U14 | Watters and Hearty on target as Quay take a big step towards the title
Dundalk Schoolboys League U14 Premier Division
Rock Celtic 0–2 Quay Celtic
Goals from Jack Watters and Scott Hearty edged Quay Celtic towards the Dundalk Schoolboys League U14 Premier Division title as they left Sandy Lane with three precious points on Thursday evening.
The result leaves the Point Road side three points clear of second-placed Ardee Celtic and one more ahead of the Seasiders although they have played a game more than their title rivals.
However, if Quay can beat Bellurgan at Tom Flynn Park on Sunday and Ardee Celtic drop points in one of their final two games — against Dromin United and Rock Celtic — the title is heading for Clancy Park.
Rock came into this game knowing that a win would lift them top of the pile and put them in the driving seat and they started brightly with Nathan Todd sending a left-footed effort fly over Daniel Shields’ crossbar.
After seeing a couple of long range efforts miss the target, the visitors eventually wrestled control of things and Conaill Savage’s deft touch almost slipped Oisin Coleman in for a crack at goal but Niall Brennan was quick off his line.
Cronan McCabe’s Rock side were neat and tidy in possession and they fashioned a good opening in the 15th minute when Sean Gartlan and Dylan Simpson combined on the right. The latter’s cross picked out Sean Reynolds but Shields was equal to the task.
Quay looked the more inventive and Rock centre-back Jai Akhal had to make a superb interception to stop Jack Watters in his tracks after a fine pass by Scott Hearty urged the striker to go in chase.
The deadlock was almost broken in bizarre fashion in the 26th minute when Coleman’s corner from the right bounced off a couple of players in the six-yard box and crashed off the angle of crossbar and post.
It was the hosts, however, who finished the half on top and two set-pieces, both delivered by Evan Durnin, led to openings for Darragh O’Gradaigh and Reynolds but neither could convert and the half ended scoreless.
Shields showed good positioning to collect a glancing Reynolds header in the fifth minute of the second-half; either side of the ‘keeper and the big centre-forward’s attempt had enough pace to go in.
Rock continued to pose a threat and Evan Durnin’s last involvement of the game was to fire over a cross to the back post for Dylan Simpson but he couldn’t keep his effort down after doing well initially to take the ball under control and set himself.
The game opened up and Simpson did well at the other end, putting enough pressure on Coleman to fire over when the ball broke invitingly to him on the edge of the penalty area.
O’Gradaigh then steered an effort agonisingly wide before Quay left-back Sam Malone saw a long-range effort just clear the Seasiders’ crossbar.
The breakthrough eventually came with 12 minutes to play. Watters was initially denied by Brennan but the Quay number 10 was in the right place to control Tiernan Cassidy’s follow up and slide the ball home.
Rock almost responded within minute. Quay substitute Morgan Tobin, who did a fine job sweeping up, struggled with a high ball and Evan McEnteggart seized on his clearance to let fly first-time but his volley came back off the crossbar and Reynolds just couldn’t tuck the rebound home.
The hosts kept pushing and Shields threw himself to his right to keep a stunning Mark Leavy free-kick from beating the wall and squeezing inside the post.
Quay, however, wrapped up the points in stoppage time when Hearty lobbed the ball over the advancing Brennan to move Ray Savage’s outfit into pole position and leave Rock requiring snookers to have any chance of winning the league.
ROCK CELTIC: Niall Brennan; Sean Gartlan, Jai Akhal, Darragh O’Gradaigh, Barra Duffy; Dylan Simpson, Mark Leavy, Nathan Todd, Evan Durnin; Sean Reynolds, Evan McEnteggart. Subs: Cian Sheridan, Benji Dada, Sebastien McGeough.
QUAY CELTIC: Daniel Shields; Kieran McArdle, Evan Wynne, Tiarnan Cassidy, Sam Malone; Nathan Quinn, Conaill Savage, Cathal Bradley, Oisin Coleman; Scott Hearty, Jack Watters. Subs: Jack McArdle, Morgan Tobin, Conall O’Callaghan, Conor Devlin.
REFEREE: Denis Dullaghan.
