Rossglass through to semi-final

Rossglass through to semi-final

3 December 2014

GIANT-KILLING Rossglass set up a Bobby Dalzell Cup semi-final showdown with Mourne Rovers after getting the better of a game Kirkistown side at Dunleath Park on Saturday.

It took a stupendous save from Ross Preece in the penalty shoot-out to finally break Kirkistown’s resistance after they had more than given Rossglass a run for their money.

Kirkistown started brightly enough and the experienced Preece did well to tip a looping header from Conor Byers over the crossbar in the second minute.

The visitors didn’t have long to wait for the opener and five minutes later they made a deserved breakthrough.

A long throw from Dom Kearney was met by Mick Braniff, but he was denied by Preece at the near post. However, the big ‘keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Byers and he gleefully tucked it into an empty net.

Rossglass responded positively and with 13 minutes gone Cormac McLaughlin fired a free kick into the mix, but Joe D Baggley was unable to get a good contact on the ball.

Seven minutes later Stevie Deegan got on the end of a long throw from Baggley. His effort struck a Kirkistown defender on the arm, but it was too high up for the referee to award a penalty.

Rossglass were now firmly on the front foot and trying to play possession football, but they were continually thwarted by a diligent Caolan Taggart and Jordan Doran in midfield.

With 22 minutes gone Baggley flashed an effort from just outside the box wide, but four minutes later the former Ballyvange, Downpatrick and Drumaness Mills player came good.

His belligerence enabled him to regain the ball after Taggart had dispossessed him in the middle of the park and immediately played a delightful ball into the path of Gavin Smyth.

Smyth, who has enjoyed spells at Kilmore Rec, Killyleagh YC, Downpatrick and Tollymore United, then threaded the ball through the eye of a needle into Deegan and the midfield playmaker did the rest with an accomplished finish that gave Owen O’Hanlon in nets no chance.

Ten minutes later Smyth and the talented McLaughlin linked up well before the former shot wide.

The second half followed a similar pattern with both sides going for broke in a robust cup tie. With 53 minutes gone Preece, another Rossglass player who has played at a higher level with Portadown, Glenavon, Dunmurry Rec, Dromara Village, Ballynahinch United and Kilmore Rec, saved well from a marauding Braniff as Kirkistown threatened to regain the lead.

Ryan Tumelty was well placed to hack the ball to safety after Preece had once again denied Braniff and with 60 minutes gone Corey Smyth had a shot saved before Byers blasted the loose ball over the top.

The longer the game went on the more obvious it became that this clash was going all the way and although Deegan and Baggley went close for Rossglass and Braniff for Kirkistown, it wasn’t long before we were into extra time.

Little of note happened in either period, other than Rossglass’ Sean Trainor getting his side out of jail with a timely tackle to deny Braniff a certain goal.

In the penalty shoot-out Gareth Rooney, B. J. Montgomery, Stevie Deegan and Ryan Brannigan all scored for Rossglass with Mick Braniff, Caolan Taggart and Reece Fitzsimons netting for Kirkistown and when Preece saved from Kearney it was all over for the visitors.

Final score: Rossglass 0 Kirkistown O AET (Rossglass win 5-4 on penalties.

Rossglass County: R. Preece, S. Trainor, B. Mageean, R. Tumelty, G, Grant, S. Deegan, C. McLaughlin, E. Vaughan, G. Rooney, G. Smyth, J. Baggley. Subs: B. Montgomery, R. Brannigan, C. Grieves.

Kirkistown: O. O’Hanlon, N. White, D. Kearney, K. Dorrian, C. Mageean, C. Taggart, C. Byers, J. Doran, C. Smyth, M. Braniff, R. Fitzsimons. Subs: C. Hynds, O. Savage, A. Trainor.