SML round-up: Antrim-based sides lead charge in Irish Junior Cup

A Jeff McNicholl hat-trick helped Moylena to a 7-0 win over Carrick-based side Red Star, while FC Antrim emerged from their long t rip to Benburb with a 3-0 win.

But it was the end of the road in the same competition for Raceview and Connor.

COCA-COLA JUNIOR CUP

FC Moylena 7, Red Star 0: Stefan Getty scored the opener with a great solo run before finishing into the corner from 20 yards.

The second arrived soon after with a rocket of a shot from the corner of the 18 yard box by Ben Calvert. Jeff McNicholl soon added a third before the break after a mix up in the Red Star defence allowed him to walk the ball into the net.

The second half started in the same way with Keith McCrea finishing from 8 yards after great build up play involving at least a dozen passes.

Jeff McNicholl soon added another after more great link up play and individual skill to slot past the keeper.

Substitute Ben Connolly added another, scoring into the far corner as he broke into the box from the right wing. Jeff McNicholl sealed a great personal performance with another solo run and finish to secure his hat trick.

Riverdale (Benburb) 0, FC Antrim 3: FC Antrim controlled this game with the real surprise it took 30 minutes to take the lead when Shane Donnelly found the net with a pile driver of a free kick.

Antrim did not double their score until 2 minutes from half time with a great team goal. Niall McCoy played a one two with Kevin Downey before Kevin Downey fed Niall McCoy on the wing and sent over a cross to the back post where Sean Redmond was on hand to fire home their second.

Antrim earned a second half penalty when Sean Redmond was pulled down in the penalty area but Niall McCoy sent the spot kick wide and the score remained 2-0.

Then with 20 minutes to go they got the all important third goal and this came when Sean Redmond was again brought down in the penalty area. This time man of the match Joe McKernan stepped up and slammed the ball into the back of the net.

The Raceview v Londonderry BBOB 1st Round tie was the tie of the round unfortunately for Raceview they lost 3-2 after coming back with two late goals from John McDowell and Matt Redmond but it was just too late.

CO ANTRIM POST O’KANE CUP

All Saints OB 5, Templepatrick 0: Eoin Hudson kicked off his reign as Saints manager with this convincing victory to seal a place in the last eight.

The breakthrough came on 24 minutes when Liam Cassley’s square pass was dummied by Gavin Burnside and found Michael Maybin who drove forward and found the bottom corner of the net with a well placed shot from 25 yards.

The second half saw no let up from Saints but it took them until 65 minutes to make it 2-0. Colin Laffan played a quick ball into Gavin Burnside in the inside left channel and he slipped his marker before curling the ball home.

Three minutes later it was 3-0 when Liam Casley reacted quickest to a poor kickout from Templepatrick and he volleyed home from 30 yards out.

Twelve minutes from time Joe Rocks played the ball wide to Ryan Brady on the right and continued his run to collect the ball again inside the box before smashing the ball home for his first Saints goal.

Peter McReynolds completed the scoring when he closed down Jonathan Fields in the visitors goal and blocked his kick before putting the ball into the empty net.

BALLYMENA MORTGAGES DIVISION ONE

Ahoghill Thistle 4, Ahoghill Rovers 0: This was the first Ahoghill Derby of the season and it saw Thistle dominate to stay top of BSML Division One.

Thistle took the lead after 2 minutes when Matt Boyd broke down the left and crossed for David Tennant to nod home.

The all-important next goal went to Thistle when Emmanuel Okai-Kwai crossed the ball for Matt Boyd to head toward goal but again Andrew French made a great stop but George Courtney was on hand to head home the rebound.

The third came soon after through Matt Boyd who turned his marker before drilling the ball in to the bottom corner from 20 yards. The constant Thistle pressure paid of late on with their 4th goal when George Courtney fired home from 10 yards.

LEAGUE MEETING

The next Meeting of the BSML is on Monday 23rd September at Ballymena United Sports and Social Club with a 8pm Start.

OTHER RESULTS

Coca Cola Irish Junior Cup: Limavady Rugby Club 4, Connor 2.

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup 3rd Round: Glenravel 1, Carnlough Swifts 2; Holywell 7, Shore Wanderers 4; Randalstown Sky Blues 4, Cullybackey Olympic 2; Wakehurst Star 1, Steadfast 2.

BSML Division One: Carniny Rangers 0, Ballykeel 0; Abbeyview 5, FC Penarol 0.

BSML Division Two: Cushendall 3, Cloughmills 9; Riverdale 1, Braid United 1; St Comgalls 6, Randalstown 2; North End Shamrocks 4, Waveney Swifts 2.

BSML Division Three: FC Bayern Money 0, Galgorm Blues 6; Newpark Olympic 2, Atletico Antrim 0; Woodside 2, Lisnafillan Swifts 3.

FIXTURES

Saturday 21st September - Coca Cola Cup 1st Round (1.30pm): Limavady United Youths v Carniny Rangers; Upperlands v Templepatrick; Randalstown Sky Blues v Greencastle Rovers; Harryville Homers v Ballybogey (Wakehurst 2).

Co Antrim Junior Shield 1st Round: Ahoghill Rovers v Carniny Amateurs II (Ahoghill).

County Antrim Post O’Kane Cup 3rd Round (10.15am): Connor FC v FC Penarol (Connor); Clough Rangers v Ahoghill Thistle (Clough).

Ballymena Mortgages BSML Division One: All Saints OB v Michelin (Showgrounds 5); Ballykeel v Abbeyview (Ballykeel); FC Moylena v Carnlough Swifts (Forum).

Ballymena Mortgages BSML Division Two: Braid United v Seven Towers (Broughshane); Cloughmills v Holywell; FC Antrim v Cushendall (Forum); North End Shamrocks v Riverdale (Dunfane 1); St Comgalls v Raceview; Waveney Swifts v Randalstown (Waveney 2).

Ballymena Mortgages BSML Division Three: Atletico Antrim v Cullybackey Olympic (Forum); Galgorm Blues v Wakehurst Star (Galgorm); Lisnafillan Swifts v Glenravel (Showgrounds 4); Newpark Olympic v FC Bayern Money (Forum); Woodside v Steadfast (Wakehurst 3).