Tom’s treble keeps Rock in the hunt
QUAY CELTIC ROCK CELTIC 2 4
QUAY scored two late goals to give Rock a fright but the Seasiders rarely if ever looked anything other than winners of this under-15 top of the table clash at Clancy Park.
They opened a two nil lead inside the first ten minutes, and it was fitting that central defender Tom Matthews who gave them that dream start effectively sealed the points by completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot to stretch their lead out to four nil with seven minutes left.
Aaron McArdle replied for Quay almost straight away when his shot from a tight angle on the endline squirmed underneath Rock goalkeeper Donohue at the near post , and the Rock nerves started to flutter as the scorer’s wickedly curling corner flew straight into the net inside the near post.
Only a full length finger tip save as McArdle broke free inside the penalty box prevented his low angled drive entering the far bottom corner and completing his hat-trick and send the Rock nerve rate racing.
As it transpired the final whistle just after brought relief for the seasiders who were in complete control when Matthews struck twice, first with a soaring glancing header into the top corner of the net when unmarked in the middle of the home penalty box from Layo Adebanjo’s free outside 18 yard line on the right.
Only two minutes was gone, and six minutes later he again found room from near enough the same position from a corner kick on the left by Mark Gallagher to direct the most subtle of volleys again into the top of net.
Quay goalkeeper Con O’Donoghue squeezed in between with his bravery and good positioning twice foiled Gallagher.
Gallagher also clipped the outside of the woodwork with a free kick after 15 minutes, as Rock controlled the play.
Quay as the half wore on settled and came into the game with Robbie Duffy from a cross as close as they came to scoring in the period.
But they will wonder how the outcome might have turned out had Lee O’Carroll managed to convert a clear opening just after the interval, and not wasted a couple of other clear-cut opportunities.
O’Carroll shrugged off Matthews as Aaron McArdle played a ball over the top of the Rock defence and raced clear into the penalty box only to drag his shot wide.
Rock regained their grip and the ball ping ponged about the Quay goalmouth as the home side just and more managed to not fall further behind.
Then Robbie Duffy got away from the last Rock defender only to overrun the ball and Rock goalkeeper Donohue gratefully gathered it.
Rock capitalised on this let off when Gavin Gilmore flashed a low shot into the far corner of the net from a pass by Noel Lennon.
The latter then drew the penalty at the end of an inter change of passes involving several of his teammates to allow Matthews to put the game seemingly beyond Quay.
This followed immediately after O’Carroll couldn’t direct his lob into an empty goal as he beat Rock ‘keeper Donoghue to the ball just outside the six yard line to the right of goal.
QUAY: Con O’Donohue, Riain Colgan, Tiernan Watters, Sean Cassidy, Sean Cunningham, Aaron McArdle, Jamie Lee, Oisin Breen, Lee O’Carroll, Robbie Duffy, Callum Smith, Callum McGhee, Darren Malley, Conor Walls. Manager, Joe McGeown.
ROCK Celtic: Jack Donohue, Dylan McGuill, Daniel Nordone, Leslie Egaghe, Tom Matthews, Sean Connor, Layo Adebanjo, Noel Lennon, Gavin Gilmore, Emmanual Adeghjoyege, Mark Gallagher, Fionn Kenny, Tadhg Carr. Manager, Ronan Farrelly. Ardee Celtic 1 Muirhevnamor 0; Quay Celtic 3 Bellurgan Utd 2;
Blayney Acad 2 Woodview 0; Bellurgan Celtic 0 Glenmuir Celtic 2;
Redemer 2 Muirhevnamor Celtic 0; Dromin Juv 0 Muirhevnamor Celtic 0; Rockville 3 Glenmuir Ath 0; Shamrock Celtic 0 Bellurgan Ath 3; Ardee Ath 3 St Dominics 5;
Ardee Celtic 5 Rock Celtic 3; Bellurgan Utd 4 Shamrocks 3;
Bellurgan Ath 1 Ardee Utd 3; Rockville 0 Bay Utd 5;
Rock Celtic 3 Shamrocks 0; Ardee Celtic 4 Dromin Utd 0; Glenmuir Utd 1 Quay Olym 1; Shamrocks 0 Quay Celtic 2; Bellurgan Utd 2 Quay Celtic 2;
Quay Ath 2 Blayney Acad 0; St Dominics 1 Bellurgan Celtic 0; Quay Ath 4 Dromin Juv 2; Woodview 1 Walshstown 3;
Blayney Acad 0 Ardee Celtic 2; Quay Celtic 2 Rock Celtic 4; Quay Celtic 2 Bellurgan Utd 4; Albion Rvs 0 Rock Celtic 4;
Grove Rgs 2 St Dominics 1; Rockville 6 Albion Utd 3; Ardee Utd 1 Walshstown 5; Ardee Celtic v Shamrocks, Ardee 6.45; Glenmuir Utd v Quay Celtic, Glenmuir Pk 6.45; Quay Celtic v Glenmuir Utd, Clancy Pk 7.00; Shamrocks v Dromin Utd, Bellew Pk 7.00;
Ardee Celtic v Glenmuir Utd, Ardee 6.45; Shamrocks v Glenmuir Utd, Fatima 6.15; Quay Ath v St Dominics, Clancy Pk 6.45; Bay Utd v Bellurgan Utd, Bellew Pk 7.00; Rockville v Quay Olym, Blackrock 6.30; Shamrocks v Rock Celtic, Fatima 6.15; Glenmuir