Slane see off league leaders in the cup

MONEYSLANE’S first team hosted league leaders, Hanover, at the weekend at Cheney Park in the quarter–finals of the Alan Wilson Cup in front of another massive crowd.

Slane came away victorious, winning 3-1 and now host league favourites Banbridge Rangers in a mouth watering tie at Crystal Park on Saturday March 3.

The locals started brightly and had the opposition on the back foot from the first whistle. Slane looked really up for the match and started like a house on fire with Ervine and Feeney both testing the keeper.

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With 15 minutes gone Slane’s high tempo approach paid dividends when a through ball from Brown put Ervine in on goal and when keeper came out to clear the ball it landed on half way line to McCann who took it on chest. He volleyed it into the net, over the keeper’s head who was trying to get back into his net after his clearance. This goal has to go down as one of the goals of any season.

Slane really were dominating the play and were passing the ball about at ease against a Hanover team top of the league.

Feeney was continuing his rich vein of form and was involved in everything Slane were doing, creating numerous chances for Lockhart, Ervine and Davenport who all were denied by great saves by Crawford in Hanover net.

As the half progressed it was much the same and at halftime the score was 1-0 but the game really should have been out of sight with only the keeper frustrating the home side.

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After the break Slane continued the pattern of first half with real dominance with chances a plenty. Ten minutes in there was a piece of Feeney magic on the byline as he eased past two players, chipped over the keeper to back post and into net.

Slane were pushing for a third and really looking comfortable but the against run of play a rare attack from Hanover led to their striker hitting a great shot from edge of box past the keeper.

The goal never unsettled Slane who were putting in their performance of season. Five minutes later after a great passing movement Lockhart broke down the right and ghosted past two defenders, crossing for substitute McConnell to head home to put the tie beyond doubt and put Slane into semis.

Best on the day was Feeney who was head and shoulders above the rest showing why he was once labelled the golden child of Irish League football.

Team: N Fry, R Weir, J O’Neill, D Boyd, C Feeney, J Davenport, C Brown, L Feeney, T Lockhart, M Ervine, T McCann, J McConnell, N Bingham, M Anderson, Wilson.