29th October 2011
Junior Shield Round 2

Kircubbin made the long journey to Larne last weekend to play Glenarm Rovers FC. Playing in the Ballymena Saturday morning league, Glenarm were a bit of an unknown quantity, coupled with the fact that they play their home games on a 3G surface, Kircubbin didn't really know what to expect from their opposition.

This week the management decided to change the formation of the team, adding an extra central defender to the squad and using wing backs to support the defence. Fintan was in goals, Cahal McGrattan, Darren McIlveen and Matthew Torney played in the centre of defence with Ciaran Taylor and Shaun Clancy as wing backs. Brendan Masterson, Mick O'Prey and Turlough Bell were in central midfield, Matthew Clarke and Kevin Coyle started the game in attack. It took Kircubbin a while to get into the game and acclimatise themselves to the new playing surface. But gradually the team came out of their shell and played the neat passing football that they are capable of. Kircubbin missed a couple of early chances to take the lead in the game, with a combination of mis-hit shots and excellent goal line clearances from Glenarm managing to keep Kircubbin scoreless for a long spell in the game. Eventually Kircubbin managed to open the scoring when Turlough scored from close range following some neat play on the left wing. This seemed to give Kircubbin a lift in the game, and they pressed Glenarm back deep into their own half, but they couldn't quite find the elusive second goal and the first half finished 0-1 to the visitors.

In the second half it was very much the same story, with the Kircubbin defence absolutely dominant, and Fintan was a spectator for long periods in the game. Glenarm were defending resolutely themselves, and didn't allow Kircubbin any easy chances. The Glenarm keeper again pulled off a couple of excellent saves to deny Kircubbin a well deserved second goal. In the last fifteen minutes of the game Glenarm pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but this left their defence exposed, which Kircubbin exploited at every opportunity. Mick O'Prey raced through on goal on a quick counter attack and scored low past the keeper to leave the final score a well deserved 0-2 victory to the peninsula team, who now progress to the third round draw which takes place this week.

This week the team are away to Albion Star. Team to leave at noon.