Strangford through to final after penalties

Strangford through to final after penalties

13 November 2024

STRANGFORD booked their place in the Bobby Dalzell Cup final with a penalty shoot-out victory over Ardglass on Friday night.

The two sides were deadlocked at the end of 90 minutes as Eoin Kelly fired Strangford into a second half lead before Karl O’Neill equalised for Ardglass.

They could not be separated after extra time, on what was a freezing cold night at Kilmore’s Robert Adams Park, but as Ardglass failed to turn up the heat from the spot, Strangford took full advantage. 

Despite an end-to-end start to the match, there was not much to write home about by way of chances in the early stages.

Both sets of defenders held firm for the most part in the opening minutes and anything that did manage to slip through the cracks was routinely dealt with by the goalkeepers.

Fionn McFall would be forgiven for thinking he had given Strangford the lead after 21 minutes when his powerful free kick looked set to fly into the top corner and would have done so was it not for an astonishing save from James Crangle. 

That only seemed to spring Ardglass into action and they soon created a goal-scoring opportunity.

Michael Magee battled hard for possession and when he was bundled over, he played a precise through ball to Ryan McKinney, but his effort was wide of the mark.

The game continued in a fast-paced nature and despite neither side gaining significant periods of possession, chances came by the lorry load.

Strangford’s Conal Fitzsimmons picked up a loose ball following a scramble in the box and poked a lofted effort towards goal, calling Crangle into action once again.

Minutes later, he met a cross in the air and headed home. As the Strangford players were celebrating, the referee had awarded a foul and as Ardglass took a quick free kick, racing up the other end and forcing a diving save from Cathal Kinsella.

The goal may have been ruled out, but Strangford opened the scoring on the brink of half-time when Kelly kept his composure to slot the ball past a scrambling Crangle.

The action did not let up at the start of the second period and Ardglass replied after only five minutes.

O’Neill followed in on Dara O’Shea’s saved effort to tap the ball into an empty net and level the scoring.

Ardglass gained the ascendancy after their equaliser and they almost went in front when O’Neill’s back-heel flick found Magee, whose lunging effort cannoned off the crossbar and on to the goal line. 

They came close again with the final chance of normal time. O’Shea got up well and directed a glancing header towards goal, but his effort went inches wide of the far post.

Given the nature of the game, the supporters, who had packed out the ground, were licking their lips at the prospect of an additional 20 minutes.

However, the game seemed to peter out, with both sets of players understandably leggy.

The only chance of note fell the way of Ardglass. Substitute Matthew Rooney was presented with a free header, but could only find the gloves of Kinsella – a wasted chance they would be left to regret.

Penalties would be needed to settle the contest and the first two takers, McFall and O’Neill made no mistake from the spot.

Rory Reilly’s blushes were spared for Strangford when he was given the chance to retake his missed penalty, with the ‘keeper judged to be off his line, scoring the second time around.

Shea Dorrian was denied by a superb diving save from Crangle, but Michael Lawson could not take advantage, rattling the crossbar.

Magee converted to level scoring Eoin Watterson fired Strangford into a 3-2 lead.

All the pressure was on Ardglass and to their dismay, Sean Carr launched his effort over the bar to put the tie in their opponents’ hands.

With a place in the final on the line, Jack Fiztsimons kept a cool head to send his side through.

Strangford will now have their sights on silverware, but will have to overcome a tenacious Drumaness side on Boxing Day.