There was a bumper day of cup action on Saturday as almost 80 clubs took to the field to kick off the 2021/22 Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup.
Ballynure OB had beaten Seagoe 4-2 a week ago to launch the competition but the long road to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park began in earnest with a further 39 Qualifying Round One ties, amongst them eight games involving clubs from the Premier Intermediate League.
Whilst all PIL outfits progressed to the next round it was a close call for Tobermore United and Dollingstown who needed penalties to overcome East Belfast and Crumlin Star respectively. Also going through were PSNI (3-1 away to Lurgan Town), Lisburn Distillery (3-1 Newcastle), Portstewart (5-2 Valley Rangers), Banbridge Town (5-0 Cookstown RBL), Armagh City (2-0 Wakehurst) and Limavady United (3-0 Dromore Amateurs).
Highest scorers on the day were Chimney Corner who recorded a thumping 10-2 defeat of Rectory Rangers at Allen Park.
It was quite a start to the game for William Haggan. He came off the bench as a fourth minute substitute for Graham Ervine and within 120 seconds had opened the scoring! Jonathan Coulter doubled Corner's lead soon after but that was the only scoring in the first half before the floodgates well and truly opened after the break.
Also enjoying a fruitful afternoon in front of goal were Sirocco Works and Derriaghy CC. Both hit six apiece on their way to victories over Bangor Swifts and Albert Foundry while Ardstraw, Maiden City, Newtowne and Dromara Village were amongst the sides bagging five goals.
In addition, three players helped themselves to hat-tricks namely Ardstraw's Eamon McGrath, John Butcher of Newtowne and Holywood's Stephen Anderson - and not forgetting Ballynure man Kyle Abernethy who claimed the match ball last Saturday in that win over Seagoe.
Link to Qualifying Round One results
