Ulster Gazette - Sports - City make their point

Sports

City make their point

Thursday, 26 January 2012

City make their point thumbnail Loughgall's Paul Keenan prepares to shoot on goal against Armagh City during the Mid-Ulster Cup quarter-final match at Lakeview on Tuesday night. CG0406

Annagh United 1. Armagh City 1.

ARMAGH City and Annagh United played out a second derby Championship Two draw of the season on Saturday.
Both sides really went for it although City will fell disappointed they didn't come away with all three points.
But they had to play the last 21 minutes of the game with 10 men after Shane Mulgrew, making his return to Tandragee Road following his transfer to City, was sent off for dissent.
The last time these two sides met at Holm Park the game ended 3-3.
And it could easily have been a similar score had it not been for some great saves from City 'keeper Paddy Heaney and his Annagh counterpart Andrew Wright.
City got off to a great start and had Annagh under severe pressure.
And after five minutes they went close when Adam Nesbitt was put through by Liam Cullen but there was nobody in the box to finish the striker's dangerous cross.
Four minutes later Kenny Camlin - who was playing his first game following a six-match suspension for a headbutt in the last game between the sides - fired a free kick from 25 yards straight into the arms of Heaney.
Annagh went close on 12 minutes when Camlin's whipped in a dangerous cross from a corner, forcing Heaney to save at his near post before the defence scrambled the ball away to safety.
However it was City who took the lead two minutes later when a poor back pass from Annagh skipper Alan Murphy was intercepted by Nesbitt.
The striker's first shot was saved by Wright but Nesbitt regained his feet first to stab the ball home.
And on the half hour mark, Nesbitt should have doubled the lead for City.
Mulgrew's shot from distance was only parried by Wright but Nesbitt was guilty of missing an absolute sitter.
Mulgrew was certainly enjoying a decent match against the team he played for in the first half of the season and on 36 minutes he went close.
He produced some trickery in the box however his final shot was vitally blocked by Darragh Peden just a couple of yards from goal.
Peden was then involved at the other end five minutes before the break when he came close to levelling the game.
Another dangerous cross from Camlin went into the box, Jamie Uprichard's blocked shot fell perfectly for Peden who saw his acrobatic effort that was heading for the top corner produced an excellent one-handed save from Heaney.
An action-packed half continued on 42 minutes when Cillian Sheridan broke for City and forced Wright into making a fingertip save of his own.
Moments later the Annagh shot stopper once again frustrated City when he turned Marty Lavery's shot from distance away for a corner.
And a minute from the break Mulgrew's dangerous cross into the danger zone was scrambled away to safety.
While the first half was full of drama and excitement, the second half was the exact opposite.
Chris Coleman tried his luck from distance for the hosts with a speculative shot from distance that was well over the target on 55 minutes.
Three minutes later Camlin's cross into City's box was easily dealt with by Heaney.
But Annagh were level on the hour mark when Peden's throw in found Francis McCann who, in turn, crossed the ball to the back post where Murphy made no mistake in heading in.
Nine minutes later the red mist descended on Mulgrew when his appeals for a foul on him were ignored by the referee.
And the midfielder protested too much when he was given a straight red card for dissent.
Both sides had one more chance for the rest of the game.
Substitute Raymond Wilkinson broke for the hosts on 73 minutes but his shot from the edge of the box was over the top.
And 10 minutes later City substitute Mickey O'Neill let rip with a powerful half volley from distance that was saved by Annagh's back-up 'keeper Johnny Byrne.
Annagh United: Andrew Wright, Richie Allen, Nathan Riddle, Darragh Peden, Alan Murphy, Chris Murdock, Francis McCann, Chris Coleman, Jamie Uprichard, Jamie Gardiner, Kenny Camlin.
Subs: Johnny Byrne for Andrew Wright (61 mins), Raymond Wilkinson for Jamie Gardiner (61 mins), Dee McErlean for Richie Allen (86 mins). Not used: Raymond Harpur, Martin Hughes.
Booked: Chris Coleman, Chris Murdock.
Armagh City: Paddy Heaney, Dale Montgomery, Ryan McGerrigan, Ultan Lennon, Dara Noonan, Shane Mulgrew, Marty Lavery, Liam Cullen, Gavin Cusack, Adam Nesbitt, Cillian Sheridan.
Subs: Mickey O'Neill for Ryan McGerrigan (71 mins), Gareth Grimley for Adam Nesbitt (90 mins), Darren Bruce for Marty Lavery (95 mins). Not used: Brendan O'Hea, Paddy Lawless.
Booked: Gavin Cusack.
Sent off: Shane Mulgrew.