Irwin at the double, Krag crash out

Your weekly round-up of East Antrim teams involved in Ballymena and Provincial League action.
Clough Rangers Athletic keeper Gary McDonald snuffs out the danger against Ballyclare North End's Gary Black. INNT 15-030-GRClough Rangers Athletic keeper Gary McDonald snuffs out the danger against Ballyclare North End's Gary Black. INNT 15-030-GR
Clough Rangers Athletic keeper Gary McDonald snuffs out the danger against Ballyclare North End's Gary Black. INNT 15-030-GR

Intermediate Division: A second-half double from Adam Irwin secured all three points for Rathcoole as they defeated Brantwood 2-0 on Saturday.

The win sends the Diamond lads up to second spot in the league table on 28 points but third-placed Newtowne are a point behind and have five games in hand.

Junior Division One: Carnmoney got the better of Cookstown RBL on a 5-2 scoreline at the weekend. A Jonny Reilly double set them on their way before an own goal saw the visitors claw one back.

Craig Montgomery restored the home side’s lead on 35 minutes, but back came Cookstown through James O’Neill.

Carnmoney were quick off the mark in the second half with Matt Wray netting in the 52nd minute and Craig Montgomery completing the scoring on 57 minutes.

Junior Division Two: A solitary Michael Samec strike late in the first half gave Clough Rangers Athletic a slender 1-0 win over Ballyclare North End.

The North Enders pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half but Clough were not to be denied and they defended strongly to collect all three points.

Junior Division Three: Ballysillan Swifts Reserves had too much for 3rd Ballyclare Old Boys as they ran out 4-1 winners.

The victory keeps their title hopes alive with Mountainview and Rathcoole FC Reserves still very much in the mix.

Canada Trophy: Krag Albion’s hopes of reaching a second cup final were dashed as Sport and Leisure Swifts Reserves eased to a 4-0 win in the Canada Trophy semi-final at the weekend.

Brendan Agnew got the ball rolling inside three minutes and this goal separated the teams until Sean McKenna scored in the 48th minute to put the Sports two in front.

Krag battled hard to get back into the game but it was the Sports who were more decisive scoring twice more through Agnew and James Larkin on 71 and 86 minutes. In round three, Rathcoole Reserves needed extra-time to edge past Remo on a 3-2 scoreline.

Remo went in front through James Brown on 10 minutes and they held that lead they held until Robert Toan equalised for Rathcoole in the 40th minute.

Darren Rowley scored on the 68th minute to give Rathcoole the lead but with time running down James Fox converted a penalty for Remo to take the game to extra-time.

Very little separated the teams in extra-time and it was an own goal conceded by Remo on the 97th minute that took Rathcoole into the semi-final against Newington YC II.

Fixtures

Thursday, April 16

Intermediate League: Ballysillan Swifts v Chimney Corner

Junior Division Three: Rathcoole FC Res v Mallusk Athletic Res

Friday, April 17

McReynolds Cup final: Ballynure Old Boys v Newtowne

Saturday, April 18

Intermediate League: Dunloy v Desertmartin

Junior One: Ballyclare Com Res v Antrim Rovers; Carnmoney FC v FC Whiteabbey; Desertmartin Swifts v Magherafelt Sky Blue Res

Junior Two: Sport & Leisure Swifts Res v Remo FC; Newington YC II v Clough Rangers Athletic; Wakehurst Strollers v Ballyclare North End; Moyola Park Olympic v Ballynure Old Boys ‘B’

Junior Three: Rathcoole FC Res v 3rd Ballyclare Old Boys; Carnlough Swifts v Remo FC Res.