Monday 18 Nov 2024

McComb's Coach Travel Intermediate Cup | Second Round recap

Penalty shoot-outs seemed to be the order of the day as the McComb's Coach Travel Intermediate Cup continued with the second round at the weekend.

The designated 'tie of the round' saw Mid Ulster Intermediate League A side Tandragee Rovers host League B opponents Hanover at Madden Road, with the visitors coming from behind to win on spot-kicks after finishing the game with ten men.

Brett McKinney had initially given them the lead after just five minutes but Rovers hit back through David McCallen and Michael Toland to hold the advantage at the break.

That was how it stayed until the 92nd minute when McKinney bagged his second of the afternoon to force the game into extra-time.

Hanover were dealt a blow on 98 minutes with Jamie Haveron's dismissal for violent conduct, but the ten-men held on to take the game to penalties with McKinney, Craig Archer, Michael Dobbs and Jamie McKeown all finding the net while keeper Nathan Copeland performed heroics to keep out efforts from Andrew McAlinden and Robert Hutchinson.

It was one of six games that went all the way to the dreaded spot-kicks.

Rathfriland Rangers and Rosario YC drew a blank during normal play at Iveagh Park before the Premier Intermediate League side squeezed through 5-4 after the shoot-out while Dunmurry YM twice came from behind through Thomas Burns away to Colin Valley before eventually emerging 7-6 spot-kick winners.

Kilmore Rec. edged past Castlewellan Town at Robert Adams Park while, at Shamrock Park, Killyleagh YC accounted for Portadown Reserves with Albert Foundry also progressing after knocking out NIFL opponents Oxford Sunnyside at Paisley Park.

Of the other Premier Intermediate League sides remaining in the competition Banbridge Town made it through by getting the better of Derriaghy CC by the odd goal in three thanks to first half strikes from Kyle McCleery and Cohen Henderson.

Adam McCart hit a quickfire double around the quarter-of-an-hour mark as Lisburn Distillery edged past Rathcoole at Ballyskeagh while Mikey Withers and Ronan Young registered as Queen's University accounted for Tullyvallen.

Rory Powell, Jim O'Hanlon and Stephen Reid all scored for Warrenpoint Town in their defeat of Larne Tech. OB. but goals from Kevin McGuinness and William McCracken saw Crewe United dump Knockbreda out at Breda Park.

Three players went home with the match ball. Francis Taplin hit three goals as Mossley swept past Moneyslane, as did Alexander McIlmail in Abbey Villa's nine-goal defeat of Killymoon Rangers but spare a thought for Patrick Shearer who also hit a hat-trick but that still wasn't enough as his Dromara Village side exited at the hands of Rosemount Rec.