Cosmos prove up to the Challenge

After losing out in the last two NEFL Challenge Cup finals Navan Cosmos have an opportunity to make amends. 

They booked their place in the 2017 decider tonight with a 2-1 victory over Johnstown in a gripping encounter at the MDL. 

Anto Burke gave Navan Cosmos a first-half lead with a well-taken effort and at the end of normal time Colm Carney hit a second.

It proved to be a crucial goal as Johnstown pulled one back in injury time when Vinny Murphy shot resulted in Dan Halligan deflecting the ball to the net. 

Cosmos had much the better of the first-half and they should have added to Burke's early strike when they were awarded a penalty on 28 minutes but Conor Walsh's chipped effort was easily saved by Johnstown 'keeper Dylan Byrne. 

In the second-half Byrne made a number of excellent saves most notably from Burke while Cosmos's netminder Conor Gilsenan also made a number of fine stops. He had to be sharp to block efforts from Kacper Zeberek, Aaron Mooney and Arnold Ruskens. 

Murphy went close to snatching an equaliser for Johnstown when he hit the ball against the bar from a free kick. 

Instead James Boland threaded the ball through for Carney to neatly slot home. 

Murphy's late goal gave Johnstown hope but there was no denying Cosmos a place in the final. 

Afterwards Johnstown coach Ger Lynch and Cosmos manager Derek Coogan spoke to Chronicle Live on Facebook and expressed their pride at the way their teams had performed on a big night for the local game.

Last night also turned out to be memorable for young Athboy player Jamie McGrath as he hit a hat-trick for Dundalk as they defeated Sligo Rovers 3-0 in the Airtricity League clash at Oriel Park.