Irish Cup second round Killyleagh YC 2 Newtowne 2 (Killyleagh win 4-3 on pens)
KILLYLEAGH maintained their unbeaten start to the season with victory in the second round of the Clearwater Irish Cup at The Showgrounds on Saturday.
But a ninth victory of the season for Stevie Lindsay’s side on penalties, after extra time, came at a cost as three of his key players limping off injured.
Newtowne from Limavady have probably been the strongest visitors to Killyleagh this season, playing flowing football assisted by players who have performed at the top level in the Irish League.
It was no surprise when they took the lead after just 16 minutes when a Killyleagh defender scored past his own keeper Matthew Boyle for an own goal. Lindsay had started without five of his top players, keeping three of them on the bench, as he made clear his priority this season is the league rather than the cups.
And it was his decision to play Jamie Sharvin in a more forward role that appeared to pay early dividends. Sharvin scored from the penalty spot to level on the half hour mark, and then scored a brilliant second four minutes later to make it 2-1. But it came at a cost.
Sharvin limped off with a hamstring injury at half time along with Ethan Davidson. To complete the misery, Sharvin’s replacement Kodi Carson had to be subbed off injured in the second half.
The visitors never gave up in the second half, and it took some brilliant defending from Sam Dinu and Jordan Patterson to keep them out, with Sam Kirk and Nathan Leckey supporting in the unusual roles of full backs.
Sam Carson and Caolan Lennon were summoned from the bench to reinforce the midfield. The best chance to seal the win in normal time arrived in the 88th minute when Dinu ran the full length of the pitch and into the box.
He unselfishly picked out Decky McComiskey, but the keeper blocked well. Newtowne refused to give up and three minutes into injury time they equalised from a McDaid header to send the tie into extra time before Killyleagh triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
