting his clean sheet.

Local soccer legend Aaron Beattie came off the bench for the remaining ten minutes, and it was his pass that set O’Neill up for Ardglass’ sixth and final goal.

Ballynagross: J Curran, C Byrne, O Hynds, C Davis, K Kearney, C McGrady, J Boyd, C Morrison, L Carew, D Taggart, D Higgins. Subs: A McNeill, C Digney.

Ardglass: J Crangle, C Mahon, M Crangle, J Deegans, D O’Shea, J Beattie, J McDarby, C O’Shea, M Magee, K O’Neill, M Clarke. Subs: S Dorrian, P O’Shea, A Beattie.

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