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Golden shot bridges 45-year

Thursday, 5 January 2012

David Mailey, Stuart McIlroy and Neil McCullough celebrate Antrim’s Linden Cup final victory.

Antrim 3 Bangor 2 (After extra-time)
ANTRIM ended 2011 in jubilant fashion with a golden goal victory over Bangor in the Linden Cup final at Stormont on New Year's Eve - their first Senior trophy since they beat Lisnagarvey 1-0 to win the Kirk Cup way back in 1966.
Antrim pressed from the start and Ian Brownlees won the first penalty corner in the second minute but Johnny McMeekin's drag flick was palmed away by Bangor's goalkeeper, Andy Seay for a long corner which was easily cleared.
Lloyd Kane was fouled in the circle in the sixth minute and was awarded another penalty corner which developed into three in a row. From the third one, McMeekin's flick rebounded off the keeper to Stuart McIlroy but his shot deflected off a defender for a long corner.
Brownlees, Kane and Ricky McClintock, backed up by McMeekin, McIlroy and David Mailey were squeezing the Bangor defence to try and get that opening goal.
Bangor's first real break forward in the 10th minute but the final pass was just too long for the centre forward to reach. In the 16th minute a quick pass from the Bangor defence split Antrim wide open and only a desperate tackle from McCullough stopped the forward reaching the circle to get in a shot.
The umpire awarded Bangor their first penalty corner of the game and the fierce drag flick just skimmed the right hand post to give Antrim a lucky let off.
In their next attack McMeekin drove the ball into the Bangor circle but Adrian Murtland just failed to get the final touch as the ball flew into the net.
In the 18th minute Rory Brown cut in from the right and from his pass into the circle Murtland's snap shot just skimmed the crossbar. Then in the 19th minute McMeekin worked the ball down the right to slam it across the goalmouth where the unmarked Alan Mullan had crept in behind the Bangor defence to sweep it into the net to give Antrim a deserved 1-0 lead.
Slowly Bangor were winning more and more possession as the game progressed but the Antrim back four of Mullan, McCullough, Mailey and Mark Smyth smothered most of their forays into their '25', so much so that goalkeeper Andy Heatley didn't get one direct shot to save in the first half hour of the game.
But suddenly that all changed when from a Bangor break out, down the left wing, the ball was switched inside to fall perfectly for Ivan Steen who, all in one movement swept it on the reverse, across Heatley into the net for the 31st minute superb equaliser.
Straight from the hit off Brown won a penalty corner for Antrim when the ball hit a Bangor defender's foot in the circle. The corner was cleared but Murtland's long reach intercepted the hit out and his quick pass across the circle was met by the diving McClintock and again the goalkeeper somehow blocked the shot but conceded another penalty corner.
The ball fell to Brownlees but his shot was deflected over the cross bar by Kane's flashing stick as the half time whistle sounded.
Early second half pressure from Bangor brought signs of panic in the Antrim defence and after just four minutes another piece of individual skill saw David McClune find that little bit of extra space to beat two defenders at the edge of the circle and crash a sweet reverse stick shot past the helpless Heatley to give his team a shock 2-1 lead.
As Antrim struggled to get back into the game, play became scrappy and edgy for the next 10 minutes.
Brownlees was giving the Bangor defence nightmares with his mazy dribbles across the top of the circle and within a couple of minutes he almost scored twice; his first shot hit McClintock's foot and his next pile driver hit the post.
This gave his team a big boost and they pushed forward to try and get the equaliser. A Bangor foot in the circle gave Antrim a penalty corner followed by another after a defender obstructed. McMeekin's shot rebounded off the keeper and this time McIlroy swooped to knock the rebound back into the net for a well deserved 54th minute equaliser.
With excitement mounting another Brownlees reverse stick effort was blocked by the Bangor keeper. Then in a Bangor attack down the left Smyth was harshly sin binned for playing the ball with the back of his stick.
Another Antrim corner was wasted when the ball was pushed right but McCullough's shot was blocked. Brownlees won another penalty corner in the 63rd minute but McMeekin's drag flick effort was high and wide.
Then another Brownlees reverse stick shot was brilliantly blocked by the Bangor keeper. McIlroy was fouled in the circle in the 68th minute and from the penalty corner switch Brownlees shot was deflected off the line for a long corner.
In the last minute a Bangor cross from the left found an unmarked forward but unbelievably his shot went well wide of the target and was cleared upfield to Brown who was running at the Bangor circle when the final whistle sounded to take the game into extra time where the first team to score would win the cup.
Straight from the hit off Antrim attacked and Brown robbed a defender at the edge of the circle. The ball broke to McMeekin who slammed it into the net and turned away to celebrate only to find that the umpire's whistle had sounded to somehow penalize Brown's tackle.
Disappointment swallowed, play continued, and from a self taken free another Brownlees rocket was again saved by the opposition keeper to keep his team in the game.
A Bangor long corner was cleared but Antrim were harshly penalised for a high scooped clearance as the half time whistle sounded. Within a minute a Bangor player was sin binned for persistently breaking down play.
The free hit found Brownlees who sliced through several defenders with another mazy dribble to play the ball to Kane and he won another penalty corner when from his snap shot it hit a defender's foot for Antrim's 11th penalty corner in the 11th minute of extra time.
McMeekin's shot deflected back off the keeper's pads where McIlroy reacted first to force the ball back into the net under the goal minder to clinch the 3-2 victory and win the cup for Antrim.
This was a game in which Antrim had 70 per cent of the play and only for the brilliant 'man of the match' performance from the Bangor goalkeeper Andy Seay they would have won more comfortably.
Ian Brownlees just edged Antrim's 'man of the match' award with his long reach, skilful stick play and shooting skills, despite being thwarted by the Bangor goalkeeper's performance.
Andy Linford, Rory Brown and Alistair Reilly must also be complimented for their pitch time contribution during the game as well as Marty Orr's skilful sideline management of the substitutes.
The Club also thank the large crowd of spectators who attended the match to give them their support, one of which was Antrim Mayor, Paul Michael.
Coach Jonathan McMeekin was delighted with the backing shown from the sidelines.
“All the players are very grateful to our supporters for the way they got behind the team and the atmosphere they generated around the ground. The victory was a great way to pay them back," he said.
Captain Alan Mullan said: "It was great to end the year on a high and a big thanks to all the supporters who came to watch the final. I'm sure it was a pretty exciting game to watch.
And vice captain and two-goal hero Stuart McIlroy added: "Thanks for all the support from the Antrim fans who gave us an extra lift when it was needed."
Antrim: A Heatley, A Mullan, N McCullough, D Mailey, M Smyth, J McMeekin, A Murtland, S McIlroy, L Kane, I Brownlees, R McClintock, R Brown, A Linford, A Reilly, D McGrillen, G Shirley.
*This week Antrim return to league action with a home game against Campbellians. The Seconds travel to play Newry Seconds and the Thirds are at home to Instonians Fourths (starting times to be confirmed).

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