Quarter final clash leaves a sour taste

DESPITE this being Ballymoney United's home tie the bureaucrats and red tape brigade decided otherwise, despite that this was no excuse for a very poor second half performance by United rolling over to DC to give them a flattering victory.

Both teams started in lively fashion and Ballymoney came close on five minutes when a long throw from Hill caused all sorts of problems in the DC defence but was finally scrambled clear.

The visitors continued to press and came close again from a McLaughlin corner headed just wide from Hill.

The game settled into an attack and counter attack pattern and the home team came close from a free kick on 15 minutes when Martin came of his line lost sight of the ball but made amends with a great save from Gargan.

DC continued to bombard the home defence and again were unfortunate when a drive from O'Niell hit his own player with Martin beat.

Ballymoney attacked down the left on 20 minutes and Nicholl spotted McKane of his line and chipped to the back post, McKane frantically back pedalled and managed to fingertip the ball over the bar.

It was the visitors' turn to put on the pressure and came close when a Hill long throw was headed goalward by Denver Gage cleared by the defence to Nicholl who headed back to Denver Gage who volleyed of the foot of the back post with McKane well beaten.

DC piled on the pressure on the half hour and from a free kick McAllister headed back across goal for Watson to give the home team the lead with a header at the back post on 35 minutes.

Just before half time when a home team free kick had been cleared Nicholl took on Cambe cut inside and let fly with a great effort to bring an equally great save from McKane in the home goal.

Half Time Donegal Celtic 1 Ballymoney United 0

Ballymoney came out at the start of the second half and attacked McLaughlin bringing a save from McKane.

On their first attack of the half DC gained a corner and Duff crossed to O'Niell who evaded his marker to head home.

From then on Ballymoney desperately tried to hold on to the game but DC were fighting for every ball and hunting in packs.

Ballymoney made a few changes to no avail and were unfortunate when DC scored a third as the visitors defence failed to clear their lines and the resulting pass for Lambe to score in the 70th minute, was at least five yards offside and with no official assistants at this stage of a prestigious competition there's not a lot you can say.

Backs to the wall Ballymoney then decided to commit football suicide by playing out from the back, not clearing the danger, getting caught, and eventually giving away a free kick for which Denver Gage got sent off for his second yellow.

DC made no mistake - ball squared to Gargan to unleash a screamer past the wall and Martin who could make little reaction as it was hit with such venom.

Down to 10 players Ballymoney could make no impact at all and got caught again letting in O'Niell for his second and Donegal Celtic's fifth.

Final Score Donegal Celtic 5 Ballymoney United 0.

Ballymoney United: Martin. McQuitty. Wilkinson. Denver Gage. Hill. McCloskey. Gary Keane. Gerard Gillan. Nicholl. McLernon. McLaughlin. Subs: Mark Gillan. Og'Boyle. McKenna.