A case of what might have been.

KILLYLEAGH manager Dee Heron admits he has shed a few frustrated tears over what might have been for his team in this year's Steel and Sons Cup.

The Showgrounds boss, right, is surely not the only manager casting an envious glance at near neighbours Kilmore Rec and Downpatrick, who both landed a place in the last four on Saturday.

This year has been a unique one for the Amateur League in a competition that by this stage, is normally dominated by Championship and Premiership Reserve teams. With a wry smile, he said: "When I see what is left in the Steel Cup, it makes me cry. All of a sudden, it all opens up, and you can see the possibilities that are there.

"But Kilmore beat us fair and square - and they proved again they deserve to be there with a 5-0 win over Rathfern at the weekend."

Yet, Heron can wipe those tears away in the comforting knowledge that his team have are among the early-season chasing pack for this year's Premier Section title.

He was eager for his team to hit back after last weekend's surprising 4-0 defeat against Wellington Rec, and they duly obliged with a 3-0 win over Holywood on Saturday.

"I didn't actually think we played all that badly last week," stated the Killyleagh boss, "but I made a few changes - a few kick-up-the-backside jobs - and they paid off for me."

One such alteration was the return of Darren McConnell, who put in a man-of-the-match performance his manager simply described as 'outstanding.' Heron will be hoping for more of the same from his young side as the next couple of months begin to provide a clearer picture of where this season's genuine title threat will be coming from.