A spirited display from the Hoops

An under strength Lurgan Celtic team lost 5-1 Ards on Saturday.

The Hoops entertained the side newly promoted to the Premier League side and despite a spirited display Celtic, who had manager Ciaran O’Kane in goal, went down to the vastly more experienced visitors who included in their line up newly signed Celtic old boy Ryan Henderson who had signed from Linfield.

Indeed it was Henderson who headed Ards into the lead on 24 seconds after O’Kane failed to cut out a cross.

But the home side steadied themselves after this early setback and had more of the play for the rest of the half. They were unlucky when Raymond Fitzpatrick firstly hit a free kick narrowly wide and then crashed another one against the base of the post with the keeper beaten both times.

The Hoops got the equaliser they deserved right on half time after a defender was penalised for a hand ball and Fitzpatrick sent the goalie the wrong way with a well taken penalty.

There was some strong talking in the visitors dressing room at the interval and they came out in the second period and regained the lead with a hotly disputed penalty on 46 minutes. They then scored two more in the next seven minutes to extend the lead and try as hard as they did the Hoops couldn’t make any inroads against the Ards defence. The visitors finished the scoring with a well worked move.

This Saturday the Hoops play Crumlin United in Larne at 2pm and later that day stage a charity game between Lurgan Celtic Old Boys and a Taghnevan Harps Selection at Knockramer at 5pm for the Sean Creaney Memorial Cup with the proceeds going to Macmillan Nurses. There is entertainment in the clubrooms at 7pm and it is hoped this worthy cause will be well supported.