Important win for Cosmos

Twelve months ago Navan Cosmos probably would not have won this game, but tonight at the MDL they demolished title-chasing Abbey Celtic with a four-goal second-half blitz that suggests this time around that the Navan men will probably win the title.

It's not a sentiment that was expressed by manager Derek Coogan in a post-match interview (to be published in the next edition of the Meath Chronicle out Tuesday evening), but it's a judgement by this correspondent who watched Cosmos falter on the run-in last season.

This time around, Cosmos have a more solid look about them.

For example, it's the second time I have wathced them this year and on each occasion they carved out 4-0 victories.

Add in the fact that they missed an early first-half penalty - a real miss (see video clip).

They also failed to score in the opening half despite bombarding the opposition for most of the 45 minutes - they hit the post (each post) and the crossbar and won close to a dozen corners.

And yet, Abbey looked dangerous on the break.

However, that danger was diluted nine minutes into the second-half when the steely side of Cosmos surfaced.

Conor Walsh made up for the penalty miss by setting up Rob Coombes (who missed a penalty last week) - on this occasion Coombes found the net.

McManus added a second goal soon after and Coombes went on to complete his hat-trick with one superb effort and one that was more of the 'gift' variety when the over-worked Abbey goalkeeper Bryan Smith misjudged the shot.

Abbey also finished with 10 men after Niall Levins was red-carded by referee Reuben McManus with about 15 minutes remaining.

Cosmos saw out the closing stages without too much difficulty and will have a week off now as they have a number of players involved in the NEFL panel for the Oscar Traynor Trophy quarter-final away to Donegal next weekend.

 

TABLE - TOP FIVE

                         P   W  D  L  Pts
Navan Cosmos 14  11 2  1   35
Newfoundwell  14   9  3  2   30
Trim Celtic       15   8  4  3   28
Abbey Celtic    14   8  2  4   26
Rock Celtic      11   7  0  4   21

KEY GAME - SUNDAY
Trim Celtic v Rock Celtic

Cosmos remaining League games

Rock Celtic v Navan Cosmos

Navan Cosmos v Newfoundwell

Dromin v Navan Cosmos

Kentstown v Navan Cosmos

Navan Cosmos v Trim Celtic

Abbey Celtic v Navan Cosmos