Less than 100 days after Dungannon Swifts created history by lifting the Clearer Water Irish Cup for the first time the long road to this season's decider got under way at the weekend with a mammoth 45 ties played across the country.
It was certainly a day to remember for Ambassadors after they cruised to a 4-1 defeat of Belfast Celtic in Lurgan, their first ever victory in the competition after three previous attempts.
Sam Davison fired the Mid Ulster Intermediate B side in front from the edge of the box around the half-hour mark before Sam Curry calmly doubled their advantage just before the break.
Celtic hit back on 58 minutes through Chris McDonald but substitute Jack Strain came off the bench to nod home twice in three minutes later in the game to ensure safe passage into the next round.
Goals win games, and those gathered at Napier Park to see Dunmurry YM host Inspired Talents would have been treated to no fewer than 14 of them as the home side eventually emerged 8-6 winners after extra-time!
The tone of the game was well and truly set during the opening exchanges.
Haydar Abbdin fired the visitors in front as early as the second minute, but Dunmurry responded with back-to-back finishes from Timothy Clarke and Denver Taggart - all with less than five minutes on the clock!
Taggart bagged his second of the afternoon midway through the first half, but Eric Akassou pulled one back just before the break.
The 32-year-old then levelled for the Ballymena & Provincial League side just before the hour but two Thomas Burns goals in four minutes soon after tipped the balance back in Dunmurry's favour.
But neither side were done just yet. Ajiroghene Oyibo reduced the gap on 66 minutes before Burns, the Dunmurry skipper, bagged his hat-trick goal with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.
Back came the visitors with Abbdin's second of the afternoon with Oyibo also hitting his second a minute from the end of normal time! Justin Armstrong restored home advantage in the seventh minute of extra-time, a lead they held until the closing moments when Taggart made sure with his third of the game right at the end.
There were ten goals at Rathmore Grammar School as Aquinas went down 4-6 at home to Dromara Village.
Matthew Henning was very much star of the show for the visitors, finding the net a remarkable five times including a blistering spell either side of the break which produced three goals in five minutes!
The 23-year-old was top individual scorer of the day, but Banbridge Rangers' Alex Dillon also got amongst the goals, knocking home four in a 7-0 win away to Rectory Rangers.
Seven other players also claimed hat-tricks, in addition to the aforementioned Taggart and Burns for Dunmurry YM, namely Owen Donaldson (1st Bangor), Gary Liggett (Dollingstown), Stephen McCavitt (Rathfriland Rangers), Mark Edgar (Heights), Conall Curran (Wellington Rec.), Andrew Gordon (Finaghy) and Donegal Celtic's Anthony Nelson.
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