Castlefin Celtic are Brian McCormick Sports Premier League Champions after a big win against Kildrum Tigers at Parkview.
Castlefin Celtic 5 Kildrum Tigers 1
Report by Stuart Connolly at Parkview
Pictures by Joe Boland (North West Newspix)
Only a win would guarantee the title and Corrie Lee Bogan kicked things off in the first half.
Three second-half goals in ten minutes saw the hosts take a commanding lead, Ronan Tourish bagged a brace with a Ray Foy goal sandwiched between the two before Emmet White netted the fifth. Kildrum scored a late goal courtesy of Kevin McHugh.
As you’d expect with any game where a title is at stake, it witnessed a pacey start.
JP Malley had an early dipping volley tipped wide by Keenan Gibson inside the opening three minutes, a matter of moments later Kevin McHugh went close but Chris O’Donnell narrowed the angle which enabled him to make a smart save.
After having a couple of chances thwarted and a penalty appeal turned down, Castlefin grabbed that all-important first goal on 24 minutes.
Corrie Lee Bogan made a nuisance of himself down the right wing before cutting in and blasting past Gibson, in off the underside of the bar.
Last seasons champions came within a whisker of equalizing after the half-hour mark, a Michael Ayton ball across goal hit the shin of Michael Dunnion before striking the post as Castlefin held their lead at the interval.
The hosts started the second half in fine form, bagging their second goal less than five minutes in.
Raymond Foy, who was roaming on the left side, played a short pass to Ronan Tourish on the edge of the area and he prodded an effort at goal which left Gibson rooted to the ground.
Still licking their wounds from the second goal and a momentary lapse of concentration allowed the unmarked Foy, who received the ball from Marty Owens down the left, to tuck his shot into the bottom right corner.
Just shy of the hour mark and Castlefin had bagged their fourth of the evening.
JP Malley played a low ball across goal from the right side and Ronan Tourish was on hand to bag himself a brace.
With a little over 20 minutes to go, Castlefin netted a fifth.
After a brief back and forth in the area, the ball fell to Emmet White who made no mistake in finishing off the hosts scoring for the season.
Castlefin’s goal-scoring exploits may have been finished for the day but Kildrum had one more in the tank, netting a late consolation with ten minutes to go.
On the left side, McHugh took advantage of O’Donnell straying off his line and finished off coolly, although the goal played no major significance in the scheme of things and as a result saw muted celebrations.
Castlefin made a string of substitutions during the second half and with a decent crowd in attendance, there were big cheers as Dessie McLaughlin blew the full-time whistle.
Castlefin Celtic: Chris O’Donnell; Marty Owens, Gary McNulty, Michael Dunnion, Peter Bryson; Johnny Doherty, Corrie Lee Bogan, Raymond Foy, JP Malley; Ronan Tourish, Emmet White.
Subs: Ian Ward for Ronan Tourish(61), Shane Gallagher for Malley(70), Rory Dalton for Bogan, Barry Tourish for White(both 77), Reece Gallagher for McNulty(84)
Kildrum Tigers: Keenan Gibson; Michael Ayton, Ryan Higgins, Jonny McGinty, Matt Crossan; Dominic Keys, Justin McGee, Odhran McMacken, Ryan McCarron; Kevin McHugh, Chris Cronin.
Subs: Connor Matthewson for McCarron(ht), Gary Crossan for McGee(69)
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin
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