Ten-men Olympic roll with the punches to beat Rovers

Ten-men Olympic roll with the punches to beat Rovers

20 August 2025

THE 10 men of Ballynahinch Olympic held their own as they went the distance to beat Portaferry Rovers and seal their place in the third round of the Steel and Sons Cup.

There was nothing to split the two sides at the half-way stage, after Niall Flanagan’s strike cancelled out Morgan Smyth’s earlier free-kick.

Olympic’s chances seemed to have taken a hit when Flanagan saw red, but they bounced back and snatched an advantage through Liam Burns.

While it looked for all the world that Portaferry were staring a cup exit in the face, Smyth pounced late on to force a shootout.

With all to play for, it was the designated penalty takers of Ballynahinch that made hay, capitalising on three failed attempts from the visitors.

The home side found themselves on the back foot from the off, as Rovers tested goalkeeper Ryan Walsh after just two minutes.

Sean Mageean slipped Smyth into a one-on-one situation with a fantastic, threaded pass, but he was unable to find the finish from a tight angle.

Ballynahinch came back firing and despite Cain Mornin managing to hold the ball up and deliver a cross under pressure, Seany Duggan lifted over at the near post.

Portaferry, intent on grabbing an early advantage, were left with mouths agape when Walsh produced a heroic trio of saves to deny Smyth and a pair of efforts from Ethan McCarthy.

The home shot-stopper had no time to admire his work, being forced to dispel another attempt from Smyth after Mornin stood on the ball and gifted possession to the visitors.

Still, Rovers’ wish for the opener was soon granted. Philip Gladysz fouled Mageean on the edge of the box in the 24th minute and Smyth stepped up to convert the resultant free-kick.

Olympic had been second best to that point, but that did not stop them from regrouping and restoring parity just five minutes later.

Caolan Burns picked out Flanagan with a searching cross and although the ball initially got stuck under his feet, the midfielder set himself and found the bottom corner.

Barry McGoran’s team had snatched the momentum, however, they failed to test ‘keeper Brendan McNamara for the remainder of the half, entering the break level at 1-1.

Luckily for them, that momentum carried into the second half and before long, they went in search of a lead.

A clearance travelled the length of the pitch, catching the Portaferry defence off-guard, before striker Ryan Walsh snatched possession and played a ball through to Naseem Ouldhamlat, who snatched at his shot.

Minutes later, a pair of successive chances fell the way of Duggan, who whipped a free-kick agonisingly wide and forced McNamara to fingertip away with a dinked effort.

The industrious Duggan was intent on being the man to break the deadlock, and he saw another shot cleared off the line by Gerard Curran, having rode a challenge from the onrushing McNamara.

Ballynahinch, who really should have been home and dry, were dealt a blow when Flanagan was hauled down by Cal Smyth, reacted by lashing out and received his marching orders.

Nonetheless, after they survived another dead ball attempt from Smyth, it was the depleted Olympic side that moved ahead in the 80th minute.

Duggan’s corner was headed back across goal by captain Jason Noade and substitute Liam Burns arrived to power a header in off the crossbar.

However, just two minutes from time, Roy Wilson drilled a ball across the box, where Smyth was waiting to tap home a dramatic leveller for Portaferry.

Confusion ensued at the sounding of the final whistle, with referee Peter Murray having to leave the field to check if the game was to go to extra-time or straight to penalties.

Penalties it was, and there was no hint of a winner early doors, as Noade and McNamara each converted.

The same could not be said for the next two however, with Olympic’s Mornin finding the palms of Walsh and Smyth dragging wide.

Shea Quinn sent McNamara the wrong way, slotting into the bottom corner, before Mageean and Lee Ward came up short.

With the pressure building on Portaferry, Pearse Moreland was unable to steady the ship, leaving fate in the hands of Ballynahinch striker Ryan Walsh, who dully converted to send his team through.

The two sides will have their attentions fixed on cup action again this Saturday, with Olympic hosting Shamrock and Rovers welcoming Greenisland in the opening round of the Border Cup.

Ballynahinch: R Walsh, P Gladysz, C Mornin, N Flanagan, J Noade (captain), S Duggan, L Ward, R Walsh, N Ouldhamlat, C Burns, S King.

Subs: A Young, L Burns, S Quinn.

Portaferry: B McNamara, C Smyth, M Mageean, B Fitzsimmons (captain), G Curran, O Dorrian, P Moreland, E McCarthy, M Smyth, S Mageean, E Doran.

Subs: C Smyth, C Dorrian, R Wilson.