Sky Blues through to Junior Cup Final
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Sky Blues players celebrate after making it into the final of the Northwest Junior Cup at Limavady Showgrounds on Tuesday evening. 46701KDR
Magherafelt Sky blues...........2
Portstewart.........................1
MAGHERAFELT Sky Blues booked a place in the Northwest Junior Cup final last night (Tuesday) after a late goal from striker Gary Stewart thwarted a second half Portstewart revival in the semi final at the Limavady Showgrounds.
The Sky blues took the lead early in the first half through the impressive Stewart, but were pegged back early in the second period thanks to an Ian Todd volley, but stole a place in the Boxing day final after extra time seemed a certainty.
With barely 3 minutes on the clock, the Spires Park outfit roared into a one goal lead with Stewart controlling a long through ball exquisitely at the edge of the box before turning at the edge of the penalty area to smash home an unstoppable drive into the top corner on the keeper's right hand side.
The goal gave the Skyblues all the confidence they needed to take command of the match, and as the half wore on, they produced a dominating performance and were unlucky not to stretch their lead.
They threatened again in the 16th minute when 16 year old hot prospect Liam Stewart went close with a right foot drive. Indeed it was 20 minutes before Portstewart managed to get a shot on goal, and that came only through the SkyBlue's own carelessness when a dodgy clearance from centre half Martin allowed Magill an opening just outside the box. His shot however, was high wide and not so handsome. Gary Stewart was causing Portstewart all sorts of problems with and without the ball, and he was unlucky not to add his second of the game 5 minutes before half-time. A superb cross from central midfielder McAleese from the left wing was met by the head of Stewart 5 yards out, but he was at a bad angle for the header and the ball whistled past the post. The first half ended not before time for the Ports, and whatever was said in the dressing room at half-time worked a treat for they showed a vast improvement form the start of the second half and scrambled their way back into the game with an equaliser in the 54th minute.
A corner whipped in from the right was met by the head of Smith who saw his attempt cleared off the line before Ian Todd pounced on the rebound.
The game then settled down in to a tight affair with neither side looking likely to add to the scoring until late on. First in the 85 minute the Skyblues might have scored, but Larkin's flicked effort went sailing straight into the clutches of Ports' keeper Millar. Then a minute later, Sky blues centre half, and last man Martin, presented the ball to Donaghy 40 yards from goal, the burley winger burst away to bear down on goal, but great covering from Storey ensured that there would be no late Portstewart fairy tale.
That was reserved for the men from Magherafelt.
Going into the last minute of normal time a hopeful ball from the back saw Stewart break the offside line down the right wing. With Portstewart defenders appealing for offside, Stewart wasted no time in flying into the inside right channel, before applying a deft finish past the on-rushing Millar to send the travelling Skyblues fans crazy, and his side into the Northwest Junior Cup Final.
Magherafelt Skyblues: McGehan, Brady, Storey, Martin, Cassidy, Hawe, Larkin, McAleese, G. Stewart, L. Stewart, Walls. Subs: Larkin, Collins, Mallon, McCormack.
Portstewart: Millar, Smith, CAllum, Taylor, Whiteside,Gatson, Peden, Clark, I. Todd, Magill, Donaghy. Subs: A. Todd, Finlay.
