Knightsbrook cup shock for Carrick

Cup competitions are notorious for throwing up an occasional giant-killing act and the odd shock result, but never in a million years could even the most optimistic underdog supporter have envisaged Knightsbrook defeating Carrick Rovers in the Meath & District League Challenge Cup on Sunday. However, that is exactly what happened at Carrickmacross on Sunday when lowly Div 4 side Knightsbrook from Trim travelled north and shocked Premier Division contenders Carrick Rovers in one of the biggest upsets for some time in local soccer. Knightsbrook"s mid-table position in Div 4 doesn"t do justice to the quality of players they have available with an emphasis on youth. That exuberance proved a vital attribute as they stunned their more illustrious opponents. Knightbrook were not overawed by Carrick. On an excellent surface they took control of the early stages of the contest, passing well and retaining possession to frustrate the hosts. When Carrick did win possession they struggled to breakdown the Knightsbrook defence and with former Trim Celtic player Craig O"Hanlon in exceptional form the visitors were always a threat. It was O"Hanlon who created the opening goal. He took on the Carrick defence and ghosted past two defenders before picking out Michael Tyndell for a simple tap in. Instead of sitting back on their advantage Knightsbrook maintained the pressure and were rewarded with a second goal when Tyndell gave the home goalkeeper no chance with a superb shot into the top corner. With a two-goal half-time cushion Knightsbrook prepared for the inevitable second-half onslaught, but they coped well and frustrated their hosts. Carrick eventually found a reply with 20 minutes remaining, while Knightsbrook maintained the ball never crossed the line. That goal set up a tense final quarter. The Carrick goalkeeper was at his best to deny Tyndell his hat-trick when he was one-on-one. Carrick resorted to long ball tactics, but that played into the superb Knightsbrook hands and they held on to create history and ensure a memorable day. T.J Garry, Alan Gilbane, O"Hanlon and Tyndall were ouitstanding in a superb team performance.. Knightsbrook - E Goulding; J Moynihan, A Gilbane, TJ Garry, D Blaney, C O"Hanlon, J Curran, A Craig, D Fortune, C Ryan, M Tyndall. Subs - G O"Neill, J Prendergest, D Gibney, T Dempsey. Navan Cosmos 2 Cavan Town 1 Navan Cosmos recovered from the concession of an early goal to book their place in the third round of the MDL Challenge Cup with a narrow victory over Cavan Town on Sunday. Lawrence Ivers, Ramos Ritiu and Jimmy Quinlan all went close for Cosmos in the opening quarter, but they were stunned when Cavan took the lead with their first attack. After the resumption the Navan side continued to dominate, but they missed several chances while Derek Coogan was forced into action to keep Cosmos in the game. However, the introduction of Gerry Brennan proved decisive. Ivers equalised with a fierce drive and with extra-time looming it was Brennan who popped up to force the the winner and ensure Alan Kirwan"s side marched on. Navan Cosmos - D Coogan; I Reilly, D Lambe, D McGovern, M Nichols, R Ritiu, S Conaty, J McDonagh, J Martin, L Ivers, J Quinlan. Subs - S Ivers for Quinlan, K Walsh for Ritiu, G Brennan for Reilly. PREMIER Duleek 1 Ardee Celtic 0 Duleek maintained their outside aspirations of attaining Meath & District League Premier Division glory with a narrow victory over over Ardee Celtic on Sunday. The win keeps Duleek in third place nine points behind leaders Rock Celtic, but on this form they will be confident of maintaining the pressure at the top. The early exchanges were tense with few chances for either side. The best opportunity fell to Colin Woods, but his drive was easily saved. A half hour into the contest the Meath side finally made a breakthrough. Goalkeeper David Andrews found Paddy Coates on the right wing and he raced clear of the Ardee defence before despatching a fierce drive to give the hosts an interval lead. Duleek also created the better of the second-half chances with Noel Burke forcing the Ardee goalkeeper into a fine save. Duleek - D Andrews; P Dowd, S Neery, B Murphy, T Andrews, N Burke, R Carr, S Corcoran, C Woods, P Coates, D Cummins. Subs - I Devine for Cummins, C Dowd for Carr. DIVISION 1 Bellurgan 2 Torro 2 Torro missed a great chance to close the gap on Navan Cosmos at the top of MDL Div 1 when they were held by Dundalk side Bellurgan on Sunday. It could have been worse for the Meath contenders as they suffered from a case of Liverpoolitis by going 0-2 down in the opening 30 minutes. Colm Gilsenan pulled one back to narrow the deficit at the interval. After the break Torro struggled to find a breakthrough, but with 12 minutes remaining they finally managed an equaliser when Gilsenan netted for a second time. Torro - S Gilsenan; D McKeever, S Carroll, K Farrell, G McKeever, A Englishby, J Tolan, M McKeever, P Lennon, C Gilsenan, S Tolan. Sub - K McKeever for Lennon. DIVISION 2 Skryne / Tara 4 Kells Celtic 0 After doing Skryne / Tara a major favour the previous week by defeating BMC, Kells Celtic further boosted their visitors at the MDL on Sunday by handing them victory. Defensive errors gifted Allan Carty a brace of goals and when Mark Jordan added a third before the break it was comfortable for Skryne / Tara. Kells Celtic went close after the resumption and forced Brian Faherty into a couple of good saves, but when Jordan added a fourth goal it ended the contest. Skryne/Tara - B Faherty; John Jordan, D Russell, K McManus, I Dowd, D Carty, D Beaton, R Thorpe, A Carty, Jamie Jordan, M Jordan. Subs - N Hamill for D Carty, B Gallagher for Jamie Jordan. RESERVE CUP Kells/Blackwater 7 Black Bull 0 Kells / Blackwater had it all too easy on Saturday as they advanced to the next round of the Reserve Cup with a comprehensive victory over Black Bull. Darren O"Sullivan helped himself to a hat-trick while John Rennicks (two), John D Smith and Stephen Murray were also on target for the winners. Kells / Blackwater - C Gilsenan; A O"Rourke, S Murray, L Quail, J McManus, N Kelly, M Coleman, J Tiernan, T Smith, J Rennicks, B Farrelly. Subs - D O"Sullivan for Kelly, J D Smith for O"Rourke, D McGovern for Tiernan. NECSL Kells/Blackwater 2 Torro 0 After surviving a few early scares Kells / Blackwater eventually settled and took the full points from this u-17 encounter against Torro on Sunday. Kells / Blackwater took an interval lead through a fine John D Smith 25-metre lob. Torro pressed hard for an equaliser, but Killian Comiskey denied them with a couple of superb saves. Smith put the game out of Torro"s range with his second goal. Kells/Blackwater - K Comiskey; H Egan, S Smith, D Morgan, D King, B Bailey, C Keegan, D. O"Sullivan, A O"Rourke, J D Smith, G McConnell. Subs - T Browne for Bailey, L O"Rourke for King, D McManus for McConnell.