Sunday 18 Feb 2024

Intermediate Cup | Fourth Round recap

The McComb's Coach Travel Intermediate Cup is down to the last eight following Saturday's fourth round ties.

The designated 'tie of the round' saw Rosemount Rec entertain Comber Rec in Greyabbey and what a game it turned out to be, producing eight goals and a nail-biting penalty shootout.

Simon Hanna fired Comber in front as early as the third minute, a lead the visitors held until early in the second half when Curtis Giltrap levelled for Rosemount.

Beau Tosh edged the home side in front soon after, but Kristopher Gaw hit back for Comber midway through the second half.

Elliot Wilson then looked to have secured victory for the visitors with three minutes remaining only for Reece Ritchie to equalise deep into stoppage time.

Matthew Gibson handed Comber the advantage once more early in extra-time although, once again, Rosemount responded when Giltrap knocked home his second of the game.

That took the game to penalties, with Neill Melville eventually knocking home the winning kick for Rosemount at the end of a dramatic afternoon.

Strabane Athletic also progressed via the dreaded spot kicks after coming from behind away to Dunloy at McCamphill Park.

Scoreless at the break, Dermott McErlain scored either side of the hour mark to put Dunloy into a strong position, but Gary Merritt pulled one back for Strabane soon after before Fionn Faherty levelled in added time.

Extra-time produced no further scoring, with Strabane eventually emerging 3-2 victors on penalties.

Ballymacash Rangers were top scorers on the day, knocking a remarkable eight goals without reply past Larne Olympic at the Bluebell Stadium.

'Cash hit the visitors with three goals in quick succession around the quarter-of-an-hour mark, with a double from Carl McComb followed up by a Jack Smith strike.

Lewis Higginson hit a fourth midway through the first half with McComb claiming his hat-trick soon after - and all with less than 30 minutes on the clock!

Benny Igiehon made it 6-0 early in the second half before Smith doubled his tally just after the hour. Jordon Morrison then completed the scoring with moments remaining.

The only all-Premier Intermediate League clash saw Queen's University defeat Limavady United at The Dub.

The Students moved in front on 17 minutes when Mark Anderson found the net at the back post, with Christopher Middleton making sure midway through the second half following a counter attack.

There were home defeats for two PIL clubs as Armagh City and Dollingstown went down to Ards Rangers and Immaculata respectively.

James Sofley fired Rangers in front after just three minutes at Holm Park, however Stefan Lavery levelled just before the hour to ultimately force the game into extra-time. The visitors regained the advantage in the 104th minute through Josh Tipping to book their place in the last eight.

And at Planters Park, Immaculata needed just a Brendan Shannon strike before the break to get past the Dollybirds.

Crumlin Star continued their defence of the trophy with a 3-0 defeat of Derriaghy CC at Marrowbone Park.

Stephen Smyth fired the holders in front after half-an-hour but that was how it stayed until the closing moments when two goals in quick succession, from James Doyle and Patrick McIlkenny, saw Star make sure of their place in the quarter-finals.

Newbuildings United completed the last eight line-up with a three-goal victory over Ballymena United Reserves at the Showgrounds.

Matthew Harkin broke the deadlock on 56 minutes, with a Jay Torrens own goal doubling the visitors' lead just past the hour before Jack McClelland wrapped things up in the 90th minute.