Defiant United

Defiant United

16 January 2013

BRAVE Ballynahinch were beaten, but unbowed after falling to a heavy defeat at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

While the final score line was disappointing, it was no reflection of United’s heroics, especially in the first half when they held Coleraine scoreless.

From the outset Oran Kearney’s experienced team were on the attack spraying the ball across the pitch with precision. The most prominent player for them was Jamie Tomelty, a new signing from Portadown.

For all their possession, Coleraine never really caused United any serious problems with their defence of Boal, Bowman, Hayes, Brashaw and Herron working their socks off, supported by midfielders Carlisle, Hunter, Stuart McMullan and Cheevers.

Brian McMullan’s handling was superb and he made a number of excellent saves in the first half, particularly one from Curtis Allen which took a wicked deflection of Hayes and as it dipped under the bar he palmed it over the crossbar.

United were not without their attacking opportunities with a Hunter free kick being against the Coleraine defensive wall and a Stuart McMullan (inset) shot flashing across the face of goal. 

Lone forward Ian McMullan worked tirelessly up front and received a fair degree of physical attention from the experienced Coleraine central defensive pairing of Beverland and Ogilvy.

The half-time whistle arrived and as both teams headed for the changing room, United did so to a resounding chorus of cheers from their supporters while the Coleraine faithful were somewhat muted in their support, fearing a potential upset might be on the cards.

The opening exchanges of the second half were much the same as the first, but in the 51st minute everything changed when a delightful through ball was dummied by Allen.

The ball was picked up by Harkin and he placed it back into Allen’s path who slotted it into the net, out of the reach of McMullan’s outstretched hand.

In the 56th minute United found themselves 2-0 down and worse still a man down after Davy Boal was red carded for an off the ball tussle in the penalty area with McIlmoyle, the Coleraine player escaping any punishment.

Ruairi Harkin scored from the resulting penalty. Manager Colin Murray introduced substitute Jay Smyth for the injured Ian McMullan, but with a man down it was to be one-way-traffic.

During the remainder of the game Scott McKibbin replaced J. J. Carlisle and McCauley Foster came on for Adam Herron.

Heroic defensive displays by Hayes and Brashaw at the centre of a besieged United defence could not save the day even though Brian McMullan produced at least five world class saves.

In the 65th minute United had legitimate claims for a penalty when a shot appeared to come of a Coleraine defender’s hand, but the referee waived away the claims.

Coleraine, with the wind in their sails, pressed home their superiority in every respect and they scored another five goals through Paul Owens, Stephen Lowry (2), the first of which was an absolute pile driver, another Ruairi Harkin penalty and Coleraine’s very own Stewart McMullan with his first ever Irish Cup goal. 

While United were probably glad to hear the final whistle they nevertheless had given a good account of themselves and their efforts were recognised by their fans with a standing ovation from both home and visiting fans.

The Irish Cup adventure may be over for another year, but the important games are certainly not as they face local 

rivals Temple Rangers at the Millbridge in the first round of the Clarence Cup on Saturday at 1.30pm.

Coleraine 7

Ballynahinch United 0

IRISH CUP 5TH ROUND