Four-goal Smith propels Bay

BAY gave one of their best performances in some time to cause a real upset to advance to the knockout stages of the Kilmessan Shield at the expense of their Premier Division opponents, who would have been warm favourites entering this crunch tie on Friday night.

Kentstown had romped to a 9-0 win overt Johnstown, and followed that up with a 6-3 victory over fellow top-flight side Bellurgan in their first two group games.

In fairness, Bay also got the better of Bellurgan and Johnstown, but by much narrower margins, 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.

However, their defence has been rock solid and again central defenders Clive Morati and Gauthier Diatezulwa were the lynchpins in this match, laying the foundation for a great team victory in which Vinny Smith was the scoring hero, bagging four goals, while 16-yearold Maksin Ruskul capped his debut by coming off the bench to win a penalty and confidently put it away to seal the outcome.

Goalkeeper Aaron Conway also played an important role with a crucial penalty save in the second half when Kentstown threatened to make a comeback.

The visitors fell 2-0 in arrears in the opening 20 minutes, courtesy of a brace of goals by Smith, the second an audacious lob over the Kentstown goalkeeper from 30 yards.

Rovers cut the deficit after the break, but Bay quickly replied with Taylor Murphy straight away winning a spot-kick, which Smith despatched to round off his hattrick.

Kentstown won a penalty of their own, but Conway’s brilliant save was a big turning point and enabled Bay to run out comfortable winners.

Smith grabbed his fourth, and teenager Ruskul impressively put the result beyond doubt.

BAY: Aaron Conway, Tiarnan O’Connor, Stephen McGuinness, Clive Morati, Gauthier Diatezulwa, Stefan Wesley, Paddy Connor, Vinny Smith, Taylor Murphy, Adam Larrigan, Gavin Donnelly. Maksin Ruskul, Aaron Kelly.