U17s disappoint in defeat to Glentoran

The Town actually started the brightest with some early chances for Aaron Heaney and Dominic Donnelly, but it was Glentoran who took the lead after the Juniors failed to clear the ball from their own box.

The score line went from bad to worse for the locals over the first half as Glentoran converted three more chances in the space of just 15 minutes to leave a 4-0 deficit for the Town at half time.

However, when the centre-back pairing of Charlie Donaghy and captain Ben McDowell got into their stride, the Glens were unable to find the back of the net for the rest of the half.

In a similar vein to the first half, the Under-17’s started strongest and after some great midfield link up play, a through ball from Sean Kelly found the feet of Eoin Monaghan who raced through and buried a shot into the bottom corner of the net for 4-1.

This goal sparked a bit of life into both sides and without the efforts of goalkeeper Chris Coleman, whose point-blank reflex save kept the opposition at bay, Glentoran would have increased their lead.

Further chances for both Donnelly and Stephen Stewart and the inclusion of the lively Chris Orr could have seen the Town double their tally, but any hopes of a miraculous comeback were wiped when the Glentoran forward rose highest to head home from a corner and seal the victory.

The scoring wasn’t finished however, as substitute Matthew Millar - having just seen his own effort go narrowly wide, sent Donnelly through, who drove in a low cross that found Stephen Stewart waiting at the back post to end the game on a high for Bob Mulligan’s side.

Team: Chris Coleman; Ryan Finnegan; Ben McDowell; Stephen Stewart; Daryl King; Sean Kelly; Aaron Heaney; Michael Mallon; Dominic Donnelly; Charlie Donaghy; Eoin Monaghan. Subs: Conor Byrne; Matthew Millar; Michael Corden; Chris Orr; Matthew Stevenson.