Bloot Larkin!

I wondered what to do after United's capitulation at the Showgrounds today against Newry City. Then I thought, 'why not do a Bloot Larkin', in other words, go and get drunk. Bloot was of course, during my formative years anyway, the town drunk, the stories about him are many and varied, but simply put, he was rarely sober. United began today's game without the injured Kevin Kelbie, also missing was his strike partner Neil Taggart, which meant a 'new' strike-force for United, in Mike Ward and Nathan McConnell. In the absence of David Cushley, flu victim Tommy Wray returned to the fold. Newry set out their stall early with some incisive passing movements and United were indebted to keeper Alan Blayney who dashed from his goal to save at the feet of Stephen Garret. United then put together an incisive move them selves, when Aiden Watson skipped past two defenders, got to the by-line before crossing for Mike Ward to open the scoring. The cheers died in the throats of United fans as Lines-person Rogan, flagged the goal out for offside. It was hard to see how this was possible as Wardy was actually behind Aidie and therefore couldn't have been offside. This was in the 22nd minute and three minutes later the linesman at the Fisherwick end failed to flag Garret offside and he slid the ball past the advancing Blaney and despite the efforts of Paul Muir and Lee Colligan the ball found the net. United were given a lifeline after 30 minutes when a Newry defender deliberately handled inside the box. For some reason Albert Watson was elected to take the kick and United's luck was out when Albert's shot hit the keeper on the leg and rebounded to safety. I resigned myself from then that we wouldn't score a goal and unfortunately I was proved 100% correct. There was no further scoring during the first half thanks to Rogan's persistent flagging for offsides against the United forwards, some very dodgy decisions they were as if to prove a point and despite the Linesman at the other end letting another three blatant ones go, United held out.

Ten minutes into the 2nd period manager Walker took off Albert Watson and Tommy Wray, with Mark Picking and Gary Haveron taking their place. Watson seemed less than pleased by this decision and he tore his shirt off as he disappeared into the tunnel. United were still unable to prise open the visitors defence, not helped by the linesman at that end who now flagged constantly when any United man broke through. It was no surprise when Newry got a second goal when Paul Muir allowed himself to be dispossessed near the goal-line and Clarke blasted home the cross. That goal came in the 66th minute and four minutes later the points were wrapped up when substitute Kevin Keegan, had all the time in the world to turn and rifle a left foot shot past Blaney from 20 yards. At the other end only Paul Muir knows how he failed to find the target with a free header form a Picking corner, yet another chance gone a begging. In a last throw of the dice manager Walker took off McConnell with McNeill taking his place. McNeil almost got a consolation goal for United when his header beat the keeper but rebounded off a post, just typical of our luck on the day. Picking showed some of his old skills with a couple of good runs up the right but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch to his crosses. Blaney who was giving an up until then 'man of the match' performance, blotted his copybook when he allowed a feeble Clarke shot to get past him into the net with 4 minutes remaining. The 4 nil scoreline did somewhat flatter the visitors, as United had had a legitimate score ruled out, missed a penalty and hit a post, but at the end of the day they were not good enough and they didn't earn their wages. Well there was one man who played his heart out, Aiden Watson, but his colleagues were for the most part found wanting. Time and time again Aiden popped up at the last minute to put in a timely tackle or clear a dangerous situation, pity we hadn't got more of his type on our team. Fortunately there was no further scoring and referee Dessie Loughrey didn't make us suffer much more as he only played 2 minutes of stoppage time. United's last home game was typical of their season, diabolical, a vast improvement is required for next season, as I for one, am finding it hard to believe!


Blayney 7 Aid Watson 8 MoM: Aid Watson

Smith 6 McConnell 6

Colligan 7 Ward 6

Alb Watson 6 Deans 5 Referee: Dessie Loughrey 3

McDonnell 6 1st Sub: Picking 6

Muir 5 2nd Sub: Haveron 6

Wray 5 3rd Sub: McNeil 6