Report

QPS Res                        1      

Cockhill Youths            4

A Darragh McDermott hat-trick helped Cockhill Reserves to victory over Quigley’s Point Swifts’s Reserves in Muff on Sunday.

In wet and blustery conditions, the away side had two good chances to take an early lead. Three minutes in, Shaun Doherty found himself one-on-one with Point keeper David Bell but scuffed his attempt wide when he should have scored. On eight minutes, the home side were caught in possession in defence by Darragh McDermott, but the striker shot wide from twelve yards.

Quigley’s Point gained a foot-hold in the game, having the majority of possession for much of the half, but a tight Cockhill defence kept chances to a minimum. Paul Hegarty’s free-kick was well held by Cockhill goalkeeper Declan Caldwell, while Paul Grant’s twenty-five yard effort on twenty-three minutes sailed just over the bar.

The visitors opened the scoring on twenty-seven minutes. Kevin McDaid released Shaun Doherty down the right flank, who fired in a low cross across the Quigley’s Point six-yard box and McDermott slid in to finish at the back post. Six minutes later, it was two-nil. McDermott won a penalty after being played in by Jarlath Herrity and the striker made no mistake from the spot, rifling the ball into the bottom-left corner. McDermott almost had his hat-trick before half-time, but a superb intervention from Kevin Wallace denied him from getting on the end of Jack McDaid’s cross.

Three minutes after the break, Cockhill extended the lead. Kevin McDaid’s precise through ball was latched on to by McDermott, and his first-time lob left Bell with no chance and completed his hat-trick.

The match became a midfield battle, with the away side content to soak up pressure while Quigley’s Point continued to work hard to try and force an opening. On sixty-eight minutes, Paul Grant saw an effort go wide from sixteen yards.

With ten minutes left, the Muff side reduced the deficit to two goals. Jack McConnelogue’s corner from the left was not cleared properly by the Cockhill defence, and Grant was on hand to bundle the ball home from eight yards. Three minutes later, they had a golden chance to score again. Paul Hegarty’s searching pass found substitute Stephen Slattery on the right. Slattery chose to shoot with McConnelogue waiting unmarked in the box, but his shot went wide from twelve yards.

The visitors killed the game off a minute later. Neill McCarron lofted a high ball through to Keegan Hegarty, who finished into the bottom left corner to make it four-one. Paul Grant had a late chance well saved by Caldwell, but the away side finished comfortably to secure the three points.