Disappointment for the Heights in NW Cup final

The Coleraine side battled hard but went down 5-2 to Ardmore in the end.

Anthony Olphert had a selection headache before the game he lost both keepers to injury.

Outfield player Damien Hollinger stepped up to the plate and donned the gloves for the final.

Ardmore created the first opening early on but McCallion’s dipping strike from 20 yards, came back off the post.

The deadlock was broken minutes later when Cassidy’s left wing centre found defender Browne and he made no mistake side footing home from close range.

Heights levelled things on 30 minutes when a hooked ball into the Ardmore box by Aaron Bones found Johnny Gaile at the back post and he squared for Decky McGahon to rifle home past Ardmore goalkeeper John Joe McGilloway.

Ardmore regained the lead around the half hour mark after more good play by Cassidy ended with his left wing cross found an in-rushing Crossan and he showed great composure to fire past Hollinger.

Right on the stroke of half-time Ardmore added a third as man of the match Cassidy saw another delivery cause problems in the Heights box and the unlucky Stephen Wall could only divert the ball into his own net.

The Coleraine men pulled one back on 55 minutes when a goalkeeping error by McGilloway saw Kurt Wilson race in and blast home the loose ball, after the keeper had dropped Aaron Bones’ initial free-kick.

On the hour mark Cassidy broke through and beat the offside trap and although Hollinger denied him, the ball fell perfectly for the ex-Institute man, who calmly chipped the ball into the net over the back tracking net-minder.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Heights and McCallion went close to scoring but Hollinger made a super stop to deny Ardmore’s leading marksman.

Heights went close to pulling one back on 80 minutes when Zack McConnell broke clear but a super last ditch block by Browne kept out a certain goal and McGahon fired the loose ball wide.

The scoring was complete late on when Ardmore caught Heights on the break, as the Coleraine men were pushing forward trying to get back into the final. Some neat play by Cassidy and McCallion ended with the club’s leading goalscorer firing home his 51st goal of an incredible season and ended Damien McGee’s side near perfect campaign.