Match Report: Co Armagh v North Dublin SL

Jul 26, 2017 | Junior Section

County Armagh claimed a fine 2-1 victory over North Dublin SL at Broughshane in the Supercup Ni Junior section.

 

It was the side from the Republic of Ireland who started the brighter as Sere Ogiehor linked up well with Andreas Lopez but his shot was well saved by Sam Monaghan in the County sides goal.

 

Lopez was involved once again on fifteen minutes as he hit a rasping drive from outside the box before his effort was clawed away from goal.

 

North Dublin then did get their deserved opener on seventeen minutes as Lopez saw his shot saved by the keeper once again the ball however rolled out for Timoni Nolan and he made no mistake in planting the ball into the net. This then set County Armagh alive as they began to take control and they should have levelled when James Black played in Alberto Balde who has recently signed a contract at Sky Bet Championship club Middlesbrough but he sliced his effort wide of the upright.

 

Balde was impressing the supporters with his power and pace and he played a part in the equaliser as he was brought down twenty-five yards out from goal this saw Jason Dodds float in a freekick to the head of Chris Hutchinson before he flicked the ball over the advancing North Dublin keeper Max Demendecki. North Dublin could have gone immediately back in front as Ugo Anny-Nzekwue danced into the box before his effort whistled just wide of the right-hand post.

 

However on the stroke of the break County Armagh took the lead as Demendecki miscued his clearance the ball fell perfectly for Harry Anderson and he made no mistake in placing the ball into the back of the net.

 

North Dublin came out of the blocks quicker in the second half and they should have levelled when Nolan crossed for Ogiehor but he rattled his effort over the crossbar from close range. 

 

In an exciting end to end game County Armagh could have sealed the three points as Balde span the opponents defence before fizzing his effort across the face of the goal but the onrushing Jamie Haire couldn’t get his toe to the ball. 

 

James Black thought he had wrapped up the victory two minutes later as he bent his powerful strike just wide of the target from twenty-five yards out. 

 

North Dublin then had a goal ruled out for offside after Nolan span the County Armagh defence before lashing his effort into the net only to see his celebrations cut short by the offside flag. 

 

It was the side from the South who were finishing the game the stronger as they were creating wave after wave of attack as Nolan linked up with Anny-Nzekwue before he was denied by a last-ditch tackle by Dane McCullough. 

 

As the game came to a close it was the side kitted out in Green who had the last opportunity as Pearse Sheridan drove his way beyond the County Antrim defence before firing his attempt over the crossbar.

 

Credit, Joshua Bunting @Distillerymad