Magnificent seven for Cosmos as Carney hits four

In freezing conditions Navan Cosmos warmed up for Sunday's eagerly-awaited Leinster Senior Cup clash with Thomastown Utd when they defeated Ardee Celtic 7-0 in the Challenge Cup at the MDL tonight. 

This was a particularly fruitful outing for the Cosmos twin strike-force of Colm Carney and Conor Walsh who between them bagged all seven goals. 

Carney hit four while Walsh contributed three including the opener from the penatly spot after 10 minutes that kick-started the rout. Ben Newe was brought down for the penalty. 

Both Carney and Walsh were outstanding with their skill and combination play causing havoc in the Ardee Celtic defence. 

Cosmos were in excellent form throughout their passing and movement opening up chasms in the visitors' defence. At the break Cosmos led 5-0 and there was simply no stopping them. 

The home team were outstanding as a unit with players such as Carney, Walsh, Newe, Jimmy Boland and Paul Delaney particularly impressive . 

There was a scare for Derek Coogan's side when Delaney went down injured in the second-half but he recovered and appeared to run off the hefty knock.

Ardee Celtic are in contention for promotion from Div 1 but they simply couldn't contain the Cosmos attack.

The Cosmos assistant manager Mervyn Ennis warned that his team will need to 'come back down to earth' and focus on taking on Thomastown at the MDL on Sunday after tonight's victory.

'It was alwasy going to be a big game even before the possibility of playing Shamrock Rovers came up but it was good to get the lads back tonight before the game against Thomastown,' he said.

'We need to get back and focus for the league as well. To get a chance to play Shamrock Rovers is a huge incentive for both teams but tonight was a chance for us to get back in and focus on playing the way we can.'

Navan Cosmos - Conor McManus; Paul Delaney, Ben Newe, Jack Murray, Shaun Doyle, Alan Murphy, Mark Leavy, Jimmy Boland, Cillian Corcoran, Conor Walsh, Colm Carney. Subs - Daryl Collins for Carney 49 mins, Colin Lynch for Murphy 51m, Ciaran Rogers for Walsh, Gary Gibney for Leavy, Donal Callan for Corcoran all 64m. 

Ardee Celtic - Declan Butler; Niall Sharkey, Robbie Reynolds, Fintan Clarke, Robbie McNeice, Paul Carrie, Lorcan Myles, Mikey Nulty, Robbie Taaffe, Paul Matando, Eddie Burke. Subs - Garath Kane for McNeice, Graham Tighe for Taaffe 54m, Shane Hickey for Burke 62m, Seanie Dowdall for Matando 63m. 

Referee - Pat Henry (Meath Branch).