Auchinleck Talbot into the Scottish semis

Mar 27 2009 by Mike Wilson

SEAN McILROY put the seal on an Auchinleck Talbot cracker with his tenth Scottish Cup goal and revealed: This is what I signed for.

Two days after his 22nd birthday, magic Mac hit the clinching third as Talbot dumped Arthurlie 3-1 to book a home and away semi-final against Rob Roy.

McIlroy said: “We’re now 12 games unbeaten and believe we can go all the way. I left Neilston in the summer because I didn’t want to be fighting for just survival.

“I didn’t get a game for Talbot at the start but got my place after Stevie Mallan was sent off against Pollok and since then I haven’t looked back.”

Seven times winners Talbot will be hot favourites to beat Rabs on April 18 and 25 and set up a Rugby Park final against Pollok or Clydebank on May 31.

But McIlroy warned: “We only beat Rob Roy 2-1 up there after trailing with a minute to go. I got the equaliser and Colin Spence hit an injury time free-kick winner so we know it will be tough.”

Danny McKelvie fired Talbot ahead from a James Latta long ball. Liam McVey rifled home a solo effort five minutes into the second period and McIlroy wrapped it up after Stuart Davidson hit the bar and David Gillies squared the ball into his path.

Lee Sharp pulled back a late consolation and then was denied a second by debutant keeper Scott Black who has been signed from Stranraer.

CUMNOCK can take a giant step towards beating the drop if they beat Arthurlie at Barrhead on Saturday.

A win would leave Stevie Farrell’s team only a point adrift of the third bottom home side with seven games still to play.

Despite battling hard, Cumnock lost 1-0 at home to Beith who went top of the Premier Division thanks to a goal from top scorer Kenny McLean.

IRVINE MEADOW went third with a 2-0 win at home to Neilston but were far from impressive. Gareth Turner and Emilio Jaconelli got the goals.

GLENAFTON, who host Petershill on Saturday, lost 3-2 at Rob Roy who raced ahead with goals from Grant Anderson and former Cumnock striker Michael Hughes. Steven McGregor got one back with a looping effort after only six minutes. A second goal from Anderson made it 3-1 before Craig Feroz pulled back a late consolation.

In the First Division, GIRVAN shrugged off the absence of injured keeper Stuart Leavy to win 3-2 at HURLFORD after trailing 2-0 at half-time to goals from Ryan Caddis and Charlie Adams.

A strike from Stevie Shankland and a double from Michael Moffat swept them to victory and sets them for a home crack against leaders Largs on Saturday. Boss Willie Thomson said: “It was a fantastic second-half performance and we could have scored six or seven.”

MAYBOLE slipped to fourth bottom with a 2-0 defeat at home to Renfrew and now hope to bounce back when they host crisis hit KILWINNING who have won only twice in 17 games.

Boss Peter Leonard said: “We are not doing the basic things right and are making individual errors. But we have still half the league season to go so have plenty of time to turn things around.”

Paul Cameron smacked a penalty off the post to sum up ‘Bole’s day.

Rhys Galloway, who has been released by Cumnock, is set to link up with Leonard for a second time. The former Ayr United ‘S’ form signing will train at Ladywell this week.

ANNBANK boss Steph McMillan slammed his team for their worst display of the season in a 3-1 defeat away to Kilsyth.

McMillan said: “We were without Darwin Johnstone and Kevin Robison who are two of our main players but should have the squad to cope. It was a lack lustre performance yet we could have been 2-0 up early on.”

Jim Wilson got the Bankies consolation with five minutes to go.

In the Ayrshire League, TROON will go top if they beat Craigmark at Dalmellington and leaders Kello slip at home to second top Lugar.

DALRY can still come with a late run and they boosted their hopes with a 1-0 win at Lugar despite finishing with nine men.

Brian Strain was dismissed before Nicky Cusack ended a mazy run to fire the only goal before the break. Dalry boss John Garroch was sent off and then was followed by Scott Brown who walked for retaliation.

WHITLETTS missed a great chance to close on the leaders when they fell 1-0 at Darvel.