Dangerous duo take down Barn to see Slane through to round two

Gregg Harrison and Johnny Kernaghan were in the thick of all the action as Moneyslane kept their Irish Cup campaign alive.
Gregg Harrison has bagged five goals already this season. INBL1534-255PBGregg Harrison has bagged five goals already this season. INBL1534-255PB
Gregg Harrison has bagged five goals already this season. INBL1534-255PB

An own goal and a Harrison strike earned a valuable 2-1 comeback win over Barn United to see Slane safely through to round two.

“I thought Jonny and Gregg, after a quiet first half by their standards, were the difference in the last 25 minutyes and it was good for them that they combined for the winner,” said a delighted boss David Johnstone.

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“At 1-0 down at half time, the team showed composure and patience to firstly keep a clean sheet in the second half and then produce some lovely football to score the winner.

Barn took the lead approaching half-time when a poor clearance gave the visitors an opportunity to get the ball back in the box and a deflected shot from 12 yards spun into the bottom corner.

Slane had a great chance to equalise just before the break but Ritchie Nesbitt’s header fell just wide.

Slane came out for the second half with purpose and started to get more joy in the final third. A series of corners and free kicks kept the pressure on and the home team pushed for the equaliser.

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On 65 minutes, the game was level when Harrison burst down the right and crossed well into the danger area where a defender, with Jonny Kernaghan breathing down his neck, headed the ball past his own keeper into the roof of the net.

Stephen White produced a great save flicking a goal bound effort past the post to keep the hosts level and thenn skipper Gareth Bingham made way for Gareth Rees to inject some pace down the flank.

Slane were now on top and it wasn’t long before they took the lead as Harrison controlled well to feed Kernaghan who struck a powerful shot from 18 yards and when the keeper blocked, Harrison pounced to calmly convert.

Barn tried to hit back and White was forced into two more excellent stops and then dealt with a long range free-kick as well as the follow-up.

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Kernaghan displayed his skill on 85 minutes when he controlled a dropping ball and curled just wide from 16 yards out and the same player then crossed for Harrison who, from six yards out, found the keeper’s arms.

Next up for Slane is a trip to Richhill Recreation Centre to take on Richhill FC in the Bob Radcliffe Cup on Thursday (kick-off 6.15pm).

SLANE: White, Coulter, Quinn, Shilliday, Peden, Ervine, Harrison, Bingham, Quilty, Nesbitt, Kernaghan. Subs: Rees, Boyd, Taylor, Anderson, Hanna.