Cockhill Celtic ease past challenge Maree/Oranmore to advance in FAI Junior Cup

Cockhill Celtic comfortably booked their passage to the quarter-finals of the FAI Junior Cup with a convincing 4-0 victory over Maree/Oranmore of Galway. 

Gavin Cullen’s charges enjoyed a 2-0 cushion at the break thanks to a Luke Rudden brace while a Peter Doherty header as well as a late fourth from substitute Jack Mullan sealed a fine afternoon’s work at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Ground.  

It wasn’t that surprising when Cockhill, heavy favourites for Sunday’s clash, went in front as early as the second minute. With the Galway visitors failing to clear their lines, Rudden eventually took advantage of that by nodding home from close range. 

On seven minutes, Rudden almost added his and his side’s second with a glancing header that just went the wrong side of the post. With the hosts continuing to pile on early pressure, Brendan McLaughlin’s in-swinging corner had to be hooked off the line by Maree/Oranmore’s Keelan Eyers. 

Oisin McColgan was next to come close to adding a second as he headed over. It took until the 21st minute for the away team to mount any significant kind of venture into the Cockhill defensive third. 

But when that ground was finally made, it took a smart touch over from home stopper Harry Doherty to prevent an equaliser from Kalper Zaytonski’s excellent freekick. 

Seven minutes out from the break and opposite number Max Hawksley also produced admirable reflexes when - from almost point blank range - he deflected Garbhan Friel’s drive up and over the crossbar. 

But on the stroke of half-time Cockhill did grab that inevitable second. Hawksley failed to deal with Adam McLaughlin’s set piece, pushing it into the path of the lurking Rudden and, from close range, he easily stroked home. 

The visitors almost pulled one back at the start of the second-half when Doherty saved from Ethan McAuley. Still, Cockhill soon regained a tight hold on matters and another bout of sustained pressure resulted in Peter Doherty heading home from a superb Brendan McLaughlin freekick. 

On 57 minutes, great feet from Rudden inside the box forged the chance to make it 4-0 but having done so much right, the Cockhill dangerman just pulled his driven effort wide of the foot of the post. 

Passing the hour mark and Rudden again almost netted his hattrick but having been teed up by Friel, Hawksley did well to deny the relentless hosts. 

Four minutes out from the end replacement Mullan rounded off the afternoon in style for the winners when he stroked home his side’s fourth.

Last season’s defeated Intermediate finalists are now in the draw for the last eight of the Junior competition. 

Cockhill Celtic: Harry Doherty; Lee McColgan, Peter Doherty, Jack Doherty, Brendan McLaughlin; Corey McBride (Liam Grant,75), James Bradley, Oisin McColgan, Luke Rudden (Adam Duffy, 68); Adam McLaughlin (Conor Graham, 68), Garbhan Friel (Jack Mullan, 75). 

Maree/Oranmore: Max Hawksley; Jack Morrissey, Keelan Eyers (Shane Cox,79), Kalper Zaytonski (Dara Clery, 74), Conor Keady; Dan McCann, Malachy Black, Ciaran Black (Ryan Mill, 80), Ben Costelloe; Colm Whelan, Ethan McAuley. 

Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.