Trim Celtic sustain cup ambitions

LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP

Trim Celtic 2

New Oak Boys 0

Robbie Horgan’s Trim Celtic side made it through to the Leinster Junior Cup quarter-final with a thoroughly professional display against Carlow visitors New Oak Boys.

The visitors didn’t make it easy for the home side and caused the Trim defence many headaches but it was nothing they weren’t able to fix with a strong backline of Gerard Murray and Ciaran O’Connell mastering the strikers and Mark Leavey and captain James Goggins tucking in to cover behind when needed.

This game was filled with passion and every ball was fought for, every throw-in or free was hard earned and in a tight match like this, it was always going to be a set piece that would break the deadlock and it came from the boot of Dean Courtney. Trim won a corner kick with five minutes left of the first-half, Courtney swung in a beautiful cross to the back post with Gerard Murray keeping it in play, guiding his header back across goal where Wes Gibbons' initial shot was blocked but it fell for Conor Walsh to blast home. The second goal didn't arrive until the 65th minute when Ciaran O'Connell's long pass was passed back to his 'keeper by the New Oak centre half and as the 'keeper went to clear it he was closed down by Aaron Williams with the ball hitting off his body and it landed perfect for Anthony Moran to hit a cross first time into the box to Courtney who found himself free and he sent his right foot shot into the bottom corner.

The green and white hoops of Trim held on to keep their run going in this competition and now they must travel up to Dublin to take on Hardwick FC from the Athletic Union League after they beat Evergreen in their last 16 tie.

Trim Celtic - Aaron Ryan; Mark Leavy, James Goggins, Gerard Murray, Ciaran O'Connell, Conor Walsh, Callum Ennis, Dean Courtney, Anthony Moran, Wesley Gibbons, Aaron Williams. Sub - Luke Mahon, Brian Faulkner, Paul Walsh, Sam Kennedy, Shane Bell, Sean Walsh, Peter Brennan.