Garbhan Friel’s brace, either side of a goal by Laurence Toland, fired Cockhill Celtic into the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup.
Cockhill Celtic 3 Swords Celtic 1
Cockhill started match on top with Friel – pictured – going close in the third minute with a header from a Ronan Doherty free kick.
Cockhill had a golden chance to open the scoring when Mark Coyle was fouled in the box after Swords keeper Trumble spilled a cross. Trumble quickly redeemed himself saving Friel’s penalty.
Swords were dangerous on the break with Owen Jones a great outlet on the right hand side.
Cockhill broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.
Coyle released Doherty on the left. He cut inside and his blocked shot fell to Friel who swept home from 10 yards.
The second half started with Swords having their best period of the game. A Gavin Smith free kick and a Shaun O’Brien shot being dealt with by Gavin Cullen.
Their best chance came on 65 minutes when the ball broke to Sean Kelly on the box after a Swords free kick. His close range effort forced Cullen into a brilliant reaction save.
Swords were to rue that missed chance as Cockhill put the game beyond them with two goals in the next ten minutes.
Firstly, Laurence Toland doubled the lead on 69 minutes.
Coyle found space in the Swords half and when he released Toland the outcome was never in doubt as he drove past Trumble.
It was 3-0 five minutes later when Friel got his second when he outpaced the Swords defence to slot home.
Swords got a consolation goal two minutes from the end when Niall Tormey capitalised on a defensive error to slide the ball past Cullen, but it’s Cockhill who advance.
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