GLENAVON CRASHES OUT OF BETMcLEAN CUP 31486p

Armagh City 0 Glenavon 0 6c442

Armagh won 8-7 on penalties 124614

BetMcLean Cup, 2nd Round 585d8

Holm Park, Armagh

Tuesday 5th November 2024

Glenavon crashed out of the BetMcLean Cup to Armagh City on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes.

Stephen McDonnell’s side dominated the match for long periods but again missed a hatful of clear-cut scoring chances.

There was controversy in extra-time as referee Tim Marshall awarded the visitors a penalty kick but then rescinded his decision and Peter Campbell was bundled to the ground by Armagh goalkeeper Conner Byrne when poised to score without any sanction.

The Premiership club started the match on the front foot. James Doona’s shot was blocked, Jamie Doran flicked the ball over the bar from 8 yards, O’Sullivan’s shot hit a defender and Snoddy fired over.

In the 19th minute James Ward tested Byrne with a well struck free kick. The young goalkeeper dived to his left to make a fine save.

Seven minutes later Glenavon should have taken the lead. David McDaid turned sharply on the edge of the six-yard box, but Byrne somehow kept his effort out. When the rebound fell kindly for the former Coleraine striker, he had another go. This time his shot hit the inside of the far post. It then struck the other post and was cleared.

Armagh’s first goal attempt of the match came in the 32nd minute when James McCormack shot straight at Deane. Moments later Marc McConnell did likewise. Then McCormack turned sharply but shot wide. Scott McCann shot over the crossbar from a free kick in a promising position.

Three minutes into the second half Glenavon conspired to miss another gilt-edged chance. Jamie Doran’s from the right struck a defender and fell to David McDaid who, with only Byrne to beat, shot straight at the goalkeeper and the ball was cleared.

Moments later McDaid, unmarked at the far post, shot across the goalkeeper. When his attempt was blocked Doran was, it seemed, left with a tap-in at the other post but he failed to make a firm connection. Barney McKeown shot over the crossbar from the resultant corner-kick.

Conor Mullen shot narrowly wide from a free kick. Then Gareth Deane made a fine double save from Igor Rutkowski and McCormack. It was Armagh’s best scoring chance of the match.

McDaid again found himself with only Byrne to beat but he delayed, turned and offloaded a weak drive which the goalkeeper saved easily.

James Doona’s free kick attempt from the left was gathered easily by the young custodian.

Peter Campbell found Michael O’Connor with a brilliant and the striker hit the ball well, but Byrne made an excellent stop.

Niall Quinn had an opportunity to head the ball towards goal at the back post, but he elected to nod it across the six-yard area and the opportunity was gone.

With the 90 minutes almost up, O’Connor found himself completely clear with only the onrushing Byrne to beat. However, his weak shot trundled past the post.

During extra-time Glenavon continued to have the lion’s share of possession.

James Doona found space in the penalty area. He seemed certain to score but Dale Montgomery cleared the ball off the line.

Peter Campbell’s instinctive lofted found O’Connor 8 yards out, but he volleyed over the crossbar. How did he fail to hit the target?

Two minutes into the second period of extra-time Glenavon looked poised to take the lead. When Peter Campbell collected a brilliant through by Barney McKeown, he appeared to be fouled by Byrne. The referee awarded a penalty-kick. Michael O’Connor prepared to take it. But then, after consulting the fourth official, the referee changed his mind.

Seven minutes later there was more controversy. Again, Peter Campbell found himself clear of the last defender. Byrne sprinted out of the penalty area. Campbell nicked the ball past him but was completely knocked off his feet by the goalkeeper. Glenavon players appealed for a free kick and red card. Referee Marshall gave neither.

In the dying seconds Byrne excelled again when he dived full length to save Chris Atherton’s shot from 8 yards. McKeown shot inches over the crossbar from the corner-kick which followed.

The penalty shoot-out was as dramatic as the match itself. Michael O’Connor hit the base of the post with Glenavon’s first kick, but Gareth Deane saved Armagh’s fifth attempt to take the tie to sudden death.

When Deane stopped Aaron Coogan’s effort, Glenavon needed to convert the next kick to win the tie. Deane took it but shot against the crossbar.

Jack Clarke converted Armagh’s tenth kick, but James Carroll’s subsequent effort was brilliantly saved by ‘player-of-the-match’ Byrne to take City through.

ARMAGH CITY: C. Byrne, Montgomery, Geraghty, McCormack, Rutkowski, Duffy, Clarke, Jordan, McConnell, Oladunjoye, McCann, SUBS: King (not used), Conway (not used), Mullen for Duffy (half-time), Anny-Nzekwue for McCormack (77 mins), Coogan for McConnell (77 mins), McCaffrey (not used), McMenemy (not used).

Yellow Cards: McCann (110’), Rutkowski (120+2’).

GLENAVON: Deane, Toure, O’Sullivan, Lynch, McKeown, Snoddy, Malone, Ward, McDaid, Doona, Doran, SUBS: M. Byrne (not used), Marshall for Toure (41 mins), Campbell for Ward (61 mins), Quinn for Snoddy (61 mins), Atherton for Doran (61 mins), Carroll for Malone (start of extra time), O’Connor for McDaid (67 mins).

Yellow Cards: None.

REFEREE: Tim Marshall.

Armagh Penalties: Anny-Nzekwue (scored), Geraghty (scored), Rutkowski (scored), Mullen (scored), Oladunjoye (saved), Jordan (scored), Coogan (saved), McCann (scored), Montgomery (scored), Clarke (scored).

Glenavon Penalties: O’Connor (missed), Quinn (scored), Doona (scored), O’Sullivan (scored), Campbell (scored), Marshall (scored), Deane (missed), Atherton (scored), McKeown (scored), Carroll (saved).