Match Report v Finaghy – 22/11/25

Lisburn Distillery v Finaghy (Clearer Water Irish Cup 4th Round) – Saturday 22nd November 2025

Lisburn Distillery took to the field in the Irish Cup on Saturday in what was newly appointed manager Lee Forsythe’s first game in charge of the side. The prize on offer for a win against Finaghy was a place in the fifth round of the competition for the first time since the 2018 / 2019 season and the prospect of a tie against a Premiership or Championship side.

There were a few changes made to the side from the previous week’s league defeat against Newry; Aaron Boyd dropped out due to starting a three game suspension and was joined by Aaron Sharkey and Kyle Anderson. The trio were replaced in the starting eleven by Padraig McVicker, Caleb Crawford and Jay Torrens.

Before the game there was a minutes silence held for our former players Billy Totten and Tommy McIlroy, who passed away since our previous home game. Our thoughts continue to be with both family circles at this difficult time.

The Whites started the game brightly and there were a couple of nervy moments for the Finaghy goalkeeper, Nathan Clarke, who fumbled the ball inside his penalty area twice but fortunately for the visitors the ‘keeper managed to regain his composure before Distillery could capitalise.

In the 11th minute Torrens did well to keep the ball in play out on the left and turned in-field past a couple of defenders before playing a good pass through to Benny Igiehon but the ball was just out of reach of the Distillery striker.

The lively Torrens was involved in the opening goal of the game two minutes later though, he collected a pass from Guillaume Keke out on the left and immediately played the ball further down the channel for Gerard Storey to run on to. The former Cliftonville midfielder then checked back inside and sent a high cross towards the back post, finding another former Reds player in the shape of McVicker, who sent a low first time shot past Clarke to put Distillery ahead and score his first goal of the season.

Finaghy sought to equalise a minute after going behind but Marcus Thompson managed to get down well to hold onto Marcus Greenfield’s effort from just inside the box. Then after 17 minutes Distillery fans were scratching their head wondering how it wasn’t 2-0 but to credit Finaghy defender Jon Bimie he did well to get to an inviting cross from McVicker before Torrens and then managed to turn the ball over the bar for a corner before Keke could nod the ball home from virtually on the line.

Forsythe’s new side had been well on top for most of the first half, although Thompson had to be alert to save a curling first time effort from Andrew Gordon from the edge of the box, and the second goal finally came in the 38th minute. Dean Lewis won the ball back for Distillery on the right and eventually the ball was worked across to Torrens who had come in slightly from the left. The former Ballymena player then sent a low first time cross into the six-yard box were all Keke had to do was touch the ball home for goal number seven of the season for the number 10.

Shortly before the break, Finaghy did fire Forsythe’s men a warning shot when Greenfield latched onto a flick on and looked to have Thompson beaten with his shot from outside the box but fortunately the ball bounced wide of the post.

The Whites took a two goal lead into the break and the next round of the Irish Cup seemed within touching distance but as Distillery fans remembered all too well after the previous game against Newry, a lot can change within 45 minutes of football.

Half Time: Lisburn Distillery 2-0 Finaghy

Distillery perhaps could have had the game dead and buried five minutes after the restart when Crawford collected the ball about 10 yards into the Whites half and drove forward, playing a pass through to Keke. The former Ballymacash attacker’s first touch took him past Clarke but he then had to take an extra touch to check back towards goal and in the end, this allowed Bimie to position himself to block the shot and the follow up was also blocked by Kristian Taylor.

Despite the two goal deficit Finaghy, to their credit, were determined not to go down without a fight and had efforts on the Whites goal from Greenfield, Andrew Gordon and Keaton Hamilton but the former two couldn’t find the target and the latter’s strike was a pretty comfortable save for Thompson.

Distillery fans felt they could relax a little after 64 minutes when Igiehon glided home a delightful first time finish from the edge of the box after being set up by Keke to make it 3-0; it was the leading marksman’s 11th goal of the campaign in all competitions.

Still Christopher Stewart’s side refused to wave the white flag and with a little over 20 minutes of play remaining, they were only denied by the woodwork when a spectacular volleyed effort from just shy of 30 yards rattled the Distillery crossbar with Thompson well beaten. If this wasn’t enough of a warning, Finaghy found their road back into the game in the 70th minute, James Edgar directing a Hamilton cross home after a short corner.

It was now the visitors who seemed to be on the front foot, albeit they didn’t test Thompson much, while up the other end Storey found Igiehon in the Finaghy box with a couple of crosses but the big striker was unable to direct his headers on target. Distillery were also frustrated by the crossbar when substitute Ryan Sharkey flicked Storey’s free kick from wide right onto the woodwork.

Finaghy set up a grandstand finish in the final minute of normal time when substitute Ryan Adair turned home a cross from the left to cut the Whites lead in half, this came after the visitors had quickly moved the ball back into the Distillery penalty area following an earlier clearance from a corner.

After the previous week’s league game at The Newry Showgrounds, Distillery fans watching on may have had a feeling of déjà vu in the 94th minute when the visitors were awarded a free kick just inside their own half. Niall Burke pumped the ball forward into the Distillery box but Igiehon headed clear and eventually the ball found its way to McVicker up towards the halfway line. The opening goalscorer spread the play out to Leon Lavery on the left who set off, going past a couple of Finaghy defenders before sending a low shot from a tight angle across goal and into the bottom corner to seal the win for Distillery and safe passage into round five for the first time in seven years!

Following recent league and cup results it was a great day all round at New Grosvenor as Forsythe’s reign got off to as good a start as anyone could have asked for. We now look forward to finding out our fifth round opponents when the draw is made on Tuesday 9th December 2025 with the ties scheduled to take place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th January 2026.

Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 4-2 Finaghy

Lisburn Distillery; Thompson (GK), Lewis, Lavery, Brennan, McVicker, Cochrane (C), Igiehon, Keke, Torrens, Storey, Crawford

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Kingham (GK), Sharkey (for Torrens, 75 mins), Alfred, Anderson (for Brennan, 65 mins), Geddis, Napier (for Storey, 90+1 mins), O’Hara