Institute progress in Irish Cup to meet Ards in next round

Institute 2
Crumlin Star 0

Institute booked a home draw against Ards into the next round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup, after a hard fought win over Crumlin Star.

The Waterside men were fortunate to be in the hat for the draw, as they were taken all the way to extra-time by the amateur men, who in truth should have won the tie during the 90 minutes.

Eddie Patterson’s side missed a host of clear cut chances, as Stute struggled throughout, but were delighted to book their place in the last 16 thanks to goals from substitutes Bobby Deane and Kirk McLaughlin

Worringly for the Waterside men they were second best for the majority of the tie after the break, with Star winning all the loose balls and just seemed to want it more.

Institute boss Kevin Deery gave a debut to new loanee signing Mikhail Kennedy, but centre-back Shaun Leppard missed out through illness.

The home side should have broken the deadlock twice in quick succession on 11 minutes.

Firstly Tiaran McKinney’s 20 yard strike was fumbled by Star goalkeeper Ciaran McNeill right into Mikhail Kennedy’s path, but the Crusaders loanee’s close range shot was saved by McNeill and as Kennedy picked out Shane Boyle with the loose ball, the big defender blasted over with the goal at his mercy.

Star to their credit went straight down the other end themselves and the woodwork denied them the lead as David Fearon broke in behind the Stute defence, but his effort, which trickled past the out-rushing Gareth Muldoon, came back off the post.
Fearon had another glorious chance on 26 minutes as he again got in behind to race onto Joseph McNeill’s pass, but the big striker’s close range shot was superbly tipped around his left post by a diving Muldoon.

On 40 minutes McKinney went close again for the home side, but his curling 20 yard strike fizzed over McNeill’s crossbar.

A clever pass by Kennedy just before half-time released Evan Tweed, but after creating himself some space on the edge of the box, the midfielder’s left footed strike flashed just wide.

Star missed a great clear cut opportunity on 52 minutes as midfielder James Doyle headed over from virtually on the goal-line, as Kevin Lynch’s right wing centre was fizzed into the six yard box to create the opening.

After the break the Belfast men on a few occasions had good chances to break the deadlock, but they just lacked that killer instinct in the final third.

In one of their rare attacks on 77 minutes, Stute substitute Michael Harris let fly from 25 yards but McNeill pushed the effort around the post.

Right at the death the Drumahoe club thought they had strong claims for a penalty waved away as Kennedy seemed to be brought down inside the box, but referee Declan Hassan felt his dived and cautioned the striker.

Muldoon had to make a top drawer save on 95 minutes as McNeill ghosted into the Stute penalty box, but his well hit drive from just inside the box was outstandingly kept out by the out-rushing keeper.

The deadlock was finally broken against the run of play as the home side took the lead when substitute Deane scrambled the ball home from close range, after Star failed to clear Patrick Fionn McClure’s inswinging right wing corner.
The woodwork came to Stute’s rescue again on 108 minutes as James Doyle’s 25 yard wonder strike, which had Muldoon beaten, came crashing back off the crossbar.

To their credit Star kept pushing forward looking for an equaliser and they went close on 115 minutes but substitute Brendan O’Neill’s well hit effort took a massive deflection on it’s way over the bar.

Stute sealed their place in the next round as they netted a second on 117 minutes as McLaughlin broke the offside trap and calmly raced clear from the half-way line, before slotting the ball past McNeill. They will now face Ards, who caused the shock of the round by knocking out Cup holders Crusaders on penalties. 

Teams

Institute: Gareth Muldoon, Ryan Morrow, Dylan King, Shane Boyle, Conor Quigley (Patrick Fionn McClure HT); Orrin McLaughlin, Evan Tweed (Kirk McLaughlin 63), Bradley Callaghan (Bobby Deane 82); Mark Mbuli (Daylen Farren 55), Mikhail Kennedy, Tiarnan McKinney (Michael Harris 55).

Crumlin Star: Ciaran McNeill, Samuel McBurney (Brendan O’Neill 90), Aidan McNeill, Niall Hawkins, Aidan Lillis, Joseph McNeill, Noel Halfpenny (Kevin Trainor 82), Francis Nolan (Conor McLaughlin 77), David Fearon, James Doyle, Kevin Lynch (Stephen Smyth 89).

Referee: Declan Hassan (Ballymoney).