The Great 2010-11 Irish League Thread Options

[Kitty Carvill]

Crusaders 2-1 Ballymena Utd

Late goals from Colin Coates and Jordan Owens snatched victory for Crusaders against Ballymena United at Seaview.

Ballymena took the lead in the 37th minute when Gary McCutcheon turned and twisted on the edge of the penalty area and fired past keeper Chris Keenan.

United stayed in front until Crusaders' pressure paid off in the 88th minute when Coates rifled in after the ball had been half cleared by Gary Haveron.

Owens scored the 90th-minute winner after goalmouth scramble.

The win takes Stephen Baxter's men up to fourth in the Carling Premiership table.

[Kitty Carvill]

Glenavon 2-1 Dungannon Swifts

Two Tony Grant goals helped Glenavon earn their fourth win of their opening five Carling Premiership games as they edged out Dungannon Swifts.

Both sides went close to scoring in an entertaining first half but it remained goalless at the interval.

Grant headed Glenavon into the lead on 50 minutes as he powered a Stuart King cross past Sean O'Neill.

Timmy Adamson nodded Dungannon level on 74 minutes but Grant secured the points with a close-range finish on 81.

In a lively opening, Adamson fired just wide in the sixth minute while Trevor Molloy was inches wide at the other end moments later.

Ryan McCluskey headed a Swifts chance over the bar in the 11th minute but it was end to end stuff as Dungannon keeper O'Neill saved another Molloy effort.

Ryan Harpur went close for the Lurgan Blues on two further occasions before the break but Dungannon were continuing to threaten with Michael Ward just failing to connect with a Ryan McIlmoyle cross with the goal gaping.

It was remarkable that the first half hadn't produced a goal but the deadlock was broken five minutes after the break as Grant emphatically headed a King cross past O'Neill.

Dungannon levelled on 79 minutes as Adamson nodded Topley's free-kick to the net.

However, Glenavon restored their lead within two minutes as Grant powered a close-range header past O'Neill after the Swifts keeper had only been able to parry a Molloy pile-driver.

The win moves Glenavon up to second place in the table - one point behind leaders Glentoran.

[Kitty Carvill]

Liam Boyce agrees transfer to Werder Bremen

The Irish Football Association has confirmed that Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce has completed his transfer to German club Werder Bremen.

Boyce is expected to be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday.

Last week, Boyce looked set to sign for Bundesliga 2 side SpVgg Greuther Furth only for the move to fall through.

However, Werder Bremen made an approach for the 19-year-old and he underwent a medical on Monday and finally agreed terms on Tuesday.

Boyce is likely to be part of the club's youth or feeder squad which competes in Bundesliga 3.

The senior Werder Bremen club finished third in last season's German top flight and achieved the league and cup double as recently as 2004.

Bremen progressed to the Uefa Cup final in 2009 when they were beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk, in the last playing of the competition before it was rebranded as the Europa League.

Boyce agreed terms with SpVgg Greuther Furth two weeks ago but that move broke down after the Bavarian club stalled on completing the deal.

The striker went on a pre-season trial with Celtic during the summer and was also linked with moves to English and Spanish clubs.

He was named the NI football writers' player of the year in May.

Boyce scored 19 goals in his debut season with Cliftonville, helping the Belfast club finish second in the Carling Premiership.

[Kitty Carvill]

Glentoran's Gary Hamilton agrees loan move to Glenavon

Out-of-favour Glentoran striker Gary Hamilton has agreed a loan move to their Premiership rivals Glenavon.

Hamilton's switch to Glenavon is the most significant piece of business so far on the Carling Premiership's transfer deadline day.

The former Northern Ireland striker was transfer-listed by the Oval club earlier this summer.

He has not been included in any Glentoran squads so far this season and his loan move is not a surprise.

Hamilton is currently out injured and is not expected to play for his new club for six to eight weeks.

"I just want to play football and I was not get the opportunity to do that at Glentoran," said Hamilton.

The former Portadown player revealed he would not play in any matches against Glentoran during his time on loan with Glenavon.


Glenavon chairman Adrian Teer said last week that Hamilton was "one of a number of players" that his club would be keen to sign before the transfer window closes.

Glentoran chairman Aubry Ralph made clear that his club was keen to off-load Hamilton although the player's wages were thought to be a complicating factor.

Lurgan Blues boss Marty Quinn told the BBC last week that he believed a deal was unlikely before the window closed at the end of August.

The player was also reported to be suffering from an injury which could cause him to miss a lengthy part of the season.

[Kitty Carvill]

Glentoran midfielder Shane McCabe signs for Portadown

Glentoran midfielder Shane McCabe has signed for Portadown just hours before the transfer deadline.

Portadown boss Ronnie McFall travelled from his side's 4-4 draw at Donegal Celtic on Tuesday night to finalise the deal with Glentoran at the Oval.

The Fermanagh GAA star has agreed a three-year contract with the Shamrock Park club.

McCabe's move follows Glentoran striker Gary Hamilton's departure to Glenavon on a season-long loan deal.

[Kitty Carvill]

Newry City 1-2 Linfield

Linfield clinched their third successive win in the Carling Premiership after a late show at Newry.

Francis Murphy struck Newry ahead on 26 minutes after good work by Gerard Rowe and former Blueman Conor Downey.

Robbie Garrett hit the Newry woodwork but Andy Graham squandered a great chance to extend the home side's lead.

Linfield levelled on 76 as Graham deflected a Curtis Allen shot into his own net and Allen hit the winner seven minutes from time.

The Blues had the better of the opening exchanges and Newry keeper Nathan Morley Hillen produced a fine save to deny Garrett before Jamie Mulgrew shot another Blues chance over the bar.

However, somewhat against the run of play, the home side took the lead on 26 minutes with Rowe and Downey setting up Murphy to score.

Rowe's pass released Downey and the classy midfielder delivered a perfect cross to Murphy who made no mistake.

Linfield came close to equalising on 55 minutes as Robbie Garrett's fierce free-kick hit the Newry woodwork.

However, Andy Graham missed a glorious chance to extend Newry's advantage on 62 after finding himself with only Blayney to beat but the Linfield keeper raced off his line to block.

The value of that save became clear on 76th minutes when the unlucky Graham deflected Allen's shot past his own goalkeeper.

Linfield's late show was complete as Allen fired the winner on 83 minutes with Munster setting up the strike after the Newry defence had failed to clear.

City's Matt Hazley was was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle after being tackled late in the game.

[Kitty Carvill]

Barry Johnston moves to Cliftonville from Glenavon

Barry Johnston is back for a third spell at Cliftonville after a transfer deadline day switch from Glenavon.

The 29-year-old central midfielder started his senior career at Solitude in 1998 and returned in 2006 after four years with Coleraine.

Johnston moved to Shamrock Rovers on loan last year before signing for the Lurgan Blues.

"He's a big personality and we are happy to welcome Barry back," said Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor.

"Barry makes no secret of his fondness for Cliftonville Football Club and I know he is delighted to be back and probably regards it as an opportunity to deal with some unfinished business," Lawlor told the club website.

"Having seen Ryan Catney hobble off with injury in the defeat to Glentoran, we are all the more relieved to have someone of Barry's ability come back on board."

[Kitty Carvill]

Glentoran 2-0 Cliftonville


Glentoran stayed on top of the Carling Premiership as they ended Cliftonville's 100 per cent record by winning comfortably at the Oval.

Neal Gawley struck the Glens ahead on 18 minutes after a Peter Steele cross.

Daryl Fordyce doubled Glentoran's lead on 30 minutes with a shot from 18 yards after good work by Jimmy Callacher.

Sean Ward and Elliott Morris denied Cliftonville's Ronan Scannell in the second half while Ciaran Martyn missed a further Glentoran chance.

The Reds had an early chance but Morris reacted smartly to save Kieran O'Connor's effort.

Gawley struck the Glens ahead on 18 minutes as he finished at the far post after Steele's low cross.

Fordyce doubled Glentoran's advantage on 30 minutes as he found the net from the edge of the penalty area after being set up by Callacher.

Cliftonville had their best spell of the game in a 10-minute period after the hour.

Ronan Scannell appeared set to score after Glens keeper Morris scuffed a clearance but Ward got back to clear off the line.

Morris then produced a superb save to deny Ronan Scannell's header after a cross by substitute Liam Fleming.

However, Ciaran Martyn missed a great chance to add to Glentoran's advantage on 71.

With Liam Boyce not playing after securing his transfer to Werder Bremen, the Reds attack lacked punch and Chris Scannell was superbly policed by Colin Nixon.

[Won it at-a-turk...]

Liam Boyce agrees transfer to Werder Bremen

The Irish Football Association has confirmed that Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce has completed his transfer to German club Werder Bremen.

Boyce is expected to be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday.

Last week, Boyce looked set to sign for Bundesliga 2 side SpVgg Greuther Furth only for the move to fall through.

However, Werder Bremen made an approach for the 19-year-old and he underwent a medical on Monday and finally agreed terms on Tuesday.

Boyce is likely to be part of the club's youth or feeder squad which competes in Bundesliga 3.

The senior Werder Bremen club finished third in last season's German top flight and achieved the league and cup double as recently as 2004.

Bremen progressed to the Uefa Cup final in 2009 when they were beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk, in the last playing of the competition before it was rebranded as the Europa League.

Boyce agreed terms with SpVgg Greuther Furth two weeks ago but that move broke down after the Bavarian club stalled on completing the deal.

The striker went on a pre-season trial with Celtic during the summer and was also linked with moves to English and Spanish clubs.

He was named the NI football writers' player of the year in May.

Boyce scored 19 goals in his debut season with Cliftonville, helping the Belfast club finish second in the Carling Premiership.

Amazing deal for the lad

[Kitty Carvill]

is indeed , i think he will start off in the under 23's team then hopefully he will work his way up the first team , definalty deserved cause he is a good wee player

[Kitty Carvill]

BALLYMONEY UNITED 2-2 BANGOR

A last gasp equaliser from Garth Scates gave Bangor a share of the spoils at the Riada Stadium, Ballymoney this afternoon.

Bangor took the lead within the opening five minutes when Brian Hylands' in-swinging corner kick was fumbled into the net by Ryan Martin under pressure from Darren Stirling.

Bangor held the lead until the hour mark when slack defending allowed Gareth McLaughlin to fire low into the corner of the Bangor net. Bangor soon found themselves chasing the game when Mark Gillan headed home a deep cross from the right.

Garth Scates popped up deep into injury time to slot the ball into an unguarded net from six yards after good work from captain Andy Morrow make the final score 2-2.

[Kitty Carvill]

Newry City 2-1 Donegal Celtic

Andy Graham's two first-half goals were enough to earn Newry City victory in Saturday's Carling Premiership clash against Donegal Celtic.

Graham fired Newry ahead on 13 minutes with a low finish past Sean McGreevy.

Darren McNamee then went close for DC before Graham doubled Newry's lead on 37 minutes.

McNamee and Paul McVeigh went close for DC as the visitors improved after the break but Newry held on to win despite McVeigh's 84th-minute goal.

Graham struck Newry ahead with a low shot under Sean McGreevy after a Conor Hagan flick on.

McNamee went close to a DC equaliser as he fired a foot wide but Newry increased their lead on 37 minutes as Graham fired home from six yards after Davy Munster's nod down.

Celtic improved in the second half and McNamee and McVeigh both missed chances to cut into Newry's lead.

McVeigh did pull a goal back for DC six minutes from time after his superb run but Newry held on to take all three points.

[Kitty Carvill]

Portadown 2-0 Coleraine

Coleraine remain without a point or even a goal in the Carling Premiership after Portadown's win at Shamrock Park.

Both keepers made fine first-half saves with Davy O'Hare denying Wesley Boyle and Jordan Baker while David Miskelly saved a deflected Jonny Harkness shot.

The Ports took the lead on 53 as Darren Boyce deflected a Neil McCafferty free-kick into his own net.

Kevin Braniff added Portadown's second on 69 minutes before Coleraine's Stephen Lowry hit the woodwork late on.

Shane McCabe made his Portadown debut after his midweek move from Glentoran and the Fermanagh man was quickly booked after a hefty challenge on Michael Hegarty.

Coleraine custodian O'Hare denied Boyle in quick succession and later produced another excellent double-stop to frustrate Baker and Tim Mouncey.

Portadown goalkeeper Miskelly did brilliantly to divert a deflected Harkness free-kick out for a corner.

Boyce also had a first-half chance but his close-range header was blocked by the Ports defence.

The importance of Miskelly's save became clear when the Ports took the lead on 53 as the unlucky Boyce diverted McCafferty's low free-kick past O'Hare.

On 69 minutes, Braniff brilliantly rounded O'Hare and planted the ball in the net from an acute angle for Portadown's second goal.

The luckless Bannsiders' misery was complete as Stephen Lowry hit the Portadown woodwork late on.

The defeat heaps further pressure on Bannsiders boss David Platt.

[Kitty Carvill]

Dungannon Sw 2-2 Lis Distillery

Pat McShane's injury-time own goal earned Dungannon a home draw in the Carling Premiership clash against Lisburn Distillery at Stangmore Park.

Timmy Adamson put the Swifts ahead on 35 minutes but Gary Thompson levelled for the Whites before the break.

The impressive Mark Patton fired Distillery into the lead on 79 minutes.

Distillery looked to have earned the points but Adamson's injury-time shot hit the woodwork before deflecting off the unlucky McShane into the net.

Dungannon produced the early pressure with Michael Ward firing just wide and Adamson's headed effort then tipped over by Distillery keeper Phillip Matthews.

Ryan McCluskey and Niall Henderson then combined to set up Adamson to fire the Swifts ahead.

McCluskey charged upfield into a threatening position and Adamson fired home from 18 yards after Henderson's perfectly-weighted pass.

The Whites levelled two minutes before the break after Patton's shot was deflected onto the woodwork.

Ryan McIlmoyle should have put the Swifts ahead three minutes after the break but he fired wide following a Distillery defensive mix-up.

Man-of-the-match Patton fired Distillery ahead from close range on 79 minutes after a cross from substitute David Cushley.

Patton's goal looked set to have earned the Whites all three points but to their credit, Dungannon kept battling.

They got the break they needed when Adamson's shot came back off the woodwork in injury-time and was deflected into the net by former Linfield man McShane.

[Kitty Carvill]

Ballymena Utd 1-1 Cliftonville

Ballymena United and Cliftonville shared the points after a keenly fought league game at the Showgrounds.

Gary McCutcheon opened the scoring with an eighth-minute close-range header and Michael Smith shot over from 25 yards.

Peter Hutton levelled a minute before the interval and after half-time Barry Johnston hit the bar and Stephen Garrett was wide with another effort.

Eamon Murray shot over the bar and Smith found the sidenetting late on as the home side pushed for a winner.

"We didn't start the way we would have liked but came into the game and had enough chances to win in the end," said Cliftonville manager Eddie Patterson.

"We will miss Liam Boyce but Stephen Garrett and Chris Scannell are experienced professionals and will do well for us," he added.

[Kitty Carvill]

Carling Premiership: final scores
Saturday 4 September 2010

BALLYMENA UNITED 1
McCutcheon 8

CLIFTONVILLE 1
Hutton 44
-------------------------------------------

DUNGANNON SWIFTS 2
Adamson 35,
McShane og 90+2

LISBURN DISTILLERY 2
G Thompson 43,
Patton 79
-------------------------------------------------

GLENAVON 0

GLENTORAN 1
Martyn 65
--------------------------------------------------

NEWRY CITY 2
Graham 13,37

DONEGAL CELTIC 1
McVeigh 84
-------------------------------------------------------

PORTADOWN 2
Boyce og 53,
Braniff 69

COLERAINE

[Kitty Carvill]

Glenavon 0-1 Glentoran

Ciaran Martyn scored the winning goal for Glentoran to extend his side's lead at the top of the table to four points.

Daryl Fordyce and Johnny Black had first-half chances and after the break Trevor Molloy fired just wide of the post and Neal Gawley went close.

Martyn headed in unchallenged from a Black corner in the 65th minute for his second goal of the season.

Molloy's goalbound effort was blocked by Sean Ward and Black fired narrowly wide as Glentoran took the points.

Fordyce shot over early in the game and then Black had a chance with a 25-yard free-kick.

After the interval, Molloy picked up possession but his left-foot wide was just off-target.

Gawley almost got on the end of a cross before former Derry City player Martyn broke the deadlock

[Kitty Carvill]

Cliftonville trio doubts for Shield clash with Linfield

Cliftonville's George McMullan, Stephen Garrett and Barry Holland are major doubts for Tuesday night's Co Antrim Shield quarter-final against Linfield.

Reds pair Ryan Catney and Mark Holland are already ruled out of the Windsor Park encounter (1930 BST).

Amateur League side Kilmore Rec are aiming to cause an upset when they travel to take on Donegal Celtic.

Elsewhere, Glentoran face Lisburn Distillery at the Oval and Ballymena United host Crusaders.

[Kitty Carvill]

Tuesday 7th September 2010
PADDY POWER COUNTY ANTRIM SHIELD
Full Times

BALLYMENA UNITED 0

CRUSADERS 1
Rainey 60
---------------------------------------------------

DONEGAL CELTIC 4
P McVeigh 38,
Gargan 90,
A McVeigh 90+3,
Henderson 92

KILMORE REC 4
Traynor 5,
Murray pen 7, 63,
Casey 101

Kilmore won 5-3 on penalties
---------------------------------------------------------------------

GLENTORAN 4
Fordyce 10,
Waterworth 34,
Gawley 35,
Martyn 89

LISBURN DISTILLERY 2
Browne pen 52, 77
---------------------------------------------------------------


LINFIELD 2
Allen 19, 65

CLIFTONVILLE 0

[Kitty Carvill]

Kilmore beat Celtic in shoot-out

Holders Crusaders, Glentoran and Linfield are through to the County Antrim Shield semi-finals.

But Donegal Celtic were knocked out on penalties by Amateur League side Kilmore Rec after an amazing 4-4.

Linfield's Curtis Allen scored both in the 2-0 win over Cliftonville and David Rainey got the goal as Crusaders beat Ballymena 1-0 at the Showgrounds.

Daryl Fordyce, Andrew Waterworth, Neal Gawley and Ciaran Martyn were on target in Glentoran's 4-2 win over Distillery.

The headlines, though, belong to Kilmore Rec from Crossgar in County Down who were invited into the competition as winners of the Steel and Sons Cup.

They quickly took a surprise 2-0 lead through Philip Traynor and a Niall Murray penalty.

Paul McVeigh got one back for Celtic but Murray restored the two-goal gap thanks to a howler from home keeper Sean McGreevey.

The Premiership side looked to be heading out in normal time but somehow salvaged a draw through Ciaran Gargan and substitute Aidan McVeigh.

The momentum was now with Marty Tabb's men and they took the lead for the first time in the second minute of extra-time through Ryan Henderson.

But Kilmore came back to equalise through Peter Casey.

In the shoot-out, DC skipper Stephen McAlorum had his side's third kick saved by Kilmore keeper Nathan Curran whose brother Gary Curran converted the winning spot-kick.

Meanwhile, Glentoran, who beat Distillery 6-1 on the opening day of the league season, stormed into a 3-0 lead against the Whites at the Oval.

Fordyce opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season while former Distillery players Waterworth and Gawley also netted before the break.

Former Glens star Gary Browne pulled one back with a penalty and then got his second with a fine strike.

However, Martyn made the quarter-final safe for the Glens in the 89th minute after Jimmy Callacher had laid off Peter Steele's cross.

Allen put Linfield into a 19th-minute lead against Cliftonville when his shot was deflected in off Ciaran Donaghy.

He got his second on 65 minutes, heading from a cross by Aaron Burns.

Rainey got the winner for the Crues in the 60th minute, shooting in after the Ballymena defence had failed to clear.

Crues keeper Chris Keenan made a fine one-handed save from Michael Surgenor as United pressed for an equaliser.