Monday 15 Sep 2025

Clearer Water Irish Cup | Second Round recap

The Clearer Water Irish Cup continued at the weekend with 31 Second Round ties played across Friday and Saturday.

The draw produced one all Premier Intermediate League clash - and what a game that proved to be as Dergview edged past Ballyclare Comrades at Darragh Park!

Paul Smith opened the scoring for the home side on 35 minutes after being played through by Aaron McLaughlin, with Jonathan McKeown then doubling the home advantage eight minutes into the second half.

The visitors hit back just after the hour when Brandon Doyle found the net before Dylan O'Kane levelled with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

Extra-time failed to produce any further goals, with Dergview eventually going through 4-2 on spot-kicks after Aaron McLaughlin, Joe Curran, Alaaeddine Dhouiou and Jonny McKeown all scored in addition to two saves by keeper Leannan McCann.

Coagh United were the only other PIL side to exit the competition at this stage after they shipped four goals without reply away to Abbey Villa.

Former Ards and HW Welders man Ross Arthurs opened the scoring for Villa on 37 minutes after side stepping the keeper to slot home from an acute angle.

He bagged his second midway through the second half from close range before, with seven minutes remaining, Joshua Barnes added a third after turning home a corner from the right.

But Arthurs wasn't to be denied the match ball when, just a few moments after that, he knocked home a simple finish at the back post.

For sheer drama, however, it would be difficult to look past the clash between Craigavon City and Lower Maze at Drumgor Road.

The visitors seemed to be coasting at half-time following goals from Joshua McKee and Zak Clements, but City hit back with a quick fire double from Ben McClarnon and Peadar McParland early in the second half.

Two goals in ten minutes from McKee, either side of a David Rafferty strike, looked to have well and truly sealed the win for Lower Maze but this remarkable game was far from finished after McParland, Kyle Rock and - in stoppage time - Shai O'Connor brought the home side back into it.

McParland's hat-trick goal followed swiftly by a Diarmuid Lavery finish in the first period of extra-time then appeared to have settled it in City's favour only for Rafferty's second of the afternoon and a Ryan Mulholland 120th minute header to force the game into penalties.

In the shoot-out Mulholland, McKee, Clements and Kai Galloway all converted for Lower Maze which, alongside a remarkable four stops from keeper Dominic Heron, saw the Mid Ulster Intermediate A side progress to the next round at the end of a breathless afternoon.

Also making it through on penalties were Donegal Celtic and Drumaness Mills at the expense of Willowbank and Desertmartin respectively.

Biggest winners on the day were Comber Rec. with eight unanswered goals at home to PSNI including hat-tricks from Lex Walker and James Sofley. Moyola Park also hit eight against St. Luke's at Mill Meadow while Strabane Athletic bagged seven in a comprehensive defeat of Newmills.