Cobh Wanderers breezed into the second round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup as they comprehensively defeated Killarney Celtic 3-0 at Old Church Park on Saturday afternoon. First half goals from Conor Meade, James Stroat and a David Stack penalty wa
Cobh Wanderers breezed into the second round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup as they comprehensively defeated Killarney Celtic 3-0 at Old Church Park on Saturday afternoon.
First half goals from Conor Meade, James Stroat and a David Stack penalty was enough to deservedly seal the Munster Senior League Premier Division club’s place in the draw for the next stage.
It was Cobh who began the game the better side and they almost took the lead after just three minutes but Celtic goalkeeper Roy Kelleher did well to smother James Stroat’s lob attempt.
The visitors went close to taking the lead against the run of play midway through the half but after a mix up in defence, Pa McGrath’s clever overhead kick was cleared off the line by the recovering Eoin Hastings.
Wanderers responded well to that let off and they edged in front after the half an hour mark.
David Stack’s superb free kick from the right flank found the run of Conor Meade and the attacker made no mistake, glancing his header into the bottom left corner of the net.
The FAI intermediate Cup finalists doubled their advantage within a minute of scoring the first as Conor Meade sent James Stroat through on goal and the forward expertly drilled his half volley past the keeper from the edge of the box.
Cobh all but sealed their place in the second round deep into injury time at the end of the opening period as they grabbed a third through David Stack, who blasted his penalty into the bottom right corner after Dave Curran had been fouled in the area.
The second 45 was rather uneventful as Michael Deasy’s men took the sting out of the game at three goals to the good.
A Wayne Sparling header, which drifted just the far post, was as close as Killarney came to grabbing a consolation as Cobh safely progressed.
Cobh Wanderers: Michael Devine; Eoin Hastings, Brian Fitzgerald, Brendan Frahill, John Meade; James Stroat (Shane Geasley 71), Michael O’Shea, Dave Curran, David Stack; Stephen Griffin (James Abbott 76), Conor Meade (Alan O’Flynn 64).
Killarney Celtic: Roy Kelleher; Chris O’Leary, Jamie Spillane, Gary Keane, Brendan Falvey; Conor McCarthy (Lee Downing 47), Matt Keane; Stephen Hayes (Stephen McCarthy 80), Pa McGrath, Wayne Sparling, Cathal O’Shea.
