Awesome Ardee go on a scoring spree
ARDEE CELTIC KELLS/BLACKWATER 8 1
ARDEE Celtic recorded an emphatic win over Kells-Blackwater in the Grange on Sunday morning to advance in the Challenge Cup.
Lorcan Myles, James McMullen and youngster Bryan O’Connor all scored a brace apiece while Ross Gaynor and John Flanagan also weighed in with strikes.
Two goals in the opening ten minutes set the Deesiders on their way.
After an opportunity from James McMullen was saved, Ross Gaynor finished neatly under Daryl Murphy from a Gareth Kane pass. It was two-nil within minutes as Lorcan Myles finished with his right from a Ross Gaynor corner.
Before Gareth Kane was denied a third for the visitors, Edan McKay and James Reilly had efforts wide and over respectively for the hosts. It was three-nil before long, as Kane beat a defender and delivered a low ball across the box. Gaynor dummied and McMullen had time to control and fire in.
Andrew Arkines, up top for Kells-Blackwater drew saves either side of the interval from Robert Samson, but nothing the ‘keeper couldn’t handle. Within minutes of the restart, McKay capitalised on a ball over the top of the Ardee defence to finish past Samson. However, a comeback was not on the cards.
Myles, McMullen, John Flanagan and two from substitute Bryan O’Connor made it 8-1. Lorcan Myles beat Cian McManus for pace down the right then turned inside and fired a shot high past Daryl Murphy.
The scoreline didn’t stop Kells as Oisin Smith’s free was saved by Samson and Fintan Clarke blocked an Andrew Arkines rebound.
Myles and Gaynor had shots saved and blocked before McMullen reacted quickest to fire home to make it 5-1. The Kells-Blackwater heads were down and they could do little to stop three more goals from the Deesiders.
Flanagan rose highest to head in Gaynor’s corner while Bryan O’Connor scored twice, gobbling up two one-on-one chances. ARDEE CELTIC: Robert Samson, Kenneth Thornton, Fintan Clarke, John Flanagan, Mikey Nulty, Eddie Burke, Paul Matondo (Ciaran Clarke), Ross Gaynor, Lorcan Myles (Darren McMullen), Gareth Kane (Shawni Dowdall), James McMullen (Bryan O’Connor).