McDonald on target as Barn men share spoils

“It was a really good game, with some good football from both sides,” Barn’s assistant-manager Robert McKee told the Times. “Either team could have won it. I thought we had the more clear-cut chances – and should have had a penalty when Mark Tweedie was brought down. We played some brilliant stuff, especially in the opening half-hour and our goal was probably the best scored at the Barn in a long, long time, with around a dozen passes and five or six players involved before Matt McDonald tucked away Tweedie’s cross.”

Barn’s lead, however, was shortlived, with Crumlin bouncing back midway through the half; Gerard Keenan sending keeper Stephen Brennan the wrong way from the spot.

n A new dawn for new-look Kilroot Rec was a distinct possibility after two goals in the opening 10 minutes from John Mathers – but, instead, it was Donard Hospital who went home with all three points after a 5-2 victory at Castleview Road.

Kilroot supremo Mervyn Smith said: “We did give them a fright early on but maybe this match came too early for our newly-gathered squad against one of the strongest teams in 1C.

“On 20 minutes, Donard brought on Dean Moore, ex-Distillery, who is making his way back from injury. He ended up running the show. Best for Kilroot was Darren McKinty. But it was our first competitive match since before Christmas, and we will improve with more games under our belts!”