SML round-up: Homers' Junior Cup and Shield '˜double' dream intact

Robert Duddys men cruised ito the last eight of the Toals County Antrim Shield by dispatching St Luke by four goals to nil.

TOALS COUNTY ANTRIM JUNIOR SHIELD

Harryville Homers 4, St Luke’s 0: Although not having the advantage of the wind, Homers were the more dangerous side early on and the opening goal came on 14 minutes when David Nicholl swung over a corner kick from the right which Paul McNeill met with a header which found the net off the underside of the bar.

The second goal proved elusive for Homers until midway through the second half when a cross from Mark McKay was deflected into the path of McNeill who raced clear and slotted home.

The visitors threw everything forward after this as they tried to get back in the game, but on the break they were hit with the killer third goal. Marcus Spratt played the ball down the left for Jason Logan and he slipped in substitute David McWhirter who squared across goals for Darren Campbell to fire home. Darren Campbell then came to Homers rescue at the other end when he cleared off the line as the visitors almost got back in the game.

Homers rounded off a great win when David McWhirter fired over a cross for Richard Reid to head home at the back post and set up an away Quarter Final against Greenisland or Finaghy.

FIRMUS ENERGY DIVISION ONE

FC Moylena 0, Ahoghill Thistle 5: Thistle kept up their 100% record in Division One with this comfortable victory against Moylena.

The opening goal came midway through the half when Paul Aiken raced down the right showing his marker a clean pair of heels before crossing for Ryan Sands to fire into the bottom corner.

Moylena started the second half well and almost drew level when Jeff McNicholl broke clear, but Thistle keeper Stephen Watson did well to save at his feet.

Almost immediately Thistle doubled their lead. Paul Aiken broke into the box and was upended. Matt Boyd coolly dispatched the spot kick to make it 2-0.

This goal gave Thistle the cushion they needed as they started to exert more pressure on the home side and their pressure paid off when they made it 3-0 when a shot from Mervyn Crawford was deflected into the net by Matt Boyd for his second goal of the game on the hour mark.

Thistle were playing some nice football now and they scored a well worked fourth goal. Mervyn Crawford swept the ball out wide right for Matt Boyd whose cross found the midfield run of Ryan Sands and he headed home his second goal of the game.

Matt Boyd completed his hat trick in the closing stages of the game when he fired home another penalty kick after he was fouled in the box.

Carniny Rangers 3, Raceview 1: Once again the pitches at Wakehurst stood up to the weather to allow Carniny and Raceview to renew their old rivalry.

The home side were sharp out of the blocks and scored on nine minutes when Shane Donnelly headed home Frazer Young’s cross.

Three minutes later Raceview were on level terms when a near post corner came off a Carniny defender and into the net past the helpless Sean Ward.

Carniny were straight back on the attack and on 15 minutes Robbie Perkins, one of three debut boys for Carniny, scored from eight yards after Shane Donnelly put him through on goal.

After the break Colin Craig came close to an equaliser after a clearance ricocheted into his path but Sean Ward’s acrobatic save preserved his side’s lead.

Despite creating a number of chances Carniny failed to add to their half time lead until the close of the game when Frazer Young released Jonny Clarke on the right and his well placed shot beat the outstretched arms of Juraj Malik for his first goal for Carniny.

FRIMUS ENERGY DIVISION TWO

Ahoghill Rovers 3, Woodside 0: Rovers moved to within two points of leaders Carnlough Swifts with this comfortable win.

After a scoreless opening period, the breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half when Ryan Cameron swung over a corner kick which was met by the head of Phil Cromie as he powered his header into the corner of the net.

Rovers’ second goal came 19 minutes from time as David Murray, who had missed a few chances beforehand finally got on the score sheet when he volleyed home a John McKeown cross.

With five minutes to go Rovers sealed the victory when John McKeown followed up to score after Robin Bankhead failed to hold a Ryan Cameron shot as Rovers ran out easy winners.

CGRSC SAMMY MOORE CUP

Atletico Antrim 0, Carniny Amateurs & Youth 2 (Carniny win 4-1 on aggregate): The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes when Scott Buxton worked himself along the edge of the box and drove hard and low out of the reach of the Antrim keeper to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Buxton was also involved in the decisive second goal as he worked his way through to the by line on the left hand side, cutting the ball across for Shane McWilliams to neatly glance the ball past the Antrim keeper.

OTHER RESULTS

firmus energy Division One: Ballykeel 5, Riverdale 0.

firmus energy Division Two: Cloughmills 2, Randalstown 3

firmus energy Division Three: Northend & District 1, Cullybackey Olympic 1; St Comgalls 8, Southside Rangers 4; Steadfast 0, Templepatrick 4.

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 6 - IFA Junior Cup, round 5 (1.30pm): Harryville Homers v Finaghy (Wakehurst 2); Ahoghill Thistle v Cumann Spoirt An Phobail (Ahoghill); Armagh City Youth v Carniny Rangers.

Toals Co Antrim Shield, round four: Waveney Swifts v Basement (Waveney).

Rainey Cup, round one (10.15am): St Comgalls v Ahoghill Rovers; Woodside v Sporting Ballymoney (Ballykeel); Templepatrick v FC Penarol (Forum).

firmus energy Division One: All Saints OB v Riverdale (Showgrounds 5); Clough Rangers v Glenravel (Clough); FC Moylena v Ballykeel (Forum); Newpark Olympic v Raceview.

firmus energy Division Two: Carnlough Swifts v Randalstown; Holywell v Michelin (Forum); Seven Towers v Galgorm Blues (Showgrounds 4).

firmus energy Division Three: Carniny Amateurs & Youth v Wakehurst Star (Showgrounds 7); Cullybackey Olympic v Southside Rangers (Tober Park); Northend & District v Steadfast (Waveney 1); Rubys Rovers v Atletico Antrim.