McGowan heroics couldn’t prevent cup final heartbreak for Strabane Athletic

Strabane 0 Portstewart 0 (Portstewart won 6-5 on penalties)

NOT even a heroic display between the sticks by goalkeeper Ryan McGowan could prevent Strabane Athletic suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Portstewart in the BetMcLean Craig Memorial Cup Final at Fortwilliam Park on Monday’s Boxing Day Bank Holiday.

McGowan pulled off three world class saves in the second half to keep out a dominant Seahawks and in doing so forced the showpiece occasion to be decided in a dreaded penalty shootout.

The Athletic keeper also saved Portstewart’s first penalty struck by Zach Barr but Strabane couldn’t finish the job and it was their Premier Intermediate League opponents who ultimately held their nerve when it mattered most.

In truth Portstewart were the better team throughout and despite their victory they will reflect on a number of missed opportunities, none more so when Barr fired a spot kick over McGowan’s bar after Rory Patterson had fouled Ryan Doherty in the box just five minutes before the interval.

Up to that point Portstewart had the better of things with Doherty getting in the way of a goal-bound shot by team-mate Mark Edgar before a Doherty shot was blocked by Athletic defender Aaron Walsh.

An attempted lob by Edgar hadn’t quite enough height and McGowan claimed comfortably and shortly afterwards Barr connected with a Nickey Hudson cross but his glancing header went wide of the target.

At the other end Ronan McBreatry had an early effort saved by Andrew Findley and late in the half Matthew Stephenson headed over from a Tom Carlin corner kick.

Nearing the interval, Barr had an effort chalked off for offside while dangerman Edgar was denied by McGowan after darting in from the right.

In the second half the Ports found another gear as McGowan produced the first of his wonder saves to claw out a Richard Vaults header from a Glenn Law left-sided free kick.

In response Patterson volleyed horribly high and wide after being picked out by Luke McGeehan as Athletic looked to catch their opponents on the counter attack.

For the most part though the action was at the other end. Another Law free kick picked out Barr but McGowan got a strong hand on the big striker’s point blank header to somehow directed the ball over the crossbar.

Doherty and Edgar then had shots blocked following an almighty scramble on the Athletic penalty area and moments later substitute Jake McNeill failed to guide the ball into a gaping net from an acute angle following a mix-up between Walsh and McGowan.

Strabane lifted the seige temporarily with Aaron Porter ushering Patterson in on the right to fire agonisingly wide of Findlay’s far post.

Findlay then saved a low shot by Strabane replacement Declan Sharkey following good work by fellow substitute Conal Crawford.

But it was the Seahawks who finished the stronger with McGowan saving a rasping drive by Law before Edgar picked out the run of Doherty whose touch let him down at the vital moment.

Doherty also got free on the right to flash a dangerous cross across the face of goal but none of his team-mates could turn the ball home.

With no extra-time it was straight to penalties. McGowan’s early save, after Patterson had scored the first spot-kick, put Athletic in the driving seat however missed attempts by Walsh and McGeehan, both of which went over the crossbar, presented the opportunity for Law to win it and the influential number eight duly delivered to break Strabane hearts.

Not surprisingly McGowan was named the official ‘Man of the Match’.