O’Kane’s strike seals treble

SUPER sub Carl O’Kane fired home Ardmore’s match winner three minutes from time to break ten men Lincoln Courts’ hearts, in the Matt Morrison Junior Cup Final, at Wilton Park, on Friday night.

Damien McGee’s side probably just about shaded the prestigious tie, however credit to the Casuals, who had Mark Sproule sent-off in the first half for a poor challenge; they looked the more threatening side to score after the break.

Like many cup finals this encounter was a some what disappointing affair and never really sparked into life with neither keeper Lee Simpson or Richard Stewart called into action much.

Ardmore certainly settled the quicker and they were dominating things early on, striker Gareth Brown latched onto Anthony Hargan’s sixth minute throw-in, but after getting away from his marker his shot from acute angle was saved at the second attempt by Simpson.

Ten minutes later Sproule was given his marching orders when he lunged into Peter McLaughlin and although some people felt referee Sean Keenan, who incidentally had a poor game throughout, could have given him a yellow card, rightfully sent him off.

That man Brown, who was causing Courts all sorts of problems all night, went close again on 27 minutes but once again Simpson denied him.

Soon after Gary Dunn’s side had their first real chance when Ardmore failed to clear their lines, but centre-back Gordon Murray’s left footed effort from just inside the box was easily gathered by Richard Stewart.

Minutes later a Mark Hamilton corner found an unmarked Stephen Mooney, but his glancing header from 12 yards was saved by Stewart.

Right on the stroke of half-time Ardmore were inches away from taking the lead in bizarre circumstances.

Eamon Donnelly’s free-kick into the danger area was allowed to bounce inside the Courts six yard box, but an unmarked Micheal McCann watched the ball bounce off his head and loop over keeper Simpson, before clipping the top of the bar.

Neither side created much in the second half but it was the ten men who were more than holding their own, in fact from set-play’s Kolyn Patterson and Murray were both causing problems for the Ardmore defence.

Just after the hour mark Brown’s run and shot was saved by Simpson, while up the other end Craig Simpson saw his shot kept out by Stewart.

Then with three minutes remaining substitute O’Kane grabbed the all important winning goal.

O’Kane, who had only replaced Martin McLaughlin five minutes earlier, was first to react inside the Courts six yard box and he made no mistake firing home, after Brown’s left wing centre had picked out the striker.

Lincoln Courts: Lee Simpson, Mark Sproule, Craig Simpson, Dean Cooke, Gordan Murray, Jason Dougherty, Stephen Mooney, Billy Hutchman, Mark Hamilton, Gary Nutt, Kolyn Patterson. Subs: Craig Young for Dougherty (53); Richard Adams & Raymond Campbell (not used).

Ardmore: Richard Stewart, Micheal McCann, Philip Deehan, Eamon Donnelly, Anthony Hargan, Barry Gormley, Peter McLaughlin, Gary Collett, Gerard McDaid, Gareth Brown, Mark McLaughlin. Subs: Carl O’Kane for M McLaughlin (82); Jack Higgins for McDaid (88); Sean Collett & Kevin Deehan (not used).

Referee: Mr Sean Keenan.