Late leveller denies ’Stute home victory

Parkhouse (44)

Donegal Celtic...(0) 1

Bradley (84)

IT was a case of what might have been for Institute, as they had Donegal Celtic on the back foot for long periods, of Saturday’s JJB Sports Irish Cup tie.

After Stephen Parkhouse had given the Drumahoe club a half-time lead, they really needed to score that all important second goal, which probably would have booked their place in the sixth round.

’Stute who gave recent signing Darren McCauley a place in the starting line-up also had Joe McCready back in their side, after he too re-signed for the club last week and their neat football nearly helped them cause a shock.

The Belfast men started the game brightly and they went close early on but Ryan Henderson failed to trouble ’Stute keeper Corey Wilson as he directed his close range header wide.

Soon after Henderson was in the thick of the action again this time his volley, which had Wilson beaten, clipped the outside of the post.

The home side’s first chance came mid-way through the first half when Dean Carlyle’s free-kick picked out Paddy McLaughlin, but the skipper headed wide when well placed.

Henderson should have given his side the lead when he burst into the ’Stute box before rounding Wilson, however the young keeper somehow recovered and kept the ball out.

Right on the stroke of half-time McCready fed Sean Roddy, who’s constant running all day caused problems for Celtic, the right-back’s centre found Parkhouse and he calmly guided his header past keeper Robert Robinson.

Early in the second half Carlyle was inches away from doubling ’Stute’s lead when a poor clearance fell to the winger but his super volley just whistled over the bar.

The home side had an even better chance on the hour mark when another teasing cross by Roddy, this time found McCauley, but the Waterside man was unable to mark his debut with a goal as he headed over.

The Belfast men started to up the tempo in the closing stages and that man Henderson had another chance inside the box, but once again Wilson came to ’Stute’s rescue as he kept out the shot.

Defender Paul Bradley then broke clear down the right and his cross picked out Darren Murray, but Wilson got a crucial touch to the ball just when it looked like the midfielder was sure to level things.

With six minutes remaining the Premiership men did equalise in some what fortunate circumstances when Liam Bradley’s free-kick wasn’t touched and went all the way through a group of players and landed in the net.

Right at the death the visitors nearly won the tie when Ciaran Murray’s cross cum shot fortunately for the home side eluded everyone and fizzed right across the six yard box.

Institute: Wilson, Roddy, McLaughlin, Browne, Jarvis; Carlyle, Crown, McCauley, McKeever; McCready, Parkhouse. Subs: Kelly for McCready (70); McBride for Carlyle (70).

Donegal Celtic: Robert Robinson, Kevin Keegan, Jonathan Harkness, Paul Bradley, Stephen McArum, Ryan Henderson, Liam Bradley, Eamon McAllister, Paul McVeigh, Mark Burns, Ciaran O’Connor. Subs: Darren Murray for McArum (55); Ciaran Murray for McAllister (75).

Referee: Arnold Hunter (Maguiresbridge).