Irish News Cup final second leg: Ballymena Utd 0 Omagh Town 1 (Omagh won 2-1 on aggregate)
ANTRIM GAA player Frank Wilson earned cash-strapped Omagh Town an invaluable £3,000 by hitting the clinching goal in last night’s Irish News Cup final second leg at Ballymena last night.
Wilson, a former captain of the British Universities team, volleyed home gloriously just after the half hour.
Ballymena goalkeeper Damien Crawford attempted to gather the ball near the right hand side of his penalty box but Omagh midfielder John Crilly got there first and his pinpoint cross was blasted home spectacularly by Wilson.
Omagh thoroughly deserved this success on a bitterly cold night.
They had other heroes in defenders Ray McGuinness named Guinness man of the match, plus Mark Donnelly and Eamon Kavanagh.
Up front Michael McHugh again showed the skills which have made him the target of so many Irish League clubs.
Perhaps the biggest hero of them all was 46-year-old goalkeeper Joe McBrearty who made a series of superb saves.
The small Omagh contingent which numbered less than 100 fans celebrated their first major trophy in six years lustily.
It had been the perfect end to a traumatic week for the club which saw Roy McCreadie announcing that he would quit at the end of the season.
Who knows? Perhaps this success and an escape from the relegation zone might convince the manager to have a rethink.
Ballymena Utd: Crawford, Carlisle, Boyd, Allen, McDowell, Candlash, McGreevy, Loughrey, Patton, Muir, Knell
Subs: Hunter for McGreevy (62), Bustard for Carlisle (86), Stewart for Knell (86)
Omagh: McBrearty, Johnston, Donaghey, Donnelly, McGuinness, Kavanagh, Wilson, Gallagher, Frazer, Crilly, McHugh
Subs: Toland for Donaghey (69), McKeever for Wilson (78), Mooney for Frazer (81)
Ref: G McCay (Strabane)
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DOWN’S Peter Withnell may be ruled out of Sunday’s National League quarter-final against Monaghan at Croke Park.
The player was named in the side at half-foward but was last night withdrawn from a National League of Ireland soccer game while playing for his club Dundalk.
Withnell was taken off during the second half of the Oriel Park game against Kilkenny City.
Down boss Pete McGrath was unavailable for comment last night.
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CASTLEWELLAN'S Paul McCabe and Rostrevor’s Anthony Tinley have been promoted to the Down side for Sunday’s National Hurling League game against Tyrone in Newcastle.
Down head for promotion from Division 2B following wins over Westmeath, Louth and London to date.
Down: G Clarke, M Mallon, S Murray, B Smith, M Coulter (Snr), J McCrickard, P Coulter (Cpt) D Hughes, P McCabe, M Coulter Jnr, B Coulter, G Savage, J McGrattan, A Tinley, N Sands.
Subs: M Pucci, P Brannigan, T McMahon, J Brown, E Trainor, S Wilson, G McGrattan, M Braniff, J McCarthy.
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SOCCER legend Denis Law will tonight open Belfast and Northern Ireland’s first Manchester United theme bar.
The Red Devil bar, which replaces the old Broadway Bar on the Falls Road, Belfast will pull its first pint at 7pm tonight.
Former Old Trafford idol Law, will also make a speech at the venue before invited guests.
