Dub Rock Knock but Mullan Crocked

Ormeau Park, Sunday 29 February 2004, 1:30PM

Knock FC (0)1 Dub FC (3)6

If only Harvey opened his eyes he may have scored

In a game that saw Dub FC guarantee promotion to the BSPL first division there was an air of anti-climax as Dub's midfield dynamo Sean Mullan cruelly sustained an injury only one week before the Shield Final on 7th March at Allen Park. With three first team players travelling to Scotland next weekend and Mullan's likely omission Dub will be huge underdogs against a Rushlight team that is likely to include Irish League stars Fra Murphy and Michael Collins.

Dub FC arrived at Ormeau Park hoping to improve on last Sunday's frustrating stalemate against Apollo. The team renewed their acquaintance with Knock, a team they have already played in the League and Cup in 2004, managing to win on both occasions. Despite their previous success, the Dub management took nothing for granted and all players arrived early, some of whom were dragged from their sick beds suffering from various ailments ranging from colds, flu's and in the case of club captain Shane Mc Cusker, chronic old age.

Dub started the game full of the energy and tough tackling which, although conspicuous by its absence in their last league match, has been a feature of their game this season. The team were eager to get the goal which was so elusive in that encounter, fortunately they, and their supporters, did not have to wait long. A throw-in after 10 minutes ended the wait when sickly Mc Cusker popped up in the six yard box to finish with his walking stick (surely right foot.) Dub the settled down and began to pass the ball with more fluency, they increased their lead in the 25th minute when the impressive winger Mc Toal robbed a Knock defender before laying the ball off to the club's top scorer P Doherty who finished emphatically. A third goal followed with a fine move that started in their own half. Dub centre half Harvey played the ball out to P Doherty who galloped down the left flank and supplied a pin-point cross for player manager C Kernan who scored with an exquisite volley from an acute angle.

Dub were clearly on top and their defence limited Knock to one chance in the first half which produced a punch from in-form keeper N Smyth. The Ardglass stopper was to have a quiet afternoon with the exception of an unsavoury incident in the second half when he 'bumped into' (accidentally of course) a Knock forward who was bearing down on goal. Luckily the card produced by the referee was yellow. The Dub midfield were in the ascendancy, despite the absence of the injured Dickson who was watching from the side lines. John Quinn won all the aerial jousts, while Mc Toal provided width on the right wing. Mc Cusker and Mullan dominated in the centre of midfield with Mullan particularly impressive, displaying all his skill, trickery and dribbling for his imaginary audience. Mullan has certainly staked his claim for the best player in a supporting role gong at the 76th end of season academy awards.

Dub continued the scoring early in the second half when Mc Cusker netted again with a volley from a Mc Toal cross. Midfield dynamos Mc Cusker and Mullan were then replaced by Hill and M Smyth who continued the good work. Dub's fifth goal arrived in the 72nd minute when P Doherty nodded home an already goal bound header from the almost equally prolific Dub centre half S Doherty. The team then completed the rout and P Doherty claimed his hat-trick on 76 minutes with another fine finish.

With promotion almost guaranteed all thoughts now turn to the eagerly anticipated shield final against Rushlight Celtic on Sunday 7th March at Allen Park. Tickets are like gold dust and a sell-out crowd is expected to see Dub appear in the first final of their short history. Can they become the first second division team to win a major trophy?

Squad

Neil Smyth, Shane Murphy, Mark Harvey, Sean Doherty, John Quinn, Sean Mullan (sub 60 mins), Shane McCusker (sub 55 mins), Peter McToal, Ryan McGaughey, Cormac Kernan, Phil Doherty

Subs

Michael Smyth (55 mins), Kristian Hill (60 mins)

Match Statistics

Goals	Cormac Kernan Shane McCusker (2) Phil Doherty (3)
Assists	Cormac Kernan Sean Doherty Ryan McGaughey Phil Doherty Peter McToal (2)
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Phil Doherty