Second cup exit in a week for Dollingstown

It was the second cup exit in a week for Gary Duke’s side having been knocked out of the Mid Ulster Cup 3-0 by Dungannon Swifts a few days earlier.

Overall the game on Saturday was not that entertaining with Dollingstown once again very slow out of the blocks and found themselves behind on 16 minutes when a cross from the very lively Shea McGerrigan was not properly dealt with and Andrew Hoey tapped in the back post.

Then Jason Rodgers was caught in possession on the edge of his own area and dispossessed by Jordan Bell whose excellent shot from distance was turned over by McPartland in the Dollingstown goals

It wasn’t until the half hour mark that the visitors woke up with Richard Thompson firing his effort against the bar with the home keeper well beaten.

Then on 33 minutes Dollingstown equalised from a very good free kick by Neil Lavery who performed very well in central midfield on his return to the team.

Lavery then nearly put Dollingstown in front from another free kick that clipped the angle of post and bar on 43 minutes . Armagh then lost the services of striker Shea Campbell who limped off with a hamstring injury and replaced by Paul Carville.

Dollingstown replaced full back Chris Coleman at half time with Jake Redpath to try and limit the effectiveness of McGerrigan but Armagh went in front again on 54 minutes when referee Paul Burns played a good advantage resulting in Hoey scoring a screamer into the top corner.

Once again Dollingstown responded when from a quick throw down the right Thompson broke through but Connelly in the home goals narrowed the angle and turned his shot away for a corner.

Hughes replaced Walker as Dollingstown went three across the midfield in an effort to get the equaliser.

With Dollingstown pushing hard now for an equaliser they were awarded a free kick in a central area. However the free kick was poorly delivered plus Neil King had decided late to move forward resulting in a quick break away for Armagh down the right and Donnelly tapped in to make it 3- 1 for the home team.

Credit however to Dollingstown who kept pushing and skipper Moffett headed home firmly from a corner on 89 minutes to set up a stirring finish but all to no avail.

This week Dollingstown host Glebe at Planters Park with a 2.00pm kick-off due to no flood lights.

Team: McPartland, Coleman, Moffett, King, Magee, Hand, Gibson, Rodgers, Lavery, Thompson, Walker. Subs were A King, Donaghy, Hughes, Redpath and Mc Connell.