Cup winners Crusaders impressively saw off league champions Larne 2-0 in the White Ribbon NI Charity Shield final at Inver Park. Following a rather slow-paced first-half, Jarlath O’Rourke got the opener before debut man James Teelan struck late on to secure the win and give the Crues a boost heading into European action.
On a still day in the harbour town, there was little chance of a hurricane being created on the pitch, as early proceedings had a very pre-season feel to them, as both sides took time to hit their stride. The first big chance of the opening half fell to O’Rourke in the 17th minute. Ben Kennedy, making his first start in over six months, played a lovely ball through to the left-back who found himself one-on-one with Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson. However, the ex-Dungannon man stuttered and allowed the defence to get back leading to a tame effort. Larne offered only one meaningful attempt on 31 minutes. Leroy Millar striking hard from the left hand side of the goal, but Jordan Williamson palmed his effort away to safety.
The second-half belonged to the Crues, as the north Belfast side stepped up a gear. Only four minutes into the game O’Rourke broke the deadlock. The defender rising highest above Sean Want to nod over the head of Ferguson from inside the area after meeting Lloyd Anderson's inviting cross from the right to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Kennedy almost double the lead eight minutes later as he strode through a vacant Larne defence. However, Aaron Donnelly does well to dispossess the midfielder of the ball before he can get a strike away. A number of changes made mid-way through the second period threatened to ruin the increased temp that had been created by the Crues’ opener, but on 77 minutes, Larne striker Lee Bonis had a goal disallowed for offside. The in-demand forward rounded substitute goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey before scoring from an acute angle but the linesman flag was rightfully raised for the offside offence. Crusaders made the home side pay for their error with the game’s decider on 85 minutes. A smart one-two between Ross Clarke and Jordan Owens down the right, led to Clarke playing a beautiful low cross into the heart of the Larne box where debutant Teelan turned the ball into the net for a dream first game in red and black. Larne tried to pull one back but their attacks were easily read by the Crues’ defence and rather comfortably the city side held on for the 2-0 win to retain the Charity Shield.
Both sides will now turn attention to their respective European games in two weeks that will see both teams visit Finnish opposition in first-leg ties.