Monday 12 Oct 2026

McComb's Coach Travel Intermediate Cup | First Round recap

The McComb’s Coach Travel Intermediate Cup First Round delivered plenty of drama, with Bangor Reserves and Linfield Swifts’ ‘tie of the round’ settled by penalties, while Lisburn Distillery led the goal rush.

The clash at Clandeboye Park saw Bangor Reserves take the lead through Charlie McLaughlin on 20 minutes, only for Linfield Swifts, 11-time winners of the competition, to respond through Coleton Mitchell before the half-hour mark.

Neither side could find a winner during normal time or extra-time, despite Bangor being reduced to ten men following the 89th-minute dismissal of captain Conor Watson.

The tie was eventually decided from the spot, with the Blues prevailing 4-3 as substitute Jacob Farr converted the decisive penalty.

It was one of four ties to go to penalties, with Holywood, Desertmartin and Kilmore Rec. also progressing at the expense of Finaghy, Portadown Reserves and Heights respectively.

Five further matches required extra-time, with Greenisland overcoming Dromara Village at Bellsbridge, St. Oliver Plunkett defeating Craigavon City, Shorts seeing off Rosemount Rec. and Donegal Celtic edging Richhill AFC in a five-goal encounter.

Coleraine Reserves also needed the additional time to get past Dunmurry Rec. at Ashley Park, with Conor Love scoring the decisive goal.

There was no shortage of goals elsewhere, with Lisburn Distillery running riot against Inspired Talents at the Ballymena Showgrounds to finish as the round’s leading scorers with 12.

Valley Rangers, Comber Rec. and Markethill Swifts were also in prolific form, each scoring seven times in victories over Newtowne, Malachians and Tobermore United respectively.

Jack Boyd claimed individual scoring honours, hitting four goals in just 19 second-half minutes for Lisburn Distillery. Valley Rangers’ Joshua Crangle and Abbey Villa’s Ryan Moore also took home match balls after each registering a hat-trick.