Quay dent Glenmuir’s title hopes

QUAY CELTIC GLENMUIR UNITED 1 1

THIS was a David versus Goliath contest in terms of the teams respective positions in the table.

The home side, lying second from the bottom, nearly pulled off a major shock against the table toppers fresh from an impressive win to qualify for the last 32 at their age level in the national cup.

Quay had victory snatched from their grasp in the dying seconds of a fine, fascinating tussle in the windy, icy cold and rainy conditions at Clancy Park in the under-13 premier division.

The football was a credit to both teams, and while the finish was disappointing for the hosts they emerged with most of the accolades, playing the more attractive football and combining far better.

They dominated possession and the attacking play from the start, and gained a well merited lead in the first quarter when leading light Tom Dearey rifled a shot high into the roof of the net from a difficult angle on the right corner of the penalty box despite being challenged.

Dearey outstripped the left flank of the Glenmuir defence on a couple of occasions prior to the breakthrough, as he was Quay’s most dangerous player in the opening phase.

Kevin Teather on the other wing also was a threat, but just wasn’t able to deliver the right final ball when he got in the clear, with one notable exception which should have resulted in his side going in two nil in front at the break.

The strong cross wind favoured Quay, and the only effort that the visitors had on goal as they were pressed back was when Mathias struck a long range free over the crossbar.

He provided the valuable assist in the end run for his side to equalize. His powerfully struck in-swinging free-kick was glanced with his head into the top of the net by impressive defender Tony McDonnell.

The game might easily have been put beyond Glenmuir’s reach before then, and they had a lot to be thankful to goalkeeper Eric Nomika who performed with wonderful assurance in testing Kick-off time was put back a half an hour from the normal time. One could only wonder why with the weather deteriorating and much colder with a lot of rain forecast. Thankfully it only fell at the start and near the end, and was mostly dry for the rest of the game.

conditions showing a really safe pair of hands.

Dearey could have made it two nil when all alone with the goal at his mercy he steered Teather’s cross wide of the goalkeeper but beyond the far post before the break.

Teather had three opportunities in the early stages of the second half to also increase his side’s advantage. Two were from free-kicks on the edge of the penalty box, and the best was when free inside the penalty box, he shot weakly and straight at Nomika.

Glenmuir gained a hold on the game and home goalkeeper Daugantis had to be at his best to deny Daniel Craven.

Callum Clarke and Dylan Arrowsmith were making life difficult for the Quay defence in which Conor McKenna and Liam Coleman defended stoutly, but ominously it was once or twice ripped apart.

Quay managed to survive this spell and Nomika pulled off a couple of crucial saves, stretching high to parry away a couple of powerful shots and enabled his side to salvage a draw.

QUAY: Arturas Daugantis, Thomas Kindlon, Conor McKenna, Tiarnan Rogers, Liam Coleman, Luca Craig –Hay, Conor Downey Conal Courtney, Tom Dearey, Kevin Teather, James Meehan, Thomas McCahill, Conor Hynes.

GLENMUIR: Eric Nomika, Sean Reilly, Ben Keenan, Finn Flanagan, Tony McDonnell, Colin Drumm, Mathias, Callum Clarke, Shane Farrell, Liam Rogers, Jack McLaughlin, Dylan Arrowsmith, Leon Yore, Daniel craven, Conall McGeough. Cane Courtney, Quay Celtic wins possession as Ross Hynes, Bellurgan loses his footing. Shay Downey, Quay Celtic clashes with Dylan Clarke, Bellurgan. Photos: Ken Finegan

RESULTS

Rock Celtic 2 Glenmuir Utd 0; Blayney Acad 2 Shamrocks 0; Woodview 5 Quay Celtic 1; Bellurgan Utd 6 Muirhevnamor 2

Blayney Acad Blue 2 Quay Olympic 0; Bellurgan Celtic 1 Ardee Celtic 1; Dromin Juv 5 Glenmuir Celtic 1

Glenmuir Athletic 1 Shamrock Celtic 4; Rockville 4 Bellurgan Athletic 1; Redeemer 1 Blayney Acad Yellow 3

Quay Celtic 1 Glenmuir Utd 1; Blayney Acad 2 Rock Celtic 1; Bellurgan Utd 2 Quay Celtic 3; Glenmuir Utd 0 Muirhevnamor 1

Dromin Juv 2 Bellurgan Celtic 0; Ardee Celtic 2 Woodview 0; Bellurgan Celtic 1 Glenmuir Celtic 5

Bay Utd 2 Rockville 6

Ardee Celtic 0 Glenmuir Utd 1; Glenmuir Utd 2 Bellurgan Utd 1; Bay Utd 2 Rock Celtic 5 Ardee Utd 1 Shamrocks 5; Bellurgan Celtic 4 Dromin Juv 5

U15 League

Glenmuir Utd 6 St Dominics 2; Rock Celtic 1 Ardee Celtic 2; Walshestown 0 Rock Celtic 3; Ardee Celtic 1 Shamrocks 0

U16 Premier

Albion Rvs 1 Glenmuir Utd 3; Ardee Celtic 6 Glenmuir Utd 2

FIXTURES

Shamrocks Celtic v St Dominic’s, Bellew Park 7.30 Ardee Celtic v Dromin Juv, Ardee 7.30

Blayney Acad v Shamrocks, Bellew Park 7.30 Quay Celtic v Ardee Celtic, Clancy Pk 7.30

Bellurgan Utd v Rock Celtic, Bellew Park 7.30; Glenmuir Utd v Muirhevnamor, Glenmuir Pk 7.30 Shamrock Celtic v Bellurgan Athletic, Bellew Park 7.30

Muirhevnamor Celtic v Ardee Utd, Muirhevnamor 7.30