Newmarket Celtic 9 – Kilrush Rangers 1

A sun drenched McDonagh Park saw a lovely gesture when Katie Purcell, daughter of Newmarket manager Paddy, walked the whole field giving ice cream to everyone present but that’s where the hospitality ended for the visitors as Purcell’s charges simply ran riot. Earlier in the season these sides drew 3-3 back in Kilrush, a result that has had an impact on the title race but this return fixture was never in doubt as Celtic raced into a three nil lead as quick as it took for spectators to enjoy the ice cream! An Eoin Hayes cleverly taken free kick arrived at the feet of centre forward Tadgh Noonan who swivelled to buy space before firing low and accurate into the bottom corner. Moments later an inswinging Nathan BoaVentura corner was powerfully headed home to the net by Cian Foley and one knew it was going to be a long morning for the visiting side. Patrons were then treated to an absolutely sensational goal when Eoin Hayes flicked the ball over the centre half before rolling it to Gearoid O’Brien who without breaking stride unleashed a veritable rocket that flew into the top corner. Noonan then turned provider when teeing up BoaVentura who blasted home the fourth and Kilrush were all at sea. Amazingly though straight from the kick off a clever ball down the line found Karl Murphy in acres of space. The Rangers player wearing ten cut inside the box before being fouled for a penalty that Dean Neary dispatched with aplomb by sending Shane Cusack the wrong way. Any hopes of a Lazarus like comeback were immediately put to bed when BoaVentura who was outstanding throughout played a wonderful outside of the right boot pass to Eoin Hayes with the Newmarket talisman cleverly flicking the ball under the advancing keeper for the fifth just before the interval.
Any notions that Newmarket might ease up in the second period were dismissed, when only two minutes in BoaVentura, turned provider once more when teeing up Tadgh Noonan for his second of the day, a lovely first time strike from just outside the area. The quality finishing didn’t stop and in fact only got better when Eoin Hayes stood over a free kick thirty yards out. Taking a two step run up Hayes sensationally bent the ball around the wall low into the right hand corner. Newmarket emptied their bench but that didn’t stop them as they ruthlessly added another two with Jack Kelly blasting home after yet another BoaVentura assist before substitute Cathal Hayes got the ninth and final goal of a ruthless demolition job.

Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack, Davy Lennon, Lee Cregan, Cian Foley, Eoin Kelly, Jack Kelly (Che Burke 70), Aaron Rudd (Cathal Hayes 55), Gearoid O’Brien (Cathal Connellan 65), Tadgh Noonan (Billy McNamara 65), Eoin Hayes (Kevin Hartnett 55), Nathan BoaVentura

Kilrush Rangers: Harry O’Gorman (Godwin Chiowoke 80), Tomek Zaras, Sean Madigan, Trevor Clancy, Jack Cleary, Dean Neary, Patrick Clair, Richie Gadsecki, Karl Murphy, Robbie Byrnes (Thomas Clair 70), Norbert Kunicki

Referee: Brian Punch