Not for the first time this season, goalkeeper Kevin McLaughlin was the hero as Glengad United won a penalty shoot-out – this time against Kildrum Tigers to reach the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup final.
Glengad United 1 Kildrum Tigers 1 (after extra time. Glengad win penalties)
Kildrum will feel they should have closed this game out when they led going into injury time but ultimately indiscipline which saw two players red carded for second cautions cost them dearly
Matthew Byrne fired an early shot from the left hand side of the area inches over the angle before at the other end instant control by Finn Harps veteran Kevin McHugh saw his effort well saved by Kevin McLaughlin.
A Byrne free from the left found Conor Barrow but under pressure he headed wide. Before the break McHugh turned defenders on the edge of the area but again his left footed effort was palmed away by McLaughlin.
Kildrum made the breakthrough on 49 minutes when the Glengad defence failed to clear a ball over the top and McHugh superbly lifted the ball over McLaughlin to the roof of the net from eight yards.
A well-worked free then from McHugh saw him squared the ball across for Matthew Crossan advancing from midfield and his twenty yards powerful effort crashed off the post.
After a Glengad attack broke down on 63 minutes substitute Michael Ayton race clear on the right and cur in but fired wide when he had options in the middle.
When Gareth Colhoun pulled Stephen McLaughlin back on the edge of the area he received a second yellow card and Kildrum were down to ten.
The resultant free saw Matthew Byrne curl the ball just past the post.
Glengad dominated after this with Dillon Ruddy firing over the bar before Patrick McDermott saw a low shot come off the base of the post and John McDaid also fired over.
Deep into injury time Glengad forced a corner and when keeper McLaughlin headed the ball on Ruddy was on hand to sweep the ball home at the back post.
In the first period of extra time Barrow had a great chance when he bore down on goal but fired weakly at Rory Carr in the Kildrum goal.
Midway through the second period William Lynch also received a second yellow card and Kildrum were down to nine men.
Byrne then had an effort saved by Carr before at the other end
Crossan ‘s powerful free kick punched clear by Mclaughlin. Glewngad had the final chance of the game when desperate last ditch defending saw the visitors defenders block successive shots from Stephen McLaughlin and John G McDermott.
In the shootout McLaughln once again emerged the hero when he saved three of the four kicks he faced and Glengad advanced to the final on Friday in Maginn Park against Bonagee.
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