Late, late show costs Whites in Boxing Day basement battle

The Whites appeared to have won a helter-skelter tie with a last minute Jordan Hughes penalty kick.

But with the clock ticking down, substitute Ciaran Gargan somehow grabbed a 93rd minute leveller to rescue Donegal Celtic.

Distillery now remain rooted to bottom of the table, two points behind the West Belfast side. Substitute Ryans Deans gave Celtic the lead early in the second half, but the Whites responded through Scott Davidson and captain Ryan McCann. Paul McVeigh smuggled an equaliser before the late drama.

Celtic manager Pat McAllister praised his team’s ‘never-say-die’ attitude.Substitute Deans fired Celtic in front on 54 minutes, but Whites keeper Billy Brennan will certainly not be happy with his part in the goal.

Davidson levelled on 61 minutes after being played in by Jordan Forsythe. Then, Whites skipper hit the goal of the game – a rasping 30 yard free kick that arrowed into the top corner. McVeigh, however, scrambled in an equaliser nine minutes later following a hectic goalmouth scramble.

Hughes’ 90th-minute penalty appeared to have sealed a Whites after Conor Downey had hauled down Hughes inside the box.

But as the Whites prepared to celebrate a priceless victory Gargan struck on 93 minutes.

Lisburn Distillery: Brennan, Smyth, Ferguson, McVeigh, Traynor, Forsythe (Davidson 57), McCullough, R.McCann (Simpson 86), J.Hughes, Halliday (Beggs 81), Liggett. Subs not used – Hunter, Hall.

Donegal Celtic: Connolly, Bradley, Downey, Keegan, Mcveigh, Gargan, Devine (Deans 46), E.Hughes, Burns, P.McCann (McAllister 67), Todd (McNamee 73). Subs not used – Dyer, McIlkenny.

Referee – Tim Marshall (Portadown)