Ballinamallard Utd 1 Glenavon 2

 

There was late, late heartbreak for Ballinamallard at Ferney Park today as they made their exit from the Irish Cup in dramatic fashion.

A Caolan McAleer goal ten minutes from time had looked as if it would see the Ducks spring a cup upset on Premiership outfit Glenavon, but as the tie moved into added on time Peter Campbell fired home a free kick to level it at 1-1.

And there was still time for a final twist in the tale as Matthew Fitzpatrick bagged the winner in the 93rd minute to send the Lurgan Blues through and leave the Mallards gutted.

“I’m gutted for the players because they deserved, for me, to have gone through to the next round of the cup, but that’s football," said Mallards boss Harry McConkey. "You have to go right to the wire, and it is cruel and horrible at times." 

Glenavon played with a strong breeze at their backs in the first half and made a bright start to the contest.

However, as the half progressed the home side grew more and more into the game and it was the Mallards who had the best chance of the half when Ben McCann's cross fell for Darragh Byrne but his effort was saved by Glenavon's former Ballinamallard goalkeeper Rory Brown.

McAleer saw a shot deflected out for a corner at the start of the second half although Glenavon did begin to assert themselves on the tie and substitute Aaron Prendergast had the chance to put them ahead when he met a Sean Ward cross but his header was over the bar.

With 80 minutes on the clock though Ballinamallard grabbed the opener. Captain Richard Clarke broke up play in his own half and sent McAleer away on the left and the attacker did the rest as he carried forward before clinically dispatching a shot at the near post for 1-0.

Glenavon pressed forward after this in search of an equaliser but the Mallards defended resolutely and seemed as if they would see the game out as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.

However, Glenavon were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal, one that the Mallards felt was contentious, and Campbell stepped up to clip a shot into the corner of the net.

And Glenavon went onto compete the comeback when Fitzpatrick hooked home from a corner to send the Lurgan outfit through and leave the Mallards heartbroken.