Ballynahinch United hoping for cup upset

15 February 2012 - by CHARLIE McSTAY

FOUR local teams face massive do-or-die cup games on Saturday.

In the intermediate Cup fourth round Ballynahinch United entertain Newry City and Kilmore Rec travel to Dergview.

In the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Junior Shield Ballynahinch Olympic are at home to Basement Old Boys while Valley Rangers travel to Crumlin Star seconds.

Ballynahinch United are the giant-killers of this year’s Intermediate Cup, having beaten Irish Championship side Loughgall in the last round.

United manager Colin Murray knows from his playing days at Dundela and Killyleagh exactly what it takes to cause an upset and will be hoping for another shock.

Murray will rely on the brilliance of goalkeeper Bryan McMullan and the dependability of a solid back four of Gary Walsh, Ross Hayes, Scotty Brashaw and Adam Herron to keep Marty Haveron and the other Newry danger men quiet.

Alan Patterson will provide the bite and guile in the middle of the park. It will then rest on the shoulders of cousins Stuart and Ian McMullan to provide the firepower and send United to another giant-killing act.

Kilmore, who dumped Ards out of the competition earlier in the season, also face an uphill task at Dergview, an IFA Championship side from Castlederg in Tyrone, especially as it looks as if they won’t be at full strength for this clash.

Almost certainly out are former Glentoran and Glenavon midfielder Conor Walsh and striker Peter Casey, both with injuries.

However, joint manager Paul Mullan remains confident about the job in hand.

“We are playing well at the minute,” he said. “It will still be a case of who to leave out rather than who to start. We are spoiled for choice.”

Ballynahinch Olympic, last year’s beaten semi-finalists, are hopeful of going one better than last season and are strongly fancied to progress to the last four at the expense of Basement Old Boys, who beat Ballyvange FC in an earlier round.

Olympic have added the experienced Liam Sloan and Niall Murray, both picked up from Premier Section side Kilmore Rec, where they won Steel & Sons Cup medals, and Nyall Walsh and Nathan Jones, both formerly of Lisburn Distillery.

Meanwhile, there are fears that the Bobby Dalzell Cup final between Castlewellan and Killough in Banbridge on Friday, February 24, may have to be postponed.

That’s because Castlewellan are due to play either Carniny Rangers or Greenwell Star in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Junior Shield the following day.

However, the Newcastle League have asked the County Antrim FA to move the tie to Saturday, March 3.

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