Battling U-13s edged out

QUAY CELTIC 3 ARDEE CELTIC 1

QUAY Celtic retained their Dundalk Under-13 Cup crown in style on Saturday morning, seeing off the considerable challenge of Ardee Celtic.

The eventual winners got off to a brilliant start with just four minutes gone when a Jack Watters right wing cross landed at the feet of Sam Malone who had his back to goal but showed great technique and control to turn and fire home past Jack McKeever.

The sides were level three minutes later when the pacey Jamie Rogers burst past the last defender before sweeping the ball past the advancing Daniel Shields.

Both sides slowly sussed each other out after that. Ardee’s Oisin Lynch did manage to break free on 19 minutes from a Daniel Clinton pass, but Quay Celtic defender Morgan Tobin nicked the ball off Lynch as he was about to pull the trigger.

At the other end, Sam Malone almost got on the end of an Oisin Coleman pass, but Ardee keeper Jack McKeever raced off his line to clear the danger. Daniel Shields produced a similar intervention for Quay early in the second half to prevent James Rogers scoring, but Quay Celtic went 2-1 ahead on 45 minutes when the impressive Scott Hearty unleashed an unstoppable effort into Jack McKeever’s top corner.

The goal finally settled Quay and they started playing with confidence. McKeever needed to be lively to keep out a fine effort from Jack Watters, who led from the front, and the pressure paid off in the 53rd minute when Cathal Bradley hooked a Sam Malone pass over McKeever’s head to give Quay a two-goal cushion. Ardee bravely tried to respond but were unable to penetrate the solid Quay Celtic defence.