Comfortable Season Opener For Mals

N'abbey skipper Stevie Dallas, referee Andrew Davey and Mals captain Conor McHugh

A youthful Malachians side opened the season with a comfortable 5-0 win over Division 1C side 18th N’abbey OB  in the Steel and Sons Cup at the Stadium of Sand. Malachians were delighted to see Ciaran Stitt in goals for his first competitive game for the club and started with a back four of Paddy Kavanagh, who had a steady game throughout, Tony McVeigh on the left and a centre back partnership of Corr and pre-season scoring sensation McDonagh. Up front the re-energised McCourt started alongside another Mals debutant, Gary “Gazza” Reilly.

Young Reilly was soon catching the eye with his speed and directness in front of goal and the first two half chances of the game fell to the new signing , with Lowe slipping him in but away keeper, who was to be busy throughout, saving well at his feet. Upfront the away side had their own pacey striker, Colin Hinton, who looked most likely to score for the visitors

The game continued in disjointed fashion until just before the half hour mark when Mals went in front and the home side settled. A long cross from the left by McVeigh found McCourt all alone on the edge of the box. So alone was he that he had enough time for a brief converstion with referee Andrew Davey to ensure that he was onside before calmly sidefooting home for the seasons’s opening score.

Just five minutes later Gazza Reilly opened his Mals account when he took advantage of a defensive lapse to round keeper Darren Diven and Mals were two up and coasting. On forty minutes it was three when a cleverly crafted move involving McAtee, Lowe and McCourt saw Reilly again played in and the young striker had his second and Mals third.

Mals were now dominating with McAtee and captain McHugh bossing the centre of midfield allowing Lowe and Feighan to constantly threaten on the flanks and both McCourt and Reilly, with a header that crashed against the bar, went close before the break.

HT: Malachians 3 18th N’abbey OB 0

As the Malachians committee, out in force for the season opener, retired for some well earned refreshments to the VIP lounge at neighbours Grove, manager Donnelly used his half time team talk to urge more of the same, pacey, passing football from his side in the second half and they did not disappoint. Within ten minutes of the restart it was  four when subsequent man of the match McCourt grabbed his second with a great individual effort and the game was effectively over.

Hinton continued to threaten for the visitors with a sublime lob from distance that hit the bar with home keeper Stitt beaten, but in reality the home goal was otherwise rarely threatened and with Stitt barking out the orders the defensive line held well with Kavanagh and McVeigh getting on the ball, going forwards at every opportunity. Young Francis Donnelly then replaced McAtee as the game became decidedly low key but the crowd were on their feet applauding as the always entertaining McDonagh curled an exquisite free kick from distance only to see his effort crash back high off the left upright.

Gazza Reilly continued to impress with his busy, pacey directness and was only denied what would have been a well deserved hat trick by several further great saves from keeper Diven. Mals did run in a further late goal to make it five but by that stage minds were already starting to look forward to next Tuesday when Killyleagh will be the visitors and the league campaign will start , with what promises to be a sterner task for this youthful and promising Malachians side.

FT: Malachians 5 18th N’Abbey OB 0

Manager’s MoM: Mark McCourt