Ulster Shield Report

Ulster Junior Shield

Rasheney  FC               4

Cockhill Reserves        2

First division Rasheney made sure there was no upset but were made to battle all the way  when Cockhill recovered from three down to make it three two before the home side sealed the tie with a late goal.

Cockhill had the first chance when a long range Mark Gillespie effort sailed over while at the other end Charlie Doherty flashed a free just wide. On 26 minutes David McLaughlin released Doherty who beat the outrushin  Liam Lynch to fire home. Cockhill replied and Martin McDermott had a close range effort blocked by Shane Gordon. Rasheney’s David McLaughlin then went close with a dipping effort just over before Doherty from an acute angle saw his effort cleared off the line by Bernard Gubbins. Rasheney doubled their lead on 47 minutes when a defensive error allowed Doherty to advance on the right but when his effort was blocked by Lynch and a defender  the ball fell nicely for McLaughlin to slot home. Within minutes Matthew McLaughlin broke on the left and lifted the ball over Lynch from the angle of the area. Cockhill tried to get back into it but efforts from Gillespie went wide and McDermott ‘s effort was cleared off the line by James McConalogue.  The visitors reduced the deficit on 63 minutes when a Kevin McDaid free was turned home by Andy McElhinney. Ryan Mallett then laid the ball off to McElhinney but drove straight at Sean Friel from eight yards. It was all Cockhill and McDaid was denied by a superb tackle from Shane Gordon. They did get another goal on 77 minutes when McDaid’s ball over the top was not claimed by Friel allowing substitute Eddie Cuffe to stroke the ball home. Rasheney replied and John McLaughlin’s effort was parried by Lynch before the home side sealed matters on the stroke of full time when a superb Michael Toland cross was slotted home at the back post by Doherty.