Derby win strengthens title drive for Ardglass

26 March 2025

ARDGLASS will take some stopping in their hunt for the Premier Division title after beating rivals Strangford in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.

The visitors entered the match eight points ahead of their fellow contenders and while Strangford hold two games in hand, both sides knew the result could be pivotal come the end of the season.

John Beattie drew first blood for the league leaders, but their fast start quickly evaporated when James Mahoney levelled for Strangford.

The final outcome was anyone’s guess at half-time and although the second half was a largely scrappy affair, goals from Karl O’Neill and Mick Magee proved decisive for Ardglass.

From the outset it was evident that this match pitted the league’s top two teams against each other, with high octane, back-and-forth action on display.

The first chance fell the way of the hosts, when Paul Donnelly flicked the ball on to Conal Fitzsimmons, who brought the ball under control with a cushioned touch, pulled away from Jordan Deegans and fired over the bar.

Ardglass began to threaten through Corey Mahon’s long throws and when one such play found its way to Beattie, a defensive scramble was required to block his lunging shot.

The away side continued to place a grasp on the game, taking just 11 minutes to find the opening goal.

Magee nodded the ball down to Beattie and with a free shot at goal, the midfielder placed the ball past the flailing Darragh Ellison.

Strangford were not going to let conceding get in the way of their game plan however, and they equalised within three minutes of going behind.

Mahoney turned Malachy Crangle with skill, broke into the away box and gave ‘keeper James Crangle no chance with a powerful strike into the bottom corner.

The hosts felt aggrieved to not receive a penalty minutes later, when Mahoney used his pace to meet Eoin Kelly’s through ball and was seemingly brought down by Malachy Crangle.

They experienced a lucky escape of their own before the break, after Magee latched on to a pass from his ‘keeper.

Although his shot was feeble, it slipped through Ellison’s gloves and trickled just wide of the post, much to the relief of the home side.

The contest petered out before half-time and if the first 45 minutes was anything to go by, a draw could well have been on the cards.

However, Strangford were caught napping at the beginning of the second period — something Ardglass would ruthlessly exploit.

Malachy Crangle’s long throw was flicked on by Magee and when Ellison spilled his catch, the hosts were lucky Beattie failed to make a meaningful connection with the ball.

Nevertheless, the visitors were in inspired form, racing forward on a series of dangerous attacking drives.

They got their just rewards when Jamie McDarby’s well-timed pass split the defence and found Dara O’Shea, who used his first touch to take the ball away from Ellison and allow O’Neill to finish into the open goal.

Strangford showed little to no signs of conjuring a response, running out of ideas in their attempt to bypass the robust away defence.

Ardglass, on the other hand, were intent on delivering a killer blow and widening their gap at the summit of the league table.

They put the result to bed when captain marvel Magee rifled his free kick around the Strangford wall and nestled the ball in the bottom-left corner.

Ardglass now boast an eleven-point lead over Strangford, while both sides will turn their focus towards their respective Harry Clarke Cup semi-finals.

Strangford: D Ellison, S McGrattan, F McFall, T Fitzsimons, J Polley, S Teggart, P Donnelly, E Kelly, C Fitzsimmons (captain), J Mahoney, J Fitzsimons. Subs: A Harney, L Tolan, E Watterson.

Ardglass: J Crangle, C Mahon, M Crangle, J Deegans, D O’Shea, J McDarby, C O’Shea, J Beattie, M Magee (captain), K O’Neill, A Watson. Subs: S Dorrian, P O’Shea, M Clarke.

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