RED DEVILS PUT OMAGH ON CLOUD 9
RED DEVILS PUT OMAGH ON CLOUD NINE
ALEX McGREEVY
United bang a flurry of goals past part-timers
MANCHESTER United painted Omagh Town a glorious sea of red last night as their visit to help the fund for Omagh bomb victims proved a fantastic success.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Premiership FA Cup and European Cup champions raised a toast to their Irish supporters, scoring nine goals before taking a lap of honour with their sparkling treble trophy haul. Supporters could not restrain themselves in the end in an attempt to get close to their heroes and the silverware, sparking a victorious pitch invasion.
Four goals from Teddy Sheringham, two from Andy Cole and a presentation of a United team of future stars, recorded this historic day for the tiny Irish League club and for the people of Omagh Town who are beginning to rebuild their shattered community almost one year after the bomb disaster.
On the pitch, Omagh had managed to hold Chelsea in a dry patch for 30 minutes here last week but after just 30 seconds United started a first half goal rush.
Six strikes before the interval, two goals for Terry Sheringham, two for Andy Cole and two claimed by defender Michael Clegg. Omagh players knew they would face a tough outing and played with the aim of gaining at least one goal against United.
But at half-time, all they could boast was a greater corner-kick count. Sheringham, whose vital goals help United make themselves kings of Europe and England, nipped in to score his side's first goal in the opening' exchange.
Omagh were still star-gazing when Denis Irwin breezed into attacking mode, finding Luke Chad-wick on the left wing. His cross was tapped into the Omagh net, with keeper Paul Callaghan left standing stunned by the immediate impact.
Picking
It got worse for the Donegal GAA shot-stopper, who fortunately won't be picking the ball out of his this often in the Irish League. Roy Keane was involved in the opening goal, setting Irwin on his positive run. There were no signs of concern surrounding Keane's ankle injury as he strode from one end of the pitch to the other, competitive in every tackle.
Despite the friendship meeting and the carnival atmosphere Keane did not play to match the occasion. Late in the first-half he got involved in a verbal debate with referee George McCay over a decision not to award United a corner - and this when they lead 3-0.
Alex Ferguson had opted to put on display the promising class of Clegg, Johnathan Greening, Mark Wilson, Luke Chadwick and keeper Nicky Culkin, among the instantly recognisable Treble winning names, Sheringham, Keane, Cole, Irwin, May and Neville, Northern Ireland born David Healy, who made his first A team debut last week, started the second-half, replacing Andy Cole.
Within five minutes of the action, United had recorded their second goal. As United toyed with the Omagh defence Andy Cole was first to react to a Denis Irwin mishit shot to turn the ball past Callaghan.
Thereafter the search for goals encourged a surge from United Sheringham forced Callaghan to save from his header in the 13th minute and four minutes later midfielder Mark Wilson turned Andy Cole's cross over the bar.
Indicated
Then Cole indicated that he would not sympathise with the part-timers in the Omagh defence when he chipped Callaghan, only to see his effort sail inches over the bar.
The third United goal was confirmed in the 26th minute, after Michael Clegg placed a header beyond Callaghan, from Johnathan Greening's corner. The fourth followed when Sheringham, all alone in front of goal, greeted Andy Cole's perfect cross with a diving header. Cole was then using his head, grabbing United's fifth goal in the 43th minute after Keane's corner was flicked on by Clegg, who then drove a shot in off the post to make it 6-0, one minute later.
A catalogue of substitutions saw United ease their torment on Omagh but still three further goals were to be recorded. Omagh's Mark Nixon was in the wrong place when Chadwick crossed in the 54th minute, turning the ball into his own net. Omagh manager Roy McCreadie then introduced Eamon Gallagher for Paul Callagahan and the young keeper was to record a series of excellent saves, from Sheringham, Keane, Alex Notman and Greening.
He was helpless though after turning a Roy Keane shot into the path of Sheringham, who headed into the empty net to claim his hat-trick in the 73rd minute. With five minutes remaining, Shering-ham's scored his fourth.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Culkin, Clegg, Irwin, May, Neville, Keane, Greening, Wilson, Cole, Sheringham, Chadwick. Subs: Healey, Wellanes, Stewart, Curtis, Forde, O'Shea.
OMAGH TOWN: Callaghan, Boyle, Kavanagh, Gauld, Kelly, Johnston, Wilson, Nixon, Donnelly, Crilly, McHugh. Subs: Curran, Mooney, Barrett, Doherty, Gallagher.
REFEREE: George McCay (Strabane). Attendance: 6,500.
ALEX McGREEVY
United bang a flurry of goals past part-timers
MANCHESTER United painted Omagh Town a glorious sea of red last night as their visit to help the fund for Omagh bomb victims proved a fantastic success.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Premiership FA Cup and European Cup champions raised a toast to their Irish supporters, scoring nine goals before taking a lap of honour with their sparkling treble trophy haul. Supporters could not restrain themselves in the end in an attempt to get close to their heroes and the silverware, sparking a victorious pitch invasion.
Four goals from Teddy Sheringham, two from Andy Cole and a presentation of a United team of future stars, recorded this historic day for the tiny Irish League club and for the people of Omagh Town who are beginning to rebuild their shattered community almost one year after the bomb disaster.
On the pitch, Omagh had managed to hold Chelsea in a dry patch for 30 minutes here last week but after just 30 seconds United started a first half goal rush.
Six strikes before the interval, two goals for Terry Sheringham, two for Andy Cole and two claimed by defender Michael Clegg. Omagh players knew they would face a tough outing and played with the aim of gaining at least one goal against United.
But at half-time, all they could boast was a greater corner-kick count. Sheringham, whose vital goals help United make themselves kings of Europe and England, nipped in to score his side's first goal in the opening' exchange.
Omagh were still star-gazing when Denis Irwin breezed into attacking mode, finding Luke Chad-wick on the left wing. His cross was tapped into the Omagh net, with keeper Paul Callaghan left standing stunned by the immediate impact.
Picking
It got worse for the Donegal GAA shot-stopper, who fortunately won't be picking the ball out of his this often in the Irish League. Roy Keane was involved in the opening goal, setting Irwin on his positive run. There were no signs of concern surrounding Keane's ankle injury as he strode from one end of the pitch to the other, competitive in every tackle.
Despite the friendship meeting and the carnival atmosphere Keane did not play to match the occasion. Late in the first-half he got involved in a verbal debate with referee George McCay over a decision not to award United a corner - and this when they lead 3-0.
Alex Ferguson had opted to put on display the promising class of Clegg, Johnathan Greening, Mark Wilson, Luke Chadwick and keeper Nicky Culkin, among the instantly recognisable Treble winning names, Sheringham, Keane, Cole, Irwin, May and Neville, Northern Ireland born David Healy, who made his first A team debut last week, started the second-half, replacing Andy Cole.
Within five minutes of the action, United had recorded their second goal. As United toyed with the Omagh defence Andy Cole was first to react to a Denis Irwin mishit shot to turn the ball past Callaghan.
Thereafter the search for goals encourged a surge from United Sheringham forced Callaghan to save from his header in the 13th minute and four minutes later midfielder Mark Wilson turned Andy Cole's cross over the bar.
Indicated
Then Cole indicated that he would not sympathise with the part-timers in the Omagh defence when he chipped Callaghan, only to see his effort sail inches over the bar.
The third United goal was confirmed in the 26th minute, after Michael Clegg placed a header beyond Callaghan, from Johnathan Greening's corner. The fourth followed when Sheringham, all alone in front of goal, greeted Andy Cole's perfect cross with a diving header. Cole was then using his head, grabbing United's fifth goal in the 43th minute after Keane's corner was flicked on by Clegg, who then drove a shot in off the post to make it 6-0, one minute later.
A catalogue of substitutions saw United ease their torment on Omagh but still three further goals were to be recorded. Omagh's Mark Nixon was in the wrong place when Chadwick crossed in the 54th minute, turning the ball into his own net. Omagh manager Roy McCreadie then introduced Eamon Gallagher for Paul Callagahan and the young keeper was to record a series of excellent saves, from Sheringham, Keane, Alex Notman and Greening.
He was helpless though after turning a Roy Keane shot into the path of Sheringham, who headed into the empty net to claim his hat-trick in the 73rd minute. With five minutes remaining, Shering-ham's scored his fourth.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Culkin, Clegg, Irwin, May, Neville, Keane, Greening, Wilson, Cole, Sheringham, Chadwick. Subs: Healey, Wellanes, Stewart, Curtis, Forde, O'Shea.
OMAGH TOWN: Callaghan, Boyle, Kavanagh, Gauld, Kelly, Johnston, Wilson, Nixon, Donnelly, Crilly, McHugh. Subs: Curran, Mooney, Barrett, Doherty, Gallagher.
REFEREE: George McCay (Strabane). Attendance: 6,500.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/093
Published Date: 04-Aug-99
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