BUNCRANA Hearts’ FAI Junior Cup run crashed to a halt today as Killrney Celtic scored a big win at Castle Park.
Buncrana Hearts 1 Killarney Celtic 4
Picture by Claire McCahill
After a nervous opening Buncrana had the first chance of the game on 7 minutes after a Declan Fullerton cross was glanced narrowly wide by Gerard McLaughlin.
But the visitors front three of Wayne Sparling, Daniel Roach and Stephen McCarthy began to give the home defence trouble.
On 16 minutes Sparling beat a man and crossed for Roach who headed wide.
They took the lead on 25 minutes when McCarthy latched onto a ball over the top and rounded Eoghan O’Doherty to fire home from a tight angle.
Sparling then put in a great cross which just eluded McCarthy at the back post. But they increased their lead when Roachs cross fell nicely for McCarthy to volley home from eight yards.
The visitors remained on top on the restart and Sparling fired narrowly over after McCarthy had released him.
They made it three-nil when Roach slotted home after O’Doherty parried a cross from Sparling. McCarthy then completed his hat trick when finished well from 12 yards.
The home side did rally and Fullertons cross deflected off a defender but hit the post and was cleared.
Kevin O’Loughlin then had a header well saved before Fullerton’s free crashed off the bar to O’Loughlin whose follow up header also came off the bar.
The home side got a consolation after Aaron McDaid and Keith McColgan combined for the latter to cross for Fullerton to flick home from close range.
