ROC’s unbeaten run comes to an end

ROC Celtic’s long unbeaten run came to a halt when they travelled to Malahide United last Friday night, and were knocked out of the UCFL Challenge Cup semi final on a 6-1 scoreline.

No complaints from the Celts on the night as they were at least four players short, had a player dismissed just before half time and really were, at times, chasing shadows all over Gannon Park.

On the other hand United are in flying form, are about to be crowned Premier Division champions and are also in the last four of the Richard Knight Cup, where they will play Blackforge FC, also in Gannon Park.

They also play Blackforge FC in the Challenge Cup final.

Friday saw them waste a couple of decent chances before they deservedly went in front through Karl Sheppard, after he latched on to a Thomas Lynch pass in the 15th minute.

Darren King had a great chance to bring the visitors level minutes later, but he rushed his effort and blasted the ball over the bar.

ROC Celtic’s Jamie Maher gets away from Malahide United’s Philip Rusk

However, on 38 minutes that lead was doubled after ROC’s Anthony O’Brien was crowded out in the middle of the park, and the ball was quickly switched to Niall Hoban who centred for Stephen Cleary to slot home.

It was a blow to the Division 1 outfit, and an even bigger one arrived soon after when they had a player sent off, and you knew that this was only going to get worse.

Nine minutes after the restart it was 3-0, as Jordan Briggs played a nice pass down the line to Cleary who crashed home from just inside the area.

While the goal of the game was netted by Hoban when he gathered the ball on the edge of the area, steadied himself and sent a shot in that crashed into the roof of the net on 70 minutes.

ROC wouldn’t have been frowned upon if they had called time at that point, but they battled on despite conceding two more through Fionn Tighe and Shepperd.

But their effort on the night was rewarded, if you could call it that, when O’Brien headed home a consolation in the dying minutes.

ROC CELTIC: S. Power, J. Kavanagh, T. Shields, C. O’Brien, S. Donoghue, K. O.Connell, D. KIng, J. Maher, A. O’Brien, E. Shields, R. Cogan, P. Maxwell, A. Donegan, D. Hayden, J. Brennan, E. Harmon, B. Grendon.