IFA Championship Division 2

19th November 2011

Queen’s should have been ahead after eight minutes. Michael Allison played James Lavery in but the normally reliable striker shot wide from 10 yards. Five minutes later Sport & Leisure’s John Donnan broke clear of the Queen’s defence and as he tried to go past Gerard Duff, the keeper brought him down in the box. A red card for Duff saw Paul Prenter take the gloves but he couldn’t save Darren Gallagher’s spot kick. With ten men Queen’s easily matched their opponents until the break and after 35 minutes were level as Lavery headed home Paddy Donnelly’s left wing corner.

Sport & Leisure were the better team in the second period and won the game when Donnan broke free on the right wing, his accurate cross finding Gallagher’s head at the near post and he gave Prenter no chance. Sport & Leisure had other chances especially when Gallagher got away but shot narrowly wide. Queen’s applied some pressure near the end but couldn’t make any clear chances.

Even with ten men we were well in this game until half time and seemed to have a reasonable chance of winning it. Even allowing for being a man short, we were very poor in the second half, with too many normally good players having a real off day. However we are still in second place so there is all to play for.

No game next week as we have a bye in the Intermediate Cup, so our next game will be away to Coagh United on 3rd December.

Teams: -
Queen's:
G. Duff, D. Tumilty, Phil Prenter, Paul Prenter, M. McManus, M. Allison, P. Donnelly, A. Keenan, P. McDonald, C. Mulholland, J. Lavery

Subs: M. Vernon, S. Quinn, S. Harper, R. Murphy, R. Budden

Sport & Leisure:
D. Nugent, J. Daly, G. Kelly, H. Dargan, G. McCabe, K. Duff, A. Kavanagh, A. Heagney, J. Donnan, D. Gallagher, C. Delaney

Subs: N. McGinn, A. Quinn, J. Diamond