Junior Cup
15 Sept 2007
Shelbourne V Immaculata F.C.
The Immaculata took on Omagh outfit Shelbourne in the first round of the Junior Cup A hard contest played on a very small pitch.The Mac started this game at a very high tempo and in the first 20 minutes should have been at least 3 up they took the lead after about 10 minutes when the mac got a corner which was swung in by Kevin Hughes the shelbourne keeper came out to claim the ball under challenge from Colum O Riordan, he dropped the ball at Colie's feet and it was a simple tap in. The football the mac played in the first 20 -30 miinutes was in my opinion the best from them in 2 seasons the other team did not know what hit them. Danny Collins in midfield was superb everything was played through him.With Cristopher Lawlor attacking down the right and Sean Mc Govern firing in excellant crosses from the left Shelbourne were hard pressed to cope with the Mac.The missed chances in the first 20 minutes was nearly the undoing of the Immaculata as Shelbourne hardly had an effort on goal in the first half,right on the stroke of half time the Mac paid for some slopping defending the Shelbourne left back won the ball in midfield and threw over a cross to the back post were 2 Mac Defenders had the opportunity to clear the ball but failed to do so the Shelbourne winger nipped in and slotted the ball passed Gerard Smith and into the Immaculata Net it was the last kick of the first half.The second half of this game started with a unexplained descision by the referee a minute into the half and Shelbourne got a corner everyone was concentrating on the corner being taken when the referee decided to give a penalty to Shelbourne everyone was dumbfounded and no one could explain why it was given.The spot kick was converted so The Mac were 2 - 1 down The Immaculata then picked themselves up from this set back and attack the Shelbourne team there reward was to equalise through Colm O Riordan to force extra time.How this game even got to extra time was beyond me The Mac should have had it wrapped up well before this.In the first period of extra time Shelbourne took the lead and sat back trying to counter the Immaculata on the break this spurred The Mac on .With tensions running high and the ref letting things go Gerard Rowntree tackled the Shelbourne Midfielder Conor Docherty right on the half way line he jumped up and tried to assault the Immaculata defender an altercation followed and both players including Kevin Lawlor were sent off The Mac were now down to nine men and with time running out it was'nt looking good for the West Belfast lads but they showed their spirit when they got a corner on the right,swung in by Ryan Rooney, Colm O Riordan rose above everyone to head home his and The Mac's third.The tie then went to penalties and with the hostile crowd down both sides of the pitch the Mac were not to be intimidated with Shelbourne missing 3 of their 5 penalties the Mac men Colm O Riordan,Sean Mc Govern and last but not least Christopher Rowntree stepped up to put their penalties away.Just a mention for our goal keeper Gerard Smith who was excellant all day in nets and who saved two of the Shelbourne penallties.The Report below was summitted by Tommy Nethery of the Tyrone Herald.As to date I have not received a copy of this video as I requested on the day
Video proves Shelbourne were stitched up
John Barrett shields the ball from his marker as spins to sent a dipping shot just over the Immaculata crossbar.
SHELBOURNE................................3 IMMACULATA................................3
Immaculata won 3-2 on penalties I DON'T suppose the IFA would consider the video evidence of Pat McNamee even if Shelbourne lodged an appeal against the highly-controversial equaliser which Immaculata scored in extra-time before the West Belfast side went on to snatch victory in a dramatic penalty shootout at Omagh Leisure Complex on Saturday.
The video merely confirmed what every incensed Shelbourne player and supporter claimed after referee John King had amazingly allowed the goal to stand - that visiting goalkeeper Gerard Smith had blatantly punched the ball into the net with his fist. With just one minute of extra-time remaining and Shelbourne leading 3-2, Smith joined the Immaculata attack as Ryan Rooney prepared to take a corner kick. Midfielder Sean McGovern glanced Rooney's kick towards the back of the six-yard box where the lurking Smith used his right hand to fist the ball high to the Shels net. With genuine reason the home support went absolutely mental and their misery was complete when the visitors went on to book their place in the next round by emerging victorious from a nerve-jangling penalty shootout. For the neutral this rip-roaring cup-tie had the lot – six goals, three sendings off, increasing tension, controversy, drama and ultimately for Shelbourne heartbreak. Mind you, the Shels, missing influential duo of Gerard Moore and Kevin Sloan, should have been dead and buried after half and hour as Immaculata came storming out of the starting blocks. With barely six minutes on the clock the visitors made the perfect start after the stretching Shane McNamee spilled a McGovern cross and Colm O'Riordan swooped to tap home from close range. Either side of the break the Shels turned the tables with debutant Johnny Brown equalising before John Barrett made it 2-1 from the penalty spot. O'Riordan scored his second to force extra-time before substitute Ricky Coleman rose to head home a Darragh McGale to put the home side firmly in the driving seat in the first period of overtime. However, after Shelbourne midfielder Conor Doherty and visiting players Gerard Rowntree and Kevin Lawlor were given their marching orders for their part in nasty altercation, nine-man Immaculata, through the illegal actions of their goalkeeper, left the outcome to be decided in the dreaded shootout. In the end it was the home side that cracked under the ultimate pressure and after Barrett, McGale and O'Neill –who hit the bar – failed miserably from the spot, Chris Rowntree scored the winning kick to break Shelbourne hearts.
22/09/2007
Westrock v Immaculata.
Belfast and District Premier League
The Mac continue their winning streak with another win over a stubborn Westrock FC.The Mac had enough chances to finish this game early but the combination of poor finishing and some great saves by the Westrock keeper kept the first half a close contest. The Mac took the lead through a superb Danny Collins drive from the edge of the box and looked to be cruising until the final minute of the first half when a mistake in the Immaculata box let them in to equalise.The second half seen the Mac take a three to one lead with Chris Lawlor scoring the second and Anto Mc Cann getting the third from the spot after Colm O Riordan was fouled by the Westrock Keeper.Westrock battled on and got a consolation goal near the end to make this look like a close contest.
The Immaculata II V Sporta FC.
B&D Division 1
The Immaculata II started this game well.With Liam Mc Givern showing good strength upfront and Micky Dornan commanding the backline the game swung to and fro with both teams having chances early on but the breakthrough didnt come until the second half when the Mac II took the lead through Dee Weldon.Sporta then lifted their game and broke the offside trap twice to take a 2 - 1 lead.The Mac dug in and eqaulised through Stevie Mc Donnell and almost stole it with 5 mins to go when another stevie Mc Donnell effort came back off the cross bar.A fair result for both teams.
6/10/2007
Immaculata v Newton Park
Belfast and District Premier Division
The Immaculata took on bottom of the league side Newton park on Saturday and it was an easy 4 -0 victory with all the goals scored in the first half ,with the chances missed this game should have ended in double figures for the mac.The first goal was a wonder strike by Danny Collins who collected the ball on the right of midfield and drilled in a tremendous strike from a difficult angle.With the Mac playing good football it was only a matter of time for the rest of the goals to come, the other scorers were Christopher lawlor (1) and Sean Mc Govern (2)with the strike force of Christopher Lawlor and Dee Mc Cann Newton parks defence just could'nt cope and with Colie O Riordan and Damian Mc Millen shoring up the Mac backline Newton Pk never really had a strike on nets until the 80 minute.With the game over by half time The Immaculata took their foot and the pedal and the game drizzled out for an easy win.
13/10/2007
Junior Cup 2nd round
Immaculata 7 Olympia 0
The Immaculata played Olympia Fc at Mallusk yesterday and ran out easy winners in this second round tie of the Junior Cup.With goals coming thick and fast Olympia just had no response to the Mac.The first goal came on 20 mins when Dee Mc Cann broke into the box and was upended by a Olympia defender Christopher Lawlor converted from the spot.Five minutes later a pinpoint cross from the right found Sean Mc Govern running into the box and he steered a delightful lob into the top corner.With the Mac playing excellant football it was'nt long before they got another 2 goals before the break with Kevin Hughes(28min)and Dee Mc Cann (40min) converting their chances.The Mac came out in the second half and picked up were they left off with Christopher Lawlor and Kevin hughes netting their second goal a piece on (55min) and (62min).The scoring was then completed when Christopher Lawlor bagged the Mac's 7th and his Hattrick.The Mac take on Olympia again next week in the Junior Shield so are hoping for the same result.
13/10/2007
The Francis Cup
Glanville Star 4 Immaculata II 5
The Mac seconds got of to a slow start in this cup game when they allowed Glanville to take the lead after 20 mins The Mac equalized from the penalty spot with Richard Mc Grillen converting.The Mac then took the lead through Stevie Mc Donald but squandered chance after chance to finish this game off.They then found themselves 3 - 2 at the break after Glanville converted their only chances off the first half.The Immaculata came out at half time with a renewed vigour and with Kevin Lawlor and Stevie McDonald running the midfield they scored three goals through Liam Mc Givern(55),Stevie McDonald(62) and young Joe Dempsey (75) The Mac then hit the post twice and failed to kill off a spirited Glanville side,With 2 minutes to go Glanville scored a consolation goal to make the scoreline and the result look closer than what it really was.
20/10/2007
Junior Shield
Immaculata 8 Olympia 0
The Immaculata took on Olympia in the Junior Shield,after having entertained them the week before in the Junior Cup The outcome was basically the same, an 8 nil win to The Mac.A lot of changes to the Olympia side made no differance as The Mac took up were they left of the week before, with Joe Donegan playing only his second start for the First team bagging a hattrick with just over an hour gone.The other scorers were Seanpaul Moreland (50) Ryan Rooney(72)Mickey Dornan(75)Sean Mc Govern(78)and Christopher Lawlor on the 82nd minute some fantastic individual and also team goals but the best was saved to the last,A fantastic move started off by The Mac goalkeeper Gerard Smith and involving a 5 man pass and move the length of the pitch and superbly finished off by Ryan Rooney.A special mention has to go to Young Micky Dornan, and not so young John Johnston stepping into the first team and playing superbly well.
The Immaculata II 2 v Suffolk Swifts II 0
Belfast & Distrtrict Div 1
Another slow start by the Mac seconds could have seen Swifts take an early lead in the first 10 mins when twice they were clean through on goal but a miss from the swifts striker and a great save from the Mac keeper Gerard Mc Cauley kept the teams level The Mac started to play some nice football and were awarded a penalty on the 20th Min with Richard Mc Grillen scoring from the spot.A tough close game was then played out for the next 80 mins with both teams pushing forward and some chances missed from both sides, a touch of class then decided it for The Mac when Darra Mc Kee was awarded a freekick just inside The Mac's half.Seeing the swifts keeper of his line and with quick thinking he hit a tremendous drive which flew into the oppositions net.Game Over
27/10/2007
Nelson Cup
St Lukes 1 v Immaculata 4
The Immaculata took the short trip up the Falls to twinbrook to take on St Lukes in the first round of the Nelson Cup and came out easy winners w
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