Ballinamallard United bowed out of the Irish Cup after a 3-2 defeat to Newry City.

The Mallards found themselves two down to the Premiership side after just 20 minutes, and although they pegged them back with goals from Simon Warrington and Alex Holder, a 70th minute strike from Ciaran O’Connor spelt the end of their Cup dreams for another year.

Ballinamallard manager Tommy Canning made three changes to the starting line-up that lost the derby against Dergview, opting for a new formation with three central defenders.

Jamie Dunne missed the match through suspension, Aaron Smyton missed out through injury and John Edgar dropped to the bench.

Richie Johnston came in to bolster the defence, with Harkin returning after illness and Josh McIlwaine making his first start for six weeks.

Newry came into the game having not won a league game since October, but their fragile confidence received an early boost when they took the lead after five minutes.

A long hopeful ball towards the penalty area was fumbled by Mallard’s goal keeper Jamie Ray, and Ciaran O’Connor had the simple task of slotting into the unguarded net.

Ballinamallard’s task became even harder when a second mistake after twenty minutes saw them fall further behind.

Aaron Harkin collected a pass in the right back area and attempted to lay the ball back to Ray in goal, but he under hit his pass and Adam Salley nipped in to round the keeper and make it 2-0.

Despite the early setbacks Ballinamallard continued to press forward and they had a great chance to pull a goal back when Simon Warrington broke clear of the Newry defence, but he dragged his shot wide of the post.

The Mallards top scorer made amends five minutes before half time when he again broke clear, this time slotting the ball between the keeper and his near post to reduce the deficit.

Buoyed by the goal the Mallards made a bright start to the second half and had an early opportunity hacked clear by the Newry defence, before they grabbed an equaliser four minutes into the half.

A flowing move down the right flank involving James McGrath and captain Aaron Arkinson created space for a cross and Alex Holder tapped in at the far post to square the contest.

With both teams searching for a winning goal the game opened up in the last quarter, and McGrath fired over the bar for Ballinamallard, before Newry struck again with what would prove to be the winning goal, a counter attack giving O’Connor his second goal of the match.

Ballinamallard threw on a succession of attacking substitutions in a bid to salvage something from the game, and it almost paid dividends in the final minute when Ben McCann rose to head goalwards, but his effort rose over the crossbar and Newry held on to end the Mallards brief cup run.

TEAMS

NEWRY CITY:

Maguire, King, N. Healy, McGivern, McKeown, O’Connor, Salley, Bagnall, Scullion, Poynton, McGovern

Subs: Mooney for Scullion (73), Newell for McGovern (87), Healy for Salley (87)

BALLINAMALLARD:

Ray, McCann, Johnston, Holder, Arkinson, Harkin, McIlwaine, Byrne, Warrington, McGrath, Maguire.

Subs: Moorehead for Byrne (71), Edgar for Holder (75), Palmer for Arkinson (82)

REFEREE: Shane McGonigle