Match Report v St Marys YC – 13/9/25

St Marys YC v Lisburn Distillery (Clearer Water Irish Cup 2nd Round) – Saturday 13th September 2025

It was a trip to Portadown, specifically The BMG Arena, for Lisburn Distillery on Saturday for a second away game on the bounce, this time in the Irish Cup with Mid-Ulster League Intermediate A Division side St Marys the opponents.

There were three changes to the side following the previous week’s win against Ballymena United Reserves in the Steel & Sons Cup; Dean Lewis, Kyle Anderson and Guillaume Keke found places in the starting eleven while Jude O’Hara, Abi Sanusi and Adam McCart dropped out. There was also a welcome return to the squad for captain Aaron Cochrane who had been out injured since pre-season; he took his place amongst the substitutes for this game.

Stephen Hughes’ side started the game brightly and in the opening five minutes Lewis and Keke found Gerard Storey at the back post with crosses from either side but the midfielders first header resulted in a comfortable save for Conor Larkin and the second did not trouble the home side’s goalkeeper at all.

After this good start there was a let off for the Whites after five minutes when a St Marys cross from the right found Jose Da Silva in too much space in the penalty box but he glanced his header wide of Marcus Thompson’s right hand post.

The opening goal looked set to come with just shy of ten minutes on the clock when Josh Lynch closed down a Callum Hamill clearance and the Distillery midfielder tried to control the ball as it broke into the home sides box but Hamill recovered well to make a good challenge and eventually Larkin snuffed out the danger.

In the 18th minute, Thompson left his box to clear the ball away from the Distillery goal and found Storey, who controlled well and played a great pass beyond the home defence for Benny Igiehon to run onto. The big striker easily shrugged off Troy Donnelly and controlled with his chest but having done the hard work he then shot wide when he may feel he should have at least tested Larkin.

Play was then stopped for Thompson and Caleb Crawford to receive treatment, the teammates having clashed seconds earlier as the Whites goalkeeper made his clearance. Both were given the all clear to continue, though the visiting stopper was showing clear signs of discomfort.

After a scrappy period of play, the Whites were once again beginning to take control of the game coming up to the 30-minute mark. Keke saw his shot from outside the box saved by Larkin and Igiehon once again found himself with only the St Marys ‘keeper to beat after being played in by Napier but this time he hit the side netting when once again the Distillery player will feel he perhaps should have been celebrating putting his side ahead.

The deadlock was eventually broken in favour of the visitors in the 31st minute when Keke headed the ball infield after a St Marys defender attempted to clear the danger. Josh Lynch then played a perfect first time pass through to Napier, who had kept himself onside and sent the ball past Larkin and over the line with the deftest of touches.

With less than ten minutes of the first half remaining Igiehon and Lynch had chances to double the lead but the former slipped at the crucial moment after being played in by Napier and the latter hit his low effort straight at Larkin after collecting from Keke.

Igiehon did finally get his name on the scoresheet in the 40th minute; Keke picked up on a short pass to Hamill and raced into the box but with Larkin coming off his line the space was not really on for the August Player of the Month to shoot so he touched the ball past the oncoming ‘keeper.

Unfortunately for Donnelly the defender air kicked his clearance and left the Distillery striker with the easy task of rolling the ball home for his seventh goal of the season, as many as the Whites joint top goalscorers scored in the entirety of last season. And so it was that Distillery went in at half time two goals to the good and in a game that they had largely been in control of so far, there could be few complaints.

Half Time: St Marys YC 0-2 Lisburn Distillery

Distillery fans did not have to wait long after the break to celebrate another goal; Keke picked up a defensive header forward and set off on a mazy dribble across the pitch. The number 10 then played a short pass forward to Lynch, whose first touch looked a little on the heavy side and took him away from goal but from the far side of the box the midfielder aimed the ball goalwards and despite getting a hand to it Larkin could not keep it out.

Whether it was a shot or a cross or a combination of both only the player knows but they all count and like Napier and Igiehon before him, Lynch could now celebrate his second goal in as many games in this season’s Irish Cup.

After going 3-0 up Distillery continued to dominate much of the proceedings and Keke was only denied by the crossbar after winning possession following a poor Leonardo Monteiro touch on the edge of the box but the same St Marys defender thwarted the Whites forward with a great tackle after he rounded Larkin in the 71st minute.

Thompson, who had largely been an observer since the break was called into action three times across a five-minute period as the game entered the closing stages, twice denying substitute Rafael Tavares and getting across well to save Gerson Cassama’s 25 yard free kick.

In between all this Lynch should have had his second goal of the game when a Lewis cross from the right found him at the back post but with the goal gaping he headed off target when it was easier to score. Hughes’ side sealed the win in style in the 89th minute when a nice passing move ended with Jay Torrens, who had just come on minutes before for his debut, slotted the ball past Larkin and into the bottom left hand corner.

So the Whites advance to the 3rd round of the Irish Cup with a comfortable enough win and a solid team performance and the reward in the next round is familiar opposition in the shape of Dromara Village, who knocked the then Barry Johnston managed Distillery out of last season’s Steel & Sons Cup.

The tie will be played at Bellsbridge on Saturday 25th October.

Full Time: St Marys YC 0-4 Lisburn Distillery

Lisburn Distillery; Thompson, Lewis, Lavery, Brennan, Lynch, Igiehon, Keke, Anderson, Storey, Napier, Crawford Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Cochrane (for Napier, 68 mins), McVicker (for Lynch, 79 mins), Sharkey (for Anderson, 67 mins), O’Hara (for Lavery, 67 mins), Alfred, Torrens (for Keke, 84 mins)