Devastation for Institute as promotion dream ends in Ballymena

Ballymena United 2

Institute 0

Institute's promotion dream ended in agony as two late Ballymena goals condemned them to another season in the Championship. 

Kevin Deery's team, who led 1-0 from the first leg, were well on course to hold onto their lead, until a late red card to Oisin Devlin saw their world collapse. Two Ballymena goals quickly followed and 'Stute's dream was over. 

‘Stute were on the front foot early and they forced a corner as they sought what could potentially be the killer second goal in the tie, but it was Ballymena who had the first real chance, when Steven McCullough, on his 250th appearance for the club, whipped a 25-yard free kick just wide of the upright.

Ballymena should have had the lead on 9 minutes when Johnny McMurray ran through clear on goal, after Oisin Devlin misjudged the bounce of the ball. The veteran striker, with just one goal in 28 games coming into the game, looked set to through straight through against Fintan Doherty, but he instead tried an early lob from 30 yards, and miscued completely, sending a tame effort into the goalkeeper’s hands.

But it was Sean O’Neill who came to his team’s rescue at the other end midway through the half, with the Ballymena goalkeeper making a sensational double save to deny ‘Stute a huge goal. Caoimhin Porter’s cross bounced through to Oisin Devlin, whose snapshot was pushed out by O’Neill, but right into the path of Sean Carlin, who must have thought the goal was his, only for the goalkeeper to somehow reach across and push the ball behind for a corner.

Ballymena missed another incredible chance just past the half hour, when McMurray proved too strong for Dylan King and went in on goal, drawing Doherty out before squaring the ball to Fraser Taylor, who should have had a tap in. But his first touch was awful and his shot lacked power, allowing Caoimhin Porter to clear the ball off the line.  

Ballymena were not playing well by any means, but they had some amazing chances in the first half, none more so than in the final 30 seconds of added time. Fintan Doherty tried to stop the ball going out for a corner, but as he dived to keep it in, he presented the ball to the feet of McMurray, who suddenly had an open goal, but his shot was deflected into the side netting for a corner. ‘Stute went in at the break a very relieved team, but with the job half done.

Half Time 0-0

There was much more intensity about Ballymena early in the second half, with McMurray firing a shot just wide. But ‘Stute, with Evan Tweed now offering them more substance in midfield, had their share of play as well, but they were extremely wasteful in promising positions again and again.

But ‘Stute had a great chance to score just before the hour when Jamie Dunne’s corner found Dylan King unmarked at the back post, and his downward header forced O’Neill into another save, with Shaun Leppard unable to turn the rebound header in, ending it looping over the crossbar.

A Ballymena goal was looking unlikely but the whole tie took a huge twist in the space of just three minutes with the game approaching the final 10 minutes.

Firstly, Oisin Devlin was sent off for a second yellow card when he fouled Taylor, and he was off the pitch just seconds when Ballymena took the lead, McCullough curling a superb free kick over the wall and into the top corner from 20 yards. Fintan Doherty didn’t even move as the ball sailed past him, and all of a sudden ‘Stute were in trouble. 

Some ‘Stute players then sank to their knees when Ballymena got their second just three minutes from time, the ball falling kindly for substitute Calvin McCurry, who lobbed the ball over Doherty and into the net to save Ballymena’s season.

There was still time for late drama as Daithi McCallion was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Shaun Leppard. That won ‘Stute a late free kick which almost brought a goal. Fintan Doherty came up for the delivery, and his clever flick set up Shane Boyle who sent a volley absolutely agonisingly wide with Sean O’Neill beaten.

Teams

Ballymena United: 1 Sean O’Neill, 4 Donal Rocks, 5 Scott Whiteside, 11 Steven McCullough, 16 Fraser Taylor, 27 Johathan McMurray (Calvin McMurray 79’), 28 Dylan Boyle, 29 Sean Brown, 30 Michael Place (Alexander Gawne 68’), 33 Noah Stewart, 39 Daithi McCallion.

Referee:

Institute: Fintan Doherty, Caoimhin Porter, Daniel Lafferty, Conor Quigley, Shaun Leppard, Dylan King, Liam Mullan, Jamie Dunne (Shane McGinty 68’), Sean Carlin (Evan Tweed 45’), Michael Harris (Shane Boyle 78’), Oisin Devlin.

Referee: Keith Kennedy.