This article is from page 61 of the 2011-03-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
Newmarket Celtic 5 – 1 Hermitage at McDonough Park, Newmark-on-Fergus
RUNAWAY Premier Division leaders took a huge step towards winning a first Premier League title in three years when they blitzed Hermitage in this top of the table clash that was played on Sunday morning.
Liam Murphy’s side did in style, bouncing back from being rocked by ‘Tage goal inside the first minute from Adrian Walsh to get home with something to spare to put 14 points between them and the Ennis side in the Premier League standings as both side only have four games left to play.
A keen tie was expected here, given the high-scoring nature of the first league meeting between the sides back on September when they played out a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw at the Fairgreen, but this return leg turned out to be damp squib as a rampant Celtic side showed no mercy in turning the screw.
Michael Crosby was Celtic’s star turn on the day, helping himself to a hat-trick as they ended the ‘Tage’s hopes of making a dream title-winning return to the top flight of Clare soccer. Celtic recovered from their early set-back to equalise inside five mintues thanks to Mark Donnellan, who rose highest at the back post to head home Seamus Considine’s cross from the right wing.
Crosby then put made his first impression when toe-poking the ball into the corner of the net after 15 minutes after the ball fell nicely for him just inside the area. And when Seamus Lawlor got in on the scoring act in the 30th minutes, Newmarket were on the high road to their 11th win of the campaign.
The second half proved to be very comfortable for the home side, with a brace from Crosby bolstering Newmarket’s impressive goal difference to plus 22 as they brought their tally of league goals to an imposing 44 for the season to date.
The first came after 60 minutes when Crosby ran on to a through ball from Davy Wall before slotting the ball past Joe Burke in the ‘Tage goal, while his hat-trick was up ten minutes later when a similar type goal.
Newmarket Celtic
MartyWhelan, Mark O’Malley, Mark Donnellan, Eoin O’Brien, Darren Cullinan, Mike O’Malley (Eoin Hayes), Mike Devitt, Seamus Considine (Pa Coughlan), Seamus Lawlor, Michael Crosby, Davy Wall (Gary Collins).
Man of the Match
Michael Crosby (Newmarket Celtic) Referee Dave McCarthy