Cookstown Olympic penalty heartbreak

Cookstown Olympic 2 (AET)

Ballyclare win 5-4 on penalties

Cookstown Olympic, sponsored this season by Moe’s Bar, Cookstown, travelled to play Ballyclare North End last Saturday in the first round of the Linda Welshman Trophy and after a two all draw they went out five four on penalties.

The narrow pitch in Ballyclare does not make for good football and is a definite home advantage for North End but Olympic kept things tight at the start and had their first chance after 15 minutes when Paul McVey shot wide.

Five minutes later and Rory McGranaghan played a through ball to Nigel Johnston and he shot over the bar. Olympic then missed a penalty after 24 minutes but did not let this hold them back as they took the lead on 32 minutes when McGranaghan and the two O’Neill’s moved the ball about for a Ryan Devlin run and shot past the keeper.

In the second half North End had a headed chance after 55 minutes before hitting Olympic with two goals on the 70th and 75th minutes to take the lead. It was now Olympics turn to push men forward and on 88 minutes they did grab the equaliser when a Ryan Devlin corner was headed into the net by Ryan O’Neill. In the first period of extra time Liam Hoy crossed for Jonny O’Neill in the six yard box but the defender flicked it over the bar while a long range shot from Ryan O’Neill was well saved in the second period. The dreaded penalties then ensued with it coming down to an Olympic shot that came off the underside of the bar and North End converting their five.

Cookstown Olympic: Jamie O’Neill, P McVey, M O’Hare, Jonny O’Neill, R McGranaghan, N Johnston, R O’Neill, L Mullan, R Devlin, M Meenan, and L Hoy. Subs D McCabe, R Averell and R Scullion.

Cookstown Olympic will at last have only their second home match of the season on Saturday 17th November when they will entertain Larne Olympic at Beechway with a 2.00pm kick off.

Training will now continue on the synthetic pitch at MUSA each Thursday from 7pm sharp..

The Lucky 4 Lottery numbers for Saturday 10th November were 2, 8, 14 and 24. There were no winners who matched four numbers for the £275 jackpot or 3 numbers. The jackpot will now be £275 for next week’s draw and tickets are available from any committee or team member.

Cookstown Olympic will be holding a quiz night in Moes Bar on Wednesday 28th November which will start at 8.30pm sharp. This will be a general knowledge quiz with an entry fee of £4 per person or a team of 6 for £20.

The results from the fourth week of the Last Man Standing event are now posted on the notice board section of the club website.