SML round-up: Homers into last 16 of Irish Junior Cup

Robert Duddy’s side moved into the last 16 of the Coca-Cola Irish Junior Cup with an emphatic 4-1 win over Ballyclare Comrades Reserves on Saturday.

Homers’ victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that their opponents are unbeaten in the Ballymena & Provincial Junior League and by the fact that Homers had to come from a goal down.

But it was the end of the road for Clough Rangers, whose fairytale run to the last 32 was ended by a 4-0 defeat against a strong Colin Valley side.

In the County Antrim Junior Shield, North End Shamrocks finaly got their fourth round tie against Ballynagross played at the fourth time of asking, with the Ballymena side progressing 5-3 after extra-time to set up an all-BSML fifth round tie against Clough this Saturday.

Domestically, the unseasonally mild weather saw a host of league and cup fixtures played at a time of year when postponements are usually the order of the day.

For full reports, results, fixtures and league tables, along with photographic coverage of the Lisnafillan Swifts v Templepatrick Division Three game, see this week’s Ballymena Times.