Ardee facing into Quay showdown
DULEEK ARDEE CELTIC 0 3
A POINT at home to Quay Celtic in their penultimate game this Thursday will be enough to secure Ardee Celtic’s Premier status after they picked up two crucial wins over the past week.
The Deesiders needed a last-minute goal to secure the narrowest of wins - 2-1 - away to doomed Kingscourt on Wednesday, and they followed up in fine style at the Tollstone on Sunday where Duleek’s defeat leaves them certain to face a relegation play-off at best.
Conor Lynch’s men hit the ground running and were in the lead inside two minutes. Ross Gaynor was fouled by the Duleek full-back and the ex Dundalk and Drogheda United man knocked the resulting free kick into the path of John Flanagan whose first-time pass across the six-yard area was converted by Niall Sharkey.
Duleek came into the game as the half wore on, enjoying a strong 10-minute spell, but they could not create any clear-cut chances to trouble keeper Stuart Reynolds, with Conor McManus strong at the back for Ardee.
Duleek’s most notable chances in the second half fell to their talisman Barry Kavanagh, but he sent a header wide and a shot over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Ardee doubled their lead when Gareth Kane was fouled inside the line and Ross Gaynor stepped up and converted the spot kick.
At this stage, the game was getting heated, with Duleek desperately needing a goal to give them a lifeline. Tackles were flying in and the referee had to issue a few yellow cards.
However, the tie was effectively finished with 10 minutes left when Ross Gaynor held up the ball before playing in Robbie Reynolds and his first touch set a up a low finish to the bottom corner.
DULEEK: Mark Kelly, Robbie Daly (Mick Conroy), Gary Nugent, Jamie Flaherty, Bryan Murphy, Chris McDonnell, Matthew Noone, James Burke (Karl Dyas), Cormac McGroggan, Barry Kavanagh, Alan Wilton.
ARDEE CELTIC: Stuart Reynolds, Mikey Nulty, Conor McManus, Niall Sharkey, Robbie Reynolds, Fintan Clarke, John Flanagan, Paul Montondo, Gareth Kane, Ross Gaynor, Conor McGill. Sub: Stuart Osborne.