SML round-up: Homers land ‘clean sweep’ in ‘extra’ special finale

But they were made to battle before completing the final leg of their epic journey when they required extra-time to beat Clough Rangers in the Rainey Cup final at Michelin.

RAINEY CUP FINAL

Harryville Homers 2, Clough Rangers 0 (aet): Twelve minutes before half time Clough almost took the lead when a great dipping effort from Dean Magill smashed off the bar and was cleared, after this Clough were in control to the break but failed to get the breakthrough.

In the dying minutes Homers had a great chance to snatch the win when Paul McNeill broke clear but he was tackled and the ball fell to Jason Logan who fired into the side netting from close range as the game finished goal less.

Clough looked like a tired side in extra time and Homers capitalised on this when they took the lead two minutes before the interval. Paul McNeill cut in from the left before firing into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

The second half saw Clough try to get an equaliser but they didn’t creat any chances and their challenge was dealt a blow when they lost a man when he was sent off. Homers had the final say and made it 2-0 in the dying minutes when great work from McNeill left him clear and he unselfishly laid the ball to Darren Campbell to score.

After the match, sponsor Alex Rainey handed the Rainey Cup over to Homers captains on the night Ian Russell and Geoff Mitchell as the curtain came down on a tremendous season.

Harryville Homers: Ryan Martin, Ricky Forsythe, Keith Wylie, Ian Russell, Daid Gibson, Michael Smith, Darren Campbell, Ryan Stewart, Jason Logan, Paul McNeill and Jasin Magill. Subs: Jason Stevenson, Gary Baird, David Nicholl, Lee Garrett, Gary Bonnes.

Clough Rangers: Colin McCaughern, Alan Norton, Johnathan McCloy, Jonathan Rice, Steven Gage, Colin Byers, Kyle McRoberts, Dean Magill, Jonathan Clarke, Jordan Leighton and Adrian McDonald. Subs: Aaron Stewart, David Huston, Paul Gilchrist Christopher McDonald, Richard Gregg.

DIVISION ONE

Ahoghill Thistle 1, Carniny Rangers 6 : Carniny clinched runners-up spot by beating Ahoghill in a play-off, which came about after Carniny drew their final league game with Michelin to finish level on points with Thistle.

They made no mistake in the play-off, though, taking the lead on six minutes with a deflected Frazer Young free kick.

Thistle levelled thanks to an acrobatic effort from Emmanuel Okwaik-Armah but Carniny regained the lead before half-time through Ryan Sands’ well-placed shot.

Dean Dunlop’s goal early in the second half gave Carniny breathing space and two goals in two minutes with a quarter of an hour to play finished the game as a contest with Sands getting his second and the hard working Jonny Spence also scoring. The final gloss was added with five minutes left when Rico Wylie scored from close range.

DINNER

The curtain comes down on an amazing season next Friday night when the BSML Annual Presentation Dinner takes place at Leighinmohr House Hotel. Full details in next week paper.