Convincing win for Strabane Athletic

Craig Memorial Cup - Round One

Strabane Athletic....5

Tobermore United....0

THE Craig Memorial Cup was founded in 1980 by the North West of Ireland Football Association.

It is a competition in which many Strabane teams and local players have participated over the years and victories were recorded in 1988 and 2004.

Saturday saw Strabane Athletic welcome 1981's inaugural trophy winners Tobermore Utd to Melvin Park, for the first round of this year's competition.

Played in glorious sunshine, this was an entertaining game with a lot of pace, accurate passing and goalmouth action for spectators to savour. And it was Strabane who had the monopoly of these attributes as they took the game from the outset to their Premier Intermediate League opponents.

Before ten minutes had elapsed Athletic's Declan Sharkey had fired a low shot across goal and central defender Liam McMenamin headed wide at the back post, after Sharkey's free kick was nodded on by Niall McGinley.

Strabane's enterprising start continued when Aaron McGurk and McGinley combined to put Sharkey through on goal but he was intercepted by the advancing keeper.

An Aaron O'Hagan header and another Sharkey shot were too high before the latter was foiled once again by another well timed run off his line from Tobermore keeper Tom Hegan.

When the visitors did establish some attacking momentum it was mostly by utilising the pace of right winger Owen McKeown but his high and low crosses were competently defended by McMenamin and O'Hagan at the heart of the Athletic defence.

The home team continued to be more of a threat and in the ten minutes leading up to half time Niall McGinley had three well struck efforts.

Two were parried by the keeper and the other was a bit too high. As the interval approached Tobermore began to exert more influence on the game and home custodian Ryan Galvin was called upon to parry a shot from McKeown.

At the other end McGurk once again created an opening for Declan Sharkey but the keeper saved and the rebound found the side netting.

Strabane maintained their attacking momentum when play resumed and this time it paid dividends.

Around the hour mark midfielder Oran McShane's long throw was headed out and Declan Sharkey capitalised with nice control and a low finish.

The second goal soon followed and it was scored by another player who had been threatening all afternoon. Niall McGinley was on hand at the far post to nod home Aaron McGurk's cross and Athletic had a deserved two goal lead.

Things didn't improve for the Co Derry side when they were reduced to ten men following a second yellow card offence.

Strabane almost extended their lead when McGurk and left back Conor Duggan combined to provide a nice cross for Dylan Mooney but his header cleared the bar. It was all but over for Tobermore shortly afterwards when they lost another player to a second yellow.

Athletic totally dominated thereafter and three of their substitutes found the net before the final whistle.

Bradley Callaghan and Sean McCallion both supplied confident finishes before Aaron Patterson provided the icing on the cake with a superb curling free kick in injury time.

So a very convincing victory for Strabane and the foundations for it had been firmly laid before the sendings off.

Another solid defensive display was complemented by hard work and creativity from McShane, Jamie Murray and McGinley in the middle of the park.

When Athletic found their shooting boots after the interval, superiority was eventually reflected on the scoreboard.

The club offered sincere thanks to John Fahy & Co. Solicitors for their generous sponsorship of the weekend games.

They also expressed gratitude to the supporters who provided wonderful encouragement and appreciation for the team.

Athletic are at home again this Saturday and a tough game is anticipated against Ballymoney United who finished runner up to them in their Division last year.

Strabane Athletic: Ryan Galvin, Luke McGeehan (captain), Aaron O'Hagan, Liam McMenamin, Conor Doherty, Oran McShane, Niall McGinley, Jamie Murray, Dylan Mooney, Aaron McGurk, Declan Sharkey.

Subs: Tom McDermott (GK), Aaron McCready, Aodhan Doherty, Conor Duggan, Aaron Patterson, Bradley Callaghan, Sean McCallion.