Under 15 South Belfast Youth Football League Cup Semi-final
St Mary's FC 5 Crumlin Utd 1
Having returned from a successful Easter tournament in Holland the St Mary's Under 15 team were in good spirits as they faced Crumln Utd in this SBYFL Cup semi final at Ashfield, Holywood Road. St Mary's took an early grip and were unlucky to see early chances from Matthew Harvey and then Stuart Miskelly go wide after good build up play by Conor magee and Michael Donnelly. A blatant handball penalty claim was then incredibly turned down by the referee.
However, shortly after the above incident Stuart Miskelly calmed the nerves by cutting in from the right and firing home passed the Crumlin goalkeeper to make it 1-0. In response Crumlin rallied and had one chance just over before Ryan Morrison in St Mary's goal saved well. Stuart Miskelly set up Matthew Harvey but that chance went over before an Emmett McCracken 25 yard free kick crashed into the top corner on 25 minutes to secure a 2-0 lead before half time.
St Mary's continued to dominate in the second half and Luke Kelly soon put Stuart Miske;lly through again to make it 3-0. Playing with great confidence now it wasn't long before a Conor Magee brought a great save from the Crumlin keeper. A fine run down the right wing by Michael Donnelly saw him cut back for Luke Kelly but he shot over. Jack Arthur, Stuart Miskelly and Matthew Harvey all went close. Crumlin then had a couple of chances to remind St Mary's the game wasn't yet totally won.
However, any lingering nerves were settled when Conor Burrow's free kick was only parried by the Crumlin goalkeeper before Conor Magee swiftly picked up the rebound and rounded him and slipped the ball into the net for 4-0. Matthew Harvey and Sean Lyttle combined well but Stuart Miskelly fired over before Conor Magee rounded off a fine performance with another free kick which just slipped out of the goalkeeper's grasp for 5-0.
The defence had stood firm throughout but a free kick was conceded and Crumlin gained a late consolation goal for the game to end 5-1.
St Mary's now face Crusaders in the forthcoming League Cup final.
Team: Ryan Morrison, Dylan McCrudden, Matthew McCann ( replaced by Jack Arthurs ), Neil Brannigan ( replaced by Ryan McCallan ), Conor Burrows, Michael Donnelly ( replaced by Sean Lyttle ), Emmett McCracken, Luke Kelly, Conor Magee, Matthew Harvey, Stuart Miskelly.