DULEEK 0
A CONOR McQuillan goal 10 minutes from time saw Albion Rovers record a big win in Division 1 against the pre-season favourites Duleek on Thursday night.
Albion set up in a deeper defensive unit for the first 20 minutes, just trying to keep it tight against a usually free-scoring Duleek side, and as a result Bryan Murphy and Dylan Moore’s charges struggled to get a clean shot on goal.
However, the game settled down after that period and Duleek had the first real chance on goal around the half-hour mark. A ball over the top saw Matthew Noone race through, only to be brought down just inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot, but as Cormac McGroggan was making his run-up Stephen Beirth dived and the striker pulled his shot wide of the keeper’s right-hand post.
The only other chances of note for the visitors in the first half came when McGroggan fired a long-range shot at Beirth, while Bobby Brady couldn’t connect properly with a header and his effort went tamely into the hands of Beirth.
Ultimately his three-game goal-scoring run would come to an end in this match.
Albion were happy to live off scraps, but late on Dylan Kirwan started a move which saw Josh O’Reilly find Callum Sheedy and he took a touch before striking a shot from 30 yards out which came off the crossbar.
The sides went in scoreless at the break, largely in part to the defensive work of Albion’s twin players Noel and Dylan Myles who were imperious at the back.
Duleek boss Murphy made three changes early in the second half and his side started much brighter. Albion, though, stuck to their counter-attacking tactic and their best chances were coming from set pieces.
With 10 minutes remaining Darren McCann whipped in a free from the left and McQuillan just managed to beat Moore to the ball and headed home to give the hosts the lead. The striker had been introduced just five minutes earlier and that was his first meaningful contribution to the game.
The remainder of the game was all played in the Albion half, with the Monasterboice side employing a very physical approach to defending.
Duleek did have the ball in the net on 86 minutes through Dylan O’Boyle, but the goal was disallowed for a hand-ball by Kyle Byrne during the build-up.
Albion: Stephen Beirth, Dylan Walsh, P Browne, Noel Myles, Dylan Myles, Darren McCann, Eric Winters (Ross Kinch), Dylan Kirwan (Stephen Martin), Josh O’Reilly (Dylan Quinn), Callum Sheedy (Conor McQuillan), Jamie Moore (James Tester).
Duleek: Daire Moore, Ben Boyce, Leon O’Leary, Robbie Daly, Callum Cooney, James Burke, Bobby Brady (Kyle Byrne), Adam Kelly (S O’Halloran), Matthew Noone (Dylan O’Boyle), Cormac McGroggan, Karl Dyas (Blessed Omorojor).
