Ding-dong battle as Olympic go out of trophy

Cookstown Olympic's Tiernan Brennan breaks free from a Ballyclare OB's player during Saturday's Canada cup quarter final clash at Beechway.INMM0716-335

Olympic found themselves one down after five minutes and did not have a goal chance until 20 minutes when Danny McNulty laid the ball off to Mickey Meenan who saw the keeper save his shot.

The equalizer came for Olympic after 25 minutes when John Gilmore put Danny McNulty through and he rounded the keeper to slot home.

3rd Ballyclare then had a couple of half chances while Olympic had John Gilmore shoot just wide after 38 minutes. With two minutes left to half time Olympic went 2-1 up when Michael Meenan broke and then got Danny McNulty to the line and his cut back saw John Gilmore finish from eight yards out.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half 3rd Ballyclare were level with Olympic having a chance four minutes later as Liam Mullan laid it off for Michael Meenan to shoot wide.

Olympic went 3-2 up on 54 minutes as John Gilmore got Crippy Eastwood running and he skipped past two defenders and then buried the ball. The lead only lasted three minutes before 3rd Ballyclare levelled.

On 63 minutes Ballyclare got their fourth which prompted Olympic to push forward.

Matty Hughes was tripped in the penalty box with everyone convinced except the official, while three minutes later Liam Mullan scrambled the ball into the net only for it to be given offside.

Olympic, after 78 minutes, then had Mickey Meenan put a great cross onto the head of Matty Hughes but it somehow went over the bar while on 82 minutes Tiarnan Brennan put Hughes through but his volley was saved on the line.

This Saturday Olympic will play against Cookstown RBL at Beechway at 2pm. Training will continue at 8pm on Thursdays at MUSA.

The Lucky 4 Lottery numbers for Saturday 13th February were 5, 15, 18 and 24. There were no winners who matched four numbers for the £550 jackpot. There were no winners of the £30 prize for 3 numbers. The jackpot will now be to £550 for next week’s draw and tickets are available from any committee or team member.

The club are running a Last Man Standing competition which started on Saturday 6th February.