When the Irish Cup Fifth Round draw was made, intermediate representation in the last-16 had already been rubber-stamped when Oxford Sunnyside of the Mid-Ulster League learned that they would face Premier Intermediate League opposition in Ballymacash Rangers.
It was history in itself for The ‘Cash, who were featuring at this stage of the blue-riband 143-year-old competition for the very first time, but one suspects that the supporters would already have been contemplating the prospect of a Sixth Round bonanza before a ball had been kicked.
They travelled to Knockramer Park in Lurgan to face Sunnyside, who agonisingly missed out on promotion to the third-tier as the odd one out in 2023’s three-way play-off, and though made to sweat, they got the job done.
Ballymacash, who are third-placed in the PIL, required extra-time, with two goals in as many minutes from Michael Moore and Carl McComb putting them on track for a comeback triumph after Peter McCann netted to put the hosts into a half-time lead.
Nerves were jangling once again after Jamie Burns shot Paddy McCrory’s Sunnyside back level on the stroke of the hour, but experienced striker Moore kept his cool to deliver the winner with six minutes of the additional period of 30 played.
It proved enough to send the visitors into the last-16 – again, for the very first time.
Their reward? A glamour date with Premiership giants Glentoran, who nudged past Annagh United at The BetMcLean Oval courtesy of Junior’s solitary last-minute party piece.
Warren Feeney’s men were forced to work for the win against their Portadown adversaries, so the Glens supremo certainly won’t be taking the challenge of Ballymacash lightly when they travel to The Bluebell at the start of February.
Rangers boss Lee Forsythe, a boyhood Glenman and an east Belfast native, couldn’t hide his delight.
“I’m a massive Glentoran fan so for me this is a dream come true,” he told the News Letter post-match. “I grew up beside The Oval and from I was no age I followed the Glens home and away and Roy Coyle was my childhood hero.”
When the day comes, though, Forsythe will have to put his loyalties to one side as he bids to guide Ballymacash to a monumental upset.
The match, for my money, would be worthy of being broadcasted live by the BBC’s cameras and moved to a Friday night… Forsythe’s allegiance is just one element of the storyline here.
It is also right and proper for the Irish League ecosystem as a whole that third-tier sides enjoy these moments in the limelight; it adds a sense of occasion and hype for what will be another match for the archives for Lisburn club ‘Cash, who also faced Larne in a top-billed County Antrim Shield semi-final in December.
Friday kick-offs have shown themselves to attract that little bit extra crowd-wise, and making the most of gate receipts and the on-site hospitality can ensure it is a profitable night as well.
Media coverage is growing all the time and Ballymacash, who are 18 months into their Irish League journey since they defeated St James’ Swifts in a play-off that secured their place in the PIL, very much have a story to tell.
An upward trajectory that has seen them reach second-place and a promotion play-off following that first campaign in the NIFL ranks, a Shield last-four appearance in their first time in the competition and now a Sixth Round showdown in the Irish Cup would be well worth documenting for the Irish League connoisseurs following along.
What’s more, floodlights can put a match under the spotlight and fire up the players’ appetites on the pitch, too, and that buzz in the stands so often rubs off to make it a competitive and well-fought affair.
Yes, perhaps there are a few mitigating factors elsewhere – Larne and Newington, who both use Inver Park, were each drawn at home, while Ballyclare Comrades’ venue for their home clash with Dungannon Swifts hasn’t yet been confirmed while Dixon Park’s pitch turns artificial which could also be a factor – but in terms of appeal, there’s surely enough in this clash to merit a box-office television slot.
Featured image from Chris Totton.
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