Fivemiletown put to the sword in Irish Cup

On Saturday, Fivemiletown United welcomed Strabane Athletic to the Valley Stadium for an Irish Cup fourth round encounter. With the potential for a lucrative tie in the fifth round, this was a big game for both sides.

Town were forced into a few changes from the previous game the weekend before, with Ballantine missing, but did welcome back midfield linchpin Matty Callaghan from suspension.

The early exchanges were rather tentative, with both sides trying to figure each other out. The first 10-15 minutes offered up no real chances off note, with Strabane possibly shading possession but the Town backline off Trotter, Keane, Captain Sherry and Kwima giving nothing away. Strabane had appeals for a penalty turned away when a shot from winger McMonagle appeared to strike Sherry’s hand, but referee Joe Mullan, who had a good game, waved away the vociferous protests from the away side.

Full report in this week's Tyrone Courier