Rovers’ redemption increases momentum

MAKE no mistake about it, Mourne Rovers are intent on bringing the ClubSport NI Harry Clarke Cup back to its spiritual home in the Kingdom.

The beaten Bobby Dalzell Cup finalists brushed aside Tollymore at Bear Park on Saturday with ruthless contempt and they have no intention of losing two cup finals in the same season.

Rovers suffocated Tollymore from the off and as the game went on Ryan O’Hare and Neil and Mark Trimble dominated proceedings from the middle of the park.

The game’s first real chance fell to Connaire Harrison in the sixth minute when he ghosted on to a free kick from Ryan O’Hare, but he was unable to get a good connection and Gareth Small made a comfortable save.

Five minutes later Michael Ireland fired wide after a patient, passing movement created the opening as Rovers continued to be pleasing on the eye.

With 17 minutes gone a beleaguered Tollymore lost the services of Ryan Valentine after a clash of heads and brought on Peter Curran.

This loss upset Tollymore’s shape and with 26 minutes gone they paid the penalty. The pacy Ireland raced through a static Tollymore back four in a bid to get on the end of a through ball from Neil Ireland, but he was taken out by Small inside the box.

Referee Adrian Reynolds immediately pointed to the spot and Harrison beat Small, who was booked for his part in the incident, all ends up. Six minutes later Neil Trimble again fed the ball in the direction of Ireland, but this time his shot was well saved by Small as Rovers started to turn the screw.

Tollymore flattered to deceive at times, but with 38 minutes gone they gave Rovers a major fright when Matt Smyth unleashed a thunderbolt of a free kick that crashed off the crossbar.

An uncharacteristic error from Rovers’ Ruari Doran in the 40th enabled Smyth to race into the box unchallenged, but Ronan McDowell was off his line like a bullet to avert the danger.

A Smyth cross from the right then hit Raymond Clarke on the hand inside the box, but the referee ignored Tollymore’s appeals for a penalty as he saw it as ball to hand and not the other way round.

Rovers hadn’t finished yet and had the last say of the first half when Ireland embarked on another pacy run that ended with him hitting the crossbar with a fierce strike.

The second half also started with a flurry of activity, but the game was over as a contest after only four minutes with Rovers now 3-0 in front.

Their second goal came in the 48th minute when Harrison’s audacious back flick to an Ireland free ended up in the back of the net. Less than a minute later Ryan O’Hare, the man of the match, made it 3-0 when he finished with aplomb after getting on the end of a measured pass from Jamie Carroll.

Harrison was denied his hat-trick in the 57th minute when Paul McGrady was on hand to hack the ball to safety and five minutes later the Rovers danger man supplied a perfect cross for Ireland, but Smart saved well.

The Tollymore ‘keeper was in action in the 69th minute when he saved well from Ryan Doran before Ryan O’Hare crashed another effort against the crossbar. With 75 minutes gone Ireland headed wide from a good position as Rovers piled on the pressure, but there were no more goals as Tollymore played out the game with pride at stake.

Mourne Rovers: R. McDowell, N. McArdle, R. Clarke, Ruari Doran, C. O’Hare, R. O’Hare, M. Trimble, N. Trimble, M. Ireland, C. Harrison, J. Carroll. P. McManus, Ryan Doran, R. Sloan, C. McDowell, N. Houston.

Tollymore United: G. Small, P. Cunningham, R. Valentine, P. Bardon, P. McGrady, S. P. Holland, J. Jennings, J. Hall, B. Jones, P. Dodds, M. Smyth. Subs: P. Curran, D. McAleese, J. Valentine.

Mourne Rovers 3

Tollymore United 0

HARRY CLARKE CUP SEMI-FINAL

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