CLONMANY SHAMROCKS eased past Cockhill Youths and into the next round of the Charlie O’Donnell Cup tonight.
Clonmany Shamrocks 7 Cockhill Youths 0
Two apiece by Mark McLaughlin, Jason Devlin and Aaron Harkin, along with a first-half penalty by Mikey Friel put Kevin Harkin’s team comfortably through.
Cockhill Youths had enjoyed a superb start to the new season, winning three-from-three to go top of the Strand Hotel First Division, but Premier Division title chasers Clonmany were in ruthless mood here.
They were two up at half-time and roared away in the second half.
[adrotate group=”37″]Ten minutes after the re-start, McLaughlin let fly with a stunning effort from 30 yards that gave Declan Caldwell no chance of making a save.
It was four when Ryan Doherty brilliantly beat three players and slipped a wonderful pass to Aaron Harkin who applied the finish.
On 69 minutes, Harkin put in the cross and Devlin converted from closwe range.
Nine minutes from the end, three subs combined as Fearghal Harkin and Devlin combined with Harkin scoring his team’s sixth.
Devlin added the coup de grace late on with a magnificent seventh, created by Oisin Hession.
Clonmany took the lead after 21 minutes. McLaughlin and Friel worked the chance and McLaughlin kept his composure, holding off two defenders to riffle past Caldwell.
Right on the stroke of half-time, they doubled the lead when Friel was taken down by Caldwell and, after dusting himself down, Friel slotted home from the spot.
In between times, Paddy Doherty headed McLaughlin’s free over the top and the Shamrock Park men were in their groove.
They’d had the better of the earlier chances, too.
McLaughlin fed Friel in the third minute, but he shot wide while Friel was denied by Caldwell soon after.
Friel was in the thick of it and, after being played in by Paddy Doherty, he was off target again before McLaughlin broke the resistance and paved the way for a rout.
[adrotate group=”38″]Cockhill’s Simon Cuffe forced Paddy Harkin into a save in the opening minute of the game, but once Clonmany hit the front there seemed only likely to be one winner.
Michael Owen Doherty and Tommy Doherty had chances for Cockhill early in the second half, but Clonmany soon put paid to any notions they might’ve had of making a comeback.
[adrotate group=”76″]Clonmany Shamrocks: Patrick Harkin, Brendan Doherty (Michael Harkin 60), Gary Doherty, Andrew Doherty, Philip Devlin, Conor Bradley, Paddy Doherty (Fearghal Harkin 60), Mark McLaughlin (Jason Devlin 64), Mikey Friel (Aaron Harkin half-time), Oisin Hession, Ryan Doherty.
Cockhill Youths: Declan Caldwell, Ryan Mallett, Jack McDaid, Christy Duffy, Sean Pierce, Shaun Doherty (Mick Doherty 87), Jarlath Hegarty, James McGonigle, Darragh McDermott, Tommy Doherty (Eoin Derry 60), Simon Cuffe (Michael Owen Doherty 24 (Kevin McDaid 75)).
Referee: Tommy McAree.
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