CLEARER WATER IRISH CUP FIRST ROUND
Dundonald FC 1
Newbuildings United 2
Dennis S Nash reports from the Billy Neill Centre
WITH not even two months having passed since Cliftonville defeated Linfield to lift the Irish Cup for the first time in 45 years, the draw was made for the first round of the 2024-2025 edition of the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world.
No fewer than 107 clubs were in the hat which produced 43 ties and a further 21 byes into the next round. Feature Match picked out Dundonald FC for their first knock-out experience of the season under the Lee Cathcart regime as they entertained Newbuildings United at the Billy Neill Complex.
Goals either side of half-time from Jack Magee and Jack McClelland saw the visitors take control of the tie, with Stephen Cockcrof’s late strike for the hosts proving mere consolation as Dundonald bowed out to the Ballymena & Provincial League outfit.
It was the home side who started on the front foot when Aaron McKeown put in an early run down the wide right, but Jack Magee snuffed out the early threat.
McKeown then combined with Aaron Keery along the opposite flank before at the other end Simon Graham moved quickly to thwart the mobile Matthew Harkin.
The early attacking forages from both sides continued to flow through the opening exchanges with Jack McClelland for the visitors and Keery and Max Kennedy both creating forward thrusts for Lee Cathcart’s side.
Kennedy, who has recently returned to Dundonald after a spell with Harland and Wolff Welders, looked particularly sharp when moving forward, but the opening half-hour’s play produced little in the way of clear-cut chances.
After the almost obligatory water break on 33 minutes it was the visitors who were first to draw blood through Jack Magee, the former Limavady United and Dunloy man ensuring Newbuildings went into the interval one up.
Obviously consolidated and encouraged by the first-half goal, the visitors started the second period in fine fettle and Dundonald had to soak up an early onslaught as Newbuildings looked to double their advantage.
Aaron McKeown’s early second-half effort was gathered by the diving John Paul Shiels and with the half seven minutes old Jack McClelland made it two-nil to the away side and gave Dundonald a mountain to climb.
The visitors definitely had their tails up and a strong effort from McClelland shortly afterwards was just over the home crossbar. Only for the efforts of Dean McGibbon in the hosts’ goal, who tipped a Matthew Lynch strike over the bar, Newbuildings could have gone further in front.
Andrew Dummigan, signed from Islandmagee to add firepower to the Dundonald front line, was lively up front, but Newbuildings man-of-the-match Darren Robb and Grant Buchanan held a strong defensive grip on the proceedings.
Neil Melville and Paul Lowry were pushing forward up the right as Dundonald looked to ignite a comeback, while Dummigan spun a good attempt off the woodwork.
Deep into added on time Stephen Cockcroft got Cathcart’s men on the scoresheet but the final whistle followed quickly and Dundonald’s interest in the Irish Cup was over for another season.
THE MATCH CARD
Dundonald FC: Dean McGibbon, Neill Melville (C), Aaron Keery, Simon Graham, Curtis Beattie, Craig Martin, Aaron McKeown, Max Kennedy, Andrew Dummigan, Braiden White, Stephen Cockcroft.
Substitutes: Jay Murray, Lewis Crothers, Richard Hamilton, Jordan McBride, Paul Lowry.
Officials: Lee Cathcart, Gareth Graham, Andy Palmer, Mark Cathcart, Darren Ireland, Chris Eve.
Newbuildings United: John Paul Shields, Darren Robb (C), Zack Dougherty, Grant Buchanan, Thomas McBride, Lorcan Toner, Jack Magee, Jack Bradley, Matthew Harkin, Jack McClelland, Matthew Lynch.
Substitutes: Kalvin Huey, Sam McDermott, Jack Millar, Sam Dougherty, Jordan Thompson, Steven Wallace.
Officials: Steven Wallace and Jack Guy
THE TEAMS
Dundonald FC
Formed in 1956, Dundonald Football Club is an intermediate football club playing in Division 1C of the Northern Amateur Football League.
Their registered home ground is at the Billy Neill Centre on the Comber Road.
Dundonald’s opening league fixture played just days earlier had resulted in a 4-1 win over Ballywalter and obviously it will be the club’s initial aim to push towards promotion.
The club’s main sponsors for the 2024-2025 season include Brian Law, Holywood Flooring (Wayne Beck) and That Prize Guy.
Newbuildings United FC
Newbuildings United Football Club, founded in 1991, is an intermediate-level team playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Football League.
The club is based in Newbuildings on the banks of the River Foyle in County Londonderry, with their home ground on the Duncastle Road.
Newbuildings United has a youth academy catering for both boys and girls aged four to 16. The club entered seven teams in this year’s Foyle Cup tournament winning the Under 10 Boys Shield, Under 11 Girls Shield and Under 12 Boys Rose Bowl.
The village also houses a highly-successful cricket club who this summer were crowned North West Senior Cup champions.
THE COMPETITION
The Irish Cup was first contested in 1881.
Linfield are the most successful team in the history of the competition, having won it 44 times and finished runners-up on a further 22 occasions.
Other first round results from last Saturday were:
Bryansburn Rangers 0-3 Coagh United
Drumaness Mills 0-2 Crumlin United
Killyleagh YC 0-4 Abbey Villa
Larne Tech OB 0-2 Comber Rec
Portaferry Rovers 3-2 St Luke’s
Portavogie Rangers 2-2 Newmills (Newmills won 5-4 on penalties)
REFEREE FOCUS
Stuart McFarland provided his customary sound and sensible performance and made sharp and authoritative decisions.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
On photography duties at the game was Jonathan Coates.
AARON DUNLOP
Although the former Ards Rangers player was on the injury list’ I had a lengthy conversation with Aaron and certainly hope that I will be able to report on a game when the talented front man gets into the action with Dundonald.
THANKS
Dundonald Club officials were thoughtful and considerate in their welcome and I intend to get back to the Billy Neill before long.
