The Lough 41 Championship got off to a blistering start with no fewer than 27 goals being scored across the six games played on the opening afternoon of action.
Dergview’s summer signing Benny Igiehon had the honour of banging home the opening goal of the season with a left foot finish as early as the second minute as the Castlederg based side swept to a 5-0 defeat of Institute at Darragh Park. Igiehon followed that up on 20 minutes with his second of the afternoon, with Matthew Kirk adding a third moments after that. Jamie Browne then struck just after the half-hour and again on 61 minutes in what turned out to be a comprehensive victory.
Top individual performance of the day fell to HW Welders striker Michael McLellan who hit a hat-trick in HW Welders five-goal win over Queen’s University at The Dub. Darren Murray then contributed a further two after the break.
And there were five goals too for Ballyclare Comrades at home to Ballinamallard United. The Mallards moved in front through Darragh Byrne after a quarter-of-an-hour but Adam Gray levelled within a minute before Joe Tully tipped the balance in favour of the Mallards not long after that. Ciaran Dobbin then knocked home a brace early in the second half with Andrew Mooney completing the scoring on 68 minutes.
Ards grabbed a late winner as they edged a 3-2 win away to Annagh United. Peter Duffin handed Annagh a 16th minute lead, an advantage they held until the 73rd minute when Patrick Cafolla levelled for the North Down visitors. Christian Stewart restored Annagh’s lead barely sixty seconds later but two goals in the closing minutes from Ross Arthurs and Cafolla again saw Ards claim the points.
There were much more straightforward victories for Loughgall and Newry City, both 3-0, over Dundela and Knockbreda respectively.
Although scoreless at the break, goals from Pablo Andrade, Mark Patton and Lorcan Forde helped the Villagers to victory at Lakeview Park while Daniel Hughes found the net twice for Newry with Fra Brennan completing the scoring.
