Dunmurry 'Rec' UUJ's cup hopes

UUJ 1

(after extra time)

UUJ tumble out of the Clarence Cup, losing after extra time to Premier Divison side Dunmurry Rec at Ashley Park.

It was Dunmurry who had first strike, opening the scoring on the half-hour, when their player wasn’t closed down inside the box.

Yet the visitors might have cancelled this one out right away, had anyone managed to get on the end of Sean Walsh’s teasing cross.

UUJ posed more of a threat after the break, where Conal McNally just failed to get his head to Padraig Scollay’s tempting left wing cross.

Scollay did provide the ammunition as UUJ eventually restored parity; Walsh controlling the ball nicely before giving the keeper no chance.

Walsh then returned the complement, but Scollay didn’t make a clean connection, although his scuffed effort still almost beat the keeper.

At the other end, a Dunmurry front man twice failed to hit the target when well placed inside the six yard box, while keeper Alan Breen did well to keep out an effort from just inside the box.

And so into extra time, where the prospect of a penalty shoot out was looming large, until Dunmurry scrambled in what turned out to be the winner.

Even then, UUJ could have bounced right back, had Colm Maxwell’s diving header, from a right wing cross from Scollay, flashed either side of the Rec custodian.

Next Saturday, it’s back to Factory Grounds for the league visit of Kilmore Rec.

UUJ: Breen – McKeown, Mooney, Maxwell, Darby – Walsh, Lyons, J Magennis, Scollay – McNally (McCullough), McAlea (Dunlop). Sub (unused) S Kelly