TOALSBET STEEL & SONS CUP SEMI-FINAL
ROSARIO YC 1-2 HOLYWOOD
By Rory McKee at Seaview
THAT age-old phrase ‘their name is on the cup’ was made to describe occasions like this one, as Holywood Football Club booked a place in the Steel and Sons Cup final with the late, late show at Seaview on Friday night.
A first-half goal from Rosario’s Gary Keane looked like being enough for the south Belfast side to secure passage to the Christmas Day showpiece, only for Holywood to rise from the canvas in additional time at the end of 90 minutes and land two killer blows – through Jack McCadden and JJ McKinley – to instead ensure it was they who went through the December 25 contest.
Managed by the legendary former Irish League striker Chris Morgan, the Ormeau Road men became the latest higher-division scalp taken by Holywood in the competition having already knocked out East Belfast and Ballyclare Comrades en route to the last four.
With the first opportunity of any note for either side, Rosario got their noses in front after 11 minutes.
Max Miller picked out the advancing Jack Watson who was stopped in his tracks by Holywood goalkeeper Ryan James but managed to shrug off the challenge of Joshua Ritchie and teed up Gary Keane to stroke the ball into the empty net from eight yards.
Rosario’s tails were up and they threatened again a couple of minutes later but former Ards winger Miller’s searching cross was shovelled away by James.
Holywood managed to gain a foothold in the game after that, though had yet to trouble Mark Hynes in the Rosario goal as the tie reached the half-hour mark. That should have changed seven minutes before the break but Ben Andrews miscued his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Late in the first half, the lively Watson curled narrowly over having spun away from both Ritchie and Martin Cox as Rosario took a slender lead into half-time.
Following a similar uneventful start to the second half and with the rain starting to beat down at Seaview, Holywood full-back Josh Burns almost caught ‘keeper Hynes off guard when he unleashed a speculative left-footed effort which struck the outside of the post on its way to safety.
The Spafield side then passed up a golden chance to get on level terms as Calum James was unable to direct his header on target after meeting a Burns cross into the six-yard box.
Rosario went close to doubling their lead on 67 minutes when Miller’s incisive pass was brought under control by Watson who sent his shot narrowly wide of goal.
Somehow they failed to make it 2-0 a minute later as goalscorer Keane was found in space by Daniel McDonald and side-stepped James only to hit the post with the goal gaping.
Holywood had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the tie when he pulled off a sharp save to deny Watson with a little over five minutes of normal time left. The teenager twisted and turned his way into a shooting position from the right but James was equal to the effort.
In the fourth of six added minutes and with what felt very much like a last roll of the dice, James sent a free-kick from just inside the Rosario half into the heart of the penalty area – where substitute Jack McCadden got the telling touch in a crowded box to spark wild celebrations from those in green and black.
Penalties beckoned, but there was to be a further twist in the tale in the 96th minute.
Martin Cox’s long throw was helped on at the near post by Holywood captain Stephen Anderson before JJ McKinley rose to glance a header past Hynes and into the far corner, leaving Rosario crestfallen and sending Holywood and their supporters into delirium.
Read full coverage including reaction to Holywood’s win in the Spectator on November 27.
Holywood: R. James, Cox, Burns, Ritchie, M. Andrews, Munn, McKinley, B. Andrews, C. James, Anderson (C), C. Craig.
Substitutes: J. Craig for B. Andrews 53, Keenan for C. Craig 65, Jack McCadden for Munn 87. Not used: Hamilton, Justin McCadden.
Rosario YC: Hynes, Davis, Connor, Vernon, McGowan (C), McDonald, Miller, Ward, Lagan, Keane, Watson.
Substitutes: Whan for Lagan 61, McIlroy for Miller 75. Not used: Maybin, Anderson, Scollay.
Booked: Lagan 39
