Garvey Sixths in second round of the Minor Cup

South Antrim Fifths 1

Garvey Sixths took themselves through to the second round of the Minor Cup with their best performance of the season winning by 6 goals to 1.

The result reversed a heavy 5-0 league defeat by the same team just a few weeks ago when they failed to produce any resistance.

Last Saturday, it took the Sixths just 10 minutes to score their opening goal through Finn McCrory and it was quickly followed by a second from Rupert Pinion as Garvey began to control the game.

A third strike from Finn Harkin gave Garvey a three goal cushion but South Antrim replied with a goal of their own leaving the good open cup tie at 3-1 to the home side at the half time break.

Garvey quickly increased their lead with a fourth effort from Darryl Scott and the same player made it 5-1 minutes later. Rupert Pinion capped a great day for the Sixths with a sixth goal close to full time giving his team a resounding 6-1 victory and a place in the second round. Garvey Thirds progressed to the second round of the McClements Cup, a trophy they have held for the past two seasons. They defeated local rivals South Antrim Thirds by 3 goals to nil at Comber Road. Goals from Davey Patton, Matthew Nelson and the skipper himself, Seb Buser were enough to take the holders into the next round.

However, Garvey Fourths were not so lucky in their McClements Cup match; they were beaten by 4 goals to 1 by Banbridge Thirds at Havelock Park last Friday night.

• Lisnagarvey Firsts next match in the exciting Premier League finale is set for next Tuesday February 18 with the opposition being Mossley. The game will be at Comber Road at 7.45pm.

The remaining two matches in the programme are against Raphoe (away) and Kilkeel (home) but as yet no dates have been decided but the games will probably be played mid week in the middle of the intense I.H.L. set of matches which begins on March 1 with the opening game against Instonians at Shaws Bridge.

At the moment, both Garvey and Banbridge are tied on 40 points, each with three games remaining but Garvey do have the more favourable goal difference, 11 goals better than their opponents and this could well be decisive in the closest league race for many seasons.