Strabane deny Limavady the double with North West Senior Cup triumph

STRABANE Athletic FC produced a clinical performance at the Limavady Showgrounds last night to defeat Limavady United 3-2 and lift the North West Senior Cup in front of a packed crowd with strong backing from both sets of supporters.

Fresh from securing the Championship title and promotion to the Premiership, Limavady had been hoping to complete the double at home, but Strabane’s sharp attacking display ensured the silverware travelled back over the mountain instead.

With regular goalkeeper Marty Gallagher on the bench, Jake Martin stepped in between the posts for Limavady and was quickly called into action as Strabane started the brighter of the two sides.

An early free-kick tested Martin, who gathered comfortably, before Sean McCallion burst through the Limavady defence moments later, only for Martin to react quickly and deny the effort.

Limavady created an opportunity of their own at the opposite end, but Thomas McDermott was equal to the attempt as the game opened up into an entertaining cup final contest.

Strabane eventually found the breakthrough through Gabriel Akuda, who latched onto the ball inside the area before chipping it over Martin and into the left corner to make it 1-0.

Akuda continued to cause problems and nearly doubled the lead after beating Tiarnan Boorman to the ball, but Martin raced off his line to deny the striker.

The pressure soon told again when Akuda was pulled down just outside the box while coming head-on to Martin, giving Declan Sharkey the free-kick to step up and curl the ball into the net to put Strabane two goals ahead.

Sharkey almost added another shortly afterwards after driving past Rodney Brown down the line, though his effort drifted wide of the post.

Limavady responded before the break and gave themselves a route back into the contest when Rodney Brown reacted quickest following a scramble inside the box to force the ball home and reduce the deficit to 2-1 heading into half-time.

Despite the goal, it had been a competitive opening half, but Strabane, who looked the more dangerous side going forward, continually pressed the Limavady back line.

Limavady started the second period with more urgency and almost levelled when Ian Parkhill burst down the wing and picked out John Butcher, whose low strike was well saved by McDermott.

Instead, Strabane restored their two-goal advantage when Oisin Porter’s corner evaded Martin and curled directly into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Butcher continued to threaten and dragged another effort wide, while Alfie Gaston -one of Limavady’s standout performers on the night saw an attempt fire behind the net.

Gaston remained reactive and delivered a dangerous low ball into the box, which was met by Mikhail Kennedy, who squeezed his finish past McDermott to force the score to 3-2.

With four minutes added on and penalties looming, had Limavady found another equaliser, the home side threw everything forward in search of a dramatic leveller.

Their hopes were effectively ended in heartbreaking fashion when Kennedy went down inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat in the dying moments, but Strabane held firm to secure a hard-fought North West Senior Cup victory.

The win provides another major boost for Strabane ahead of next season, with the club set to be part of the new 16-team Championship structure after finishing in the Premier Intermediate League top four, while Limavady head to the Premiership.