Linfield were on the wrong end of a cup upset tonight as Ryan McNickle’s first-half lob handed Limavady an historic 1-0 victory over the Blues in the sixth round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup.
The match was held at Coleraine’s ground due to Limavady’s Showgrounds being in the process of a pitch renovation which will see an artificial surface replace their grass pitch. The Roesiders have been using Coleraine’s ground as a temporary measure since mid-December, but hope to return home before the end of the season.
However, the number of travelling Linfield supporters was much smaller than usual. That’s because a protest led by the Amalgamation of Linfield Supporters’ Clubs saw clubs boycott the match in a stand against the amount of the Blues’ Friday night matches being moved to accommodate live television coverage in comparison to other clubs, with the volume of Friday night matches putting financial strain on Linfield Supporters’ Clubs who felt it was time to take a stand.
On the pitch, the Blues should have known the Championship leaders would be no pushovers. You only have to rewind a year to when they shocked Larne in the fifth round at Limavady. Their team featured two graceful central midfield siblings – Stephen Lowry and Phillip Lowry – both of whom served the Blues with distinction in the 2010s. The Limavady team also included another set of brothers – Ruairi and Tiarnan Boorman.
In terms of the Linfield team, David Healy made two changes to the starting eleven which dramatically defeated Ballymena United 2-1 last weekend, with Euan East returning from injury to come into the side along with Kirk Millar, as Sean Brown and Adam Frizzell dropped to the bench.
East was heavily involved in the first half. The Blues weren’t nearly threatening enough, but any threat did come from that left side from which he was operating. In the sixth minute, the defender got high and wide to cross and it was deflected by home defender Kieran Farren before the ball came back off the base of the post.
Limavady defender Farren – formerly of Coleraine – then pulled up injured midway through the first half. After treatment he was deemed not fit to continue, so he was replaced by left-back Matthew Walker. Walker went to full-back and Rodney Brown moved inside to centre back.
The Blues dominated possession but it was all very pedestrian. There was no real urgency and Limavady were comfortable in their defensive shape.
The Championship leaders took the lead on the break with 28 minutes gone. The Blues gave away possession and were caught high up the pitch as a quick through ball from former Linfield midfielder Stephen Lowry released Ryan McNickle on goal, and he finished well with a lob over the outrushing Chris Johns.
Eight minutes later, the Blues had the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot after a trailing leg from Adam Mullan caught Euan East inside the box, but the Blues’ struggles from the spot continued as Matthew Fitzpatrick’s penalty came back off the post.
The Blues could and should have also scored at the end of the first-half when Kyle McClean did well to break through inside the box and square the ball to Matt Yates who was a few yards out, but his low shot was saved. It was a good save from Gallagher, but Yates will feel he should have put it out of reach for the ‘keeper.
HT: LIMAVADY UNITED 1-0 LINFIELD
After a flat first half which lacked intensity and below the required level to break down a determined backline, David Healy turned to his bench at half-time. Chris McKee and Adam Frizzell replaced Matt Yates and Josh Archer.
The Blues a bit more urgency but very little quality. The visiting goalkeeper was pretty much untested until stoppage time. That said, the Blues did have a good chance on 72 minutes when the two half-time substitutes combined, with Adam Frizzell crossing from the left to pick out Chris McKee who puts his header the wrong side of the post.
Linfield were almost on the right end of another fortunate late goal – as was the case against Ballymena last week – but Charlie Allen’s cross which deflected off Philip Lowry struck the crossbar on 82 minutes.
On 87 minutes, as Linfield threw bodies forward, Limavady broke swiftly and very nearly sealed their historic victory as young forward Lewis Tosh – who’d only been introduced a minute prior – cut in from the right and struck a 20-yard shot off the post. Ethan McGee did well to prevent the rebound being turned in.
The Blues survived but still required a goal and it didn’t look likely to come. Seven additional minutes were added as the home goalkeeper was finally made to work in the 93rd minute when he made a good stop to beat Kyle McClean’s 20-yard drive away for a corner. The ball came in and it was McClean again who got on the end of it with a near-post header which drew another excellent save from the former Coleraine ‘keeper.
Limavady held on to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup. Whilst Linfield fans will be justifiably dissatisfied with this result, on the other hand you have a Limavady team predominantly made up of local players who gave every ounce they could give for the shirt tonight and they deserved their win. This was their big night – congratulations to Paul Owens and everyone at Limavady United.
For Linfield, a real low and big improvement needed when Dungannon Swifts visit Windsor Park in league action on Tuesday night.
FT: LIMAVADY UNITED 1-0 LINFIELD
LIMAVADY UNITED: Martin Gallagher (GK), Adam Mullan, Kieran Farren (Matthew Walker 24’), Rodney Brown, Tiarnan Boorman, Stephen Lowry ©, Philip Lowry, John Butcher, Ruairi Boorman (Alfie Gaston 78’), Leon Boyd (Lewis Tosh 86’), Ryan McNickle (Mikhail Kennedy 86’)
Unused subs: Fintan Doherty (GK), Sam McClintock, Ian Parkhill
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ben Hall, Euan East (Sam Taylor 67’), Darragh Leahy, Ethan McGee, Josh Archer (Adam Frizzell 45’), Kyle McClean (C), Isaac Baird (Charlie Allen 77’), Kirk Millar, Matt Yates (Chris McKee 45’), Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: Sean Brown, Alex Gorrin, Cammy Ballantyne
REFEREE: Chris Morrison
Yellow cards: Martin Gallagher, Philip Lowry & Alfie Gaston (Limavady United), Matthew Fitzpatrick, Darragh Leahy