Olympic dream ends in moment of controversy

26 April 2017

1ST Bangor’s Black Knights doused Olympic’s flame in an intriguing cup semi-final clash at Seaview last Wednesday night, but there was more than an element of controversy attached to the winning goal.

Extra time loomed with the sides locked at 1-1. Lady luck then intervened in the 80th minute when a curling shot from Diarmaid McPhillips crashed against the crossbar.

As Olympic ‘keeper Ryan Walsh tried to grab the ball, he was collided into by Bangor’s Ryan Oliver and the pair ended up in the back of the net.

Bangor substitute James Stewart took advantage of the chaos and headed the ball home.

This was rough justice on Olympic who had given a good account of themselves all over the park, except in the box where they lacked a bit of ingenuity.

After a cagey opening, the game sparked into life when 1st Bangor went ahead in the 11th minute.

1st Bangor broke with speed down the left flank after Olympic had given the ball away. McPhillips worked his way into a shooting position and his effort was parried by Walsh into the path of Oliver who buried it in the back of the net.

Eight minutes later Niall Murray pinned his ears back for the first time and went at the Bangor back four, but his mazy run came to nothing.

With 23 minutes gone a Kyle McQuillan cross was met by the impressive Eddie Begley, but he headed straight at a relieved Walsh.

Olympic had a good shout for a penalty turned down a few minutes later when Adam McLean was taken out by George Gray, but referee Mark Domican was unimpressed and waved play on.

Liam Sloan’s side continued to rule the roost without really ever threatening, but with 36 minutes gone they should have equalised.

A long ball from Aaron McClean found its way to an unmarked Stevie Noade just inside the box, but his angled drive flew inches wide with Lewis Crothers beaten.

1st Bangor improved considerably after the break and McPhillips flashed one wide before Ryan Walsh saved well from Oliver.

Olympic hustled their way back into contention and with 51 minutes gone Nyal Walsh shot straight at Crothers after Murray had carved out an opening.

It was all Olympic now and four minutes later Crothers needlessly took out Murray as he tried to get on the end of a piercing pass from Stevie Noade. Jason Noade dispatched the resultant penalty with aplomb as he made it 1-1 and all to play for.

Alas, Olympic just couldn’t push on from here. Stevie Noade was millimetres away from getting to a Murray through ball and Nyal Walsh had a shot saved by Crothers, but it was 1st Bangor who broke the deadlock.

A deep cross from Gray was flicked on to McPhillips, who was lurking unmarked in the box. He had time to take the ball under control — Olympic maintain with his hand — and curl the ball goalward where it hit the crossbar.

All hell broke loose in the six-yard box as Ryan Walsh went to retrieve the rebound, but he was unceremoniously bundled into the net by Oliver leaving Stewart all the time in the world to head the ball home.

Olympic huffed and puffed after this, but they were unable to create anything of note as a resilient Bangor side made it through to

their first Clarence Cup final where they will face Immaculata who beat Rathfern Rangers on Friday night.

Ballynahinch Olympic: R Walsh, J Noade, A McClean, L Sloan, C Reid, R Noade, K Lewis, S Noade, N Murray, A McLean, N Walsh. Subs: C McNamara, R Molloy, C Killen.

1st Bangor OB: L Crothers, G Gray, K McQuillan, C Wolsey, E Begley, N Spiers, A Rees, G Sloan, R Harvey, D McPhillips, R Oliver. Subs: J Stewart, R O’Neill, D Moore.

Ballynahinch Olympic 1

1st Bangor OB 2

CLARENCE CUP SEMI-FINAL

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