Match Report v Tobermore United – 8/2/25
Tobermore United v Lisburn Distillery (Playr-Fit Teamwear Premier Intermediate League) — Saturday 8th February 2025
Barry Johnston made three changes to the starting lineup from the previous outing with Ryan Sharkey, Aaron Cochrane and Josh Stewart coming in for Fra Brennan, Adam McCart and Conor Quinn. It was Josh Stewart’s first start having come on as sub six previous times. There was a complete shuffle around in the back four with Dean Lewis captaining the side – it was rather apt as he was the only player in the starting lineup who had played in last season’s visit to Fortwilliam Park.
The Whites started well with Owen O’Neill heading wide from a Kyle Flynn freekick. Ryan Sharkey and Jack Kinner started to link well down the right flank, but their crosses were not converted. The team had a setback after 10 minutes when Matthew Hanna was forced off with a groin injury. Sonny Redford substituted for him.
Aaron McLaughlin was looking very dangerous down the Tobermore right and put in several good crosses. Dylan Agnew dealt well with one and Josh Lynch blocked another. It was end-to-end stuff with no real clear chances in the first half-hour. Sonny Redford had one shot blocked and another well saved by Connor Brown. Both came after good work by Kyle Flynn who then had a shot blocked inside the box and a ‘handball’ shout turned down by the referee. The home sides best effort during this period saw Gary McFadden fire wildly over the bar.
Then on 32 minutes Tobermore should have been in front. Following a Ryan Sharkey corner Sean McCarron broke away from inside his own half to have a one-on-one with the keeper, but he shot a wonderful chance past the post. Within a minute a mix-up in the Whites defence left Peter Leighton with an open goal but he inexplicably missed from a couple of yards out much to the relief of the Distillery players and fans.
The Whites responded to this double let-off with the lively Ryan Sharkey having two shots blocked and the keeper pushing over a 20-yard freekick from Kyle Flynn.
Half Time: Tobermore United 0-0 Lisburn Distillery
The second half saw a bright start by the home side but they missed a good heading opportunity from an early freekick.
On 51 minutes Peter Leighton became the first player in the book when he got a yellow card for throwing the ball away. Then on 56 minutes Distillery substituted Josh Stewart with Brendan Glackin and Tobermore brought on Tom Patchett for Peter Leighton. This led to the Whites having a good spell – Sonny Redford had a shot pushed over by the keeper – Kyle Flynn’s resulting corner was just too high for Brendan Glackin — an Aaron Cochrane effort was dealt with by the keeper — a dangerous Mark McKee cross was cleared and a Sonny Redford goal-bound shot hit Aaron Cochrane.
On 65 minutes a shot from just outside the box by Sean McCarron brought Dylan Agnew into the action and this was followed by three timely clearances by Owen O’Neill. Tobermore forced a succession of corners before Sean McCarron fired wide after a good solo run. On 75 minutes Brendan Glackin put in a great cross but no-one could get on the end of it – he was then booked for passing on some words of wisdom to the referee. The next ten minutes saw a flurry of substitions – Adam McCart and Conor Quinn on for Jack Kinner and Kyle Flynn with Tobermore bringing on Jordan Hassan, Nicky Hudson and Rhys McMullan for Sean McCarron, Stuart Forrest and Corey McLaughlin.
On 87 minutes there was a spell of late pressure by the Whites with Aaron Cochrane having a good shot saved after good work by Mark McKee. A couple of corners were forced with Adam McCart failing to connect properly with a header and Mark McKee shooting wide from the edge of the box. On the final whistle Aaron Cochrane had another shot saved and the Whites had to settle for their 6th PIL draw of the season.
Full Time: Tobermore United 0-0 Lisburn Distillery.
Lisburn Distillery: Agnew, Lewis, Lynch, Cochrane, McKee, Stewart, Flynn, Kinner, Hanna, O’Neill, Sharkey.
Lisburn Distillery substitutions: Brennan, McCart (for Kinner, 83 mins), Glackin (for Stewart, 56 mins), McKeown, McVicker, Redford (for Hanna, 10 mins), Quinn (for Flynn, 83 mins).
