Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Larne
14 Jan 2012

LARNE exited the JJB Sports Irish Cup with a 3-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park on Saturday, but it was a creditable effort by Paul Millar’s men against Premiership opposition.

The visitors weathered an early storm in which Brian Neeson produced a couple of good saves and began to gain a foothold in the game.

Indeed, it was Larne who took the lead. A good move was finished off when a cross by Jamie Marsh was forced into the net by Paul Maguire on the half hour.

However, the lead lasted just nine minutes. Larne lost possession in midfield, and Johnny Topley released Sean Friars, who steered the ball past Neeson.

In the second period, Paul Maguire had a great chance to put Larne ahead again, when he beat Morgan in a race for the ball, but his shot was cleared off the line.

It was a decisive moment, as Dungannon got the lead shortly afterwards. Morgan rescued a wayward backpass, and launched the ball forward. It was knocked on and Lavery outpaced the Larne back line and emphatically fired past Neeson on 54 minutes.

Dungannon finally began to take charge as they flashed a number of attempts around the Larne goal, and their third goal finally came with four minutes to go. Neeson saved the initial shot, but Friars pounced to tap in the rebound for his second goal of the afternoon.

Larne are back in Belfast Championship 1 action next Saturday with a trip to playBangor. Supporters are reminded that this match will kick off at the earlier time of 2pm due to floodlighting problems at Clandeboye Park.

Larne: Neeson, Marsh, Brown, White, Carland, McAllister, Workman (Steele), Young, Maguire, Yilmaz, Lemon (Dick)
Unused subs: Moore, Todd, McClean

Dungannon Swifts: 1. Morgan, 22. O’Neill, 4.Montgomery, 30. Gallagher, 19. McClean, 16. McKerr (20. Lavery), 26. Harpur, 24. Topley, 7. Brolly (3. Murphy), 10. Ward (8. Funston), 29. S. Friars
Unused subs: 6. T. Fitzpatrick, 18. Donnelly