Killymoon Rangers 0 – 3 Loughgall

	Adair 22m
	D Smith 75m
	Murphy 90m

Loughgall reached the summit of the IFA Championship thanks to this deserving victory away to Killymoon Rangers.  This game and one other in the IFA Championship were deemed playable after the torrential downpour. 
Andy Hamilton came in for the suspended Willie Herron in the centre of midfield in the only change from the win at home to rivals Armagh City. There was a place on the bench for Clifford Sterritt who recently returned to Lakeview Park on a short-term loan deal.
On a synthetic surface, both sides started brightly and played some crisp passes however were unable to test either goalkeeper.  Central defender Alan Murphy rose highest to head Ryan Moffatt’s corner towards goal after 17 minutes only for a great block from Kyle Ferguson to deny a goal.  1 minute later Moffatt ran into Rangers penalty area and slid the ball across the goal, however Dean Smith was beaten to the pass by Adrian Ferson.  The opener came on 22 minutes when a quick free kick caught out the home defence leaving Brian Adair time to pick his spot beyond ‘keeper Gareth Maguire.  4 minutes later the Villagers almost doubled their advantage when Dean Smith’s cross from the left wing was touched towards goal by strike partner Paul Baron, forcing a tremendous reaction save from ‘keeper Maguire. 
Killymoon had a great chance to equalise in the 27th minute when Brian Mulligan released James Ferguson clear on goal, ‘keeper Marc Robinson excellently saved low to his right.  Before the break Baron had a few chances for Loughgall, firstly he narrowly missed the target with his header from goalscorer Adair’s floated cross, then after a great turn on the ball he saw his powerful drive well saved.
Shortly after the interval Andy Smith, operating as right-back, delivered a dangerous cross into the area which deserved someone on the end to connect.  10 minutes into the second period Adair’s pass out to Hawthorne allowed the midfielder time to slide his low cut-back into the penalty area which again nobody was on hand to finish.  The lead was extended in bizarre fashion with 15 minutes remaining.  Substitute Cliffy Sterritt’s shot from a narrow angle was well saved by ‘keeper Maguire rebounding the ball back out to Sterritt at pace, the striker blasted in a low cross which was put in off Dean Smith’s head, who was lying on the ground.
The third goal of the game was scored in injury time and it was Alan Murphy who notched his first of the new season.  Substitute Glen Clarke’s perfect delivery from a corner allowed Murphy to nod home at the back post.

Date: Saturday 16th August 2008
Competition: IFA Championship
Venue: Mid-Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown
Kick-Off: 2.30pm

Loughgall: Robinson, A Smith, Pentland, Alderdice, Murphy, Hamilton (Waddell 74m), Moffatt, Hawthorne, Baron (Sterritt 61m), Adair, D Smith (Clarke 81m).  Subs not used: Marty Lavery, Andy Uprichard.

Killymoon Rangers: Maguire, Neill, McFarland, K Ferguson, Ferson, J Ferguson (Hunter 65m), McMullan (Stewart 76m), McElhatton, Smith, Mulligan, Purvis. Subs not used: Wilson, Flanaghan.

Referee: A Hunter (Enniskillen)