Strangford show no mercy to Dundrum

Strangford show no mercy to Dundrum

17 April 2024

STRANGFORD recorded an overwhelming victory against Dundrum United to coast into the semi-finals of the KitRoom Charity Cup on Saturday.

Strangford trio Conal Fitzsimmons, Eoin Kelly and Michael Shields helped themselves to a hat-trick while Fionn McFall chipped in with a brace to complete a memorable afternoon for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Dundrum were best served by striker Chris Mulholland, whose efforts were rewarded with two goals on an occasion he could have very easily shied away from making an impact in.

This mis-match rounded off the group stage for the Strangford outfit, which thus far has won four games and drawn once throughout the competition.

Contrastingly, Dundrum are still searching for their first point but still have a remaining fixture to play.

Strangford opened the scoring after nine minutes, as Fionn McFall received a pass from team-mate Russell Swail before taking on two Dundrum defenders and cutting inside the box to dispatch into the net.

The attacking pressure mounted against the hosts and they found themselves two goals down when Stefán McGrattan’s corner kick was headed into the top corner by Strangford’s Eoin Kelly.

Just two minutes later Michael Shields opened his account for the away team after nipping in behind the Dundrum defence and passing into the net for perhaps the easiest goal he’ll score all season.

It was already damage control at this stage for Dundrum, who had already looked to their bench and introduced Edrisa Camara.

But, the goals kept coming and Strangford made it four when McFall’s cross-field pass allowed Shields to dink his effort over Dundrum custodian Ciaran Bonner at the first time of asking.

With 32 minutes gone, and Dundrum trailing by four, the hosts finally got off the mark when Chris Mulholland squeezed between two Strangford defenders on the halfway line and charged towards the net before coolly slotting his effort into the bottom corner.

This brought the curtain down on the half and as the restart beckoned, the Dundrum players had the benefit of a strong wind behind their backs.

However, this meant little as any plans the home side had to tighten things up at the back went pear-shaped just two minutes after the referee’s whistle.

This time it was Strangford captain Conal Fitzsimmons, who latched onto a through ball from team-mate McGrattan and made no mistake with the finish.

Less than ten minutes later, Mulholland pulled a goal back yet again for Dundrum after racing through on goal following a punt up the pitch from his defence.

Mulholland’s initial strike was saved by Strangford ‘keeper Tommy Connery, but the Dundrum man was on hand to tap in the rebound.

This seemed to do little aside from anger the Strangford side, which began firing at will.

Fitzsimmons and Kelly tagged on a goal apiece inside the space of two minutes before the latter secured his hat-trick with his second headed effort of the afternoon.

In just a matter of seconds, Fitzsimmons became the second Strangford player to notch a hat-trick, as he swept the ball into the net with his right foot.

Ruthlessly, Strangford continued their onslaught as Shields displayed an impressive burst of pace to show his Dundrum marker a clean pair of heels before stroking the ball under onrushing custodian Bonner.

There was still time for Strangford to inflict more damage as McFall cut inside his marker on the edge of the box and found the top corner of the Dundrum net to bring the curtain down on a free-scoring outing for the visitors.

Dundrum: C Bonner, R Mahon, D Kelly, R Brennan, A McKibben, J McKevitt, C Mulholland, A O’Hare, B O’Connor, C Fitzpatrick, A Boyd.

Subs: N Rogan, E Camara.

Strangford: T Connery, S McGrattan, F McFall, S Teggart, E Watterson, R Swail, M Atorrasagasti, E Magee, M Shields, C Fitzsimmons, E Kelly.

Subs: C Vaughan, M Conner, R Smyth.