McCoubrey hits treble as Hoops put eleven goals past Ballysillan

McCoubrey hits treble as Hoops put eleven goals past Ballysillan

8 January 2025

CELTIC Bhoys were in eleventh heaven as they taught Ballysillan a lesson in goal scoring to progress to the fourth round of the Cochrane Corry Cup.

Jay Gibney got the Bhoys up and running and it did not take long for them to assert their dominance, adding another four through Jordan McCoubrey (2), Eamonn Gargan and Peter Turley before half-time.

They proved they have a ruthless streak in the second half, with Gargan and McCoubrey returning to the scoresheet, while Niall Morrison, Conaill Kerr, Sean Megahey and Pete Casey rubbed further salt in the Ballysillan wounds.

Celtic occupy the top spot in the Amateur League Division 2B while their opponents sit in the bottom half of the division below.

The gulf in class was evident from the word go.

The Hoops took control of possession straight from kick off and immediately began to ask questions of a Swifts side that struggled to get out of their own half.

Their dominance turned fruitful in the 11th minute when Gibney met Megahey’s corner to power his header past a helpless goalkeeper and open the scoring.

Ballysillan just could not get going and not satisfied with one early goal, Celtic Bhoys committed the majority of their team as they pushed for a second.

Hawk-eye technology could have come in handy when McCoubrey’s wayward strike deflected off the crossbar and down towards the line, with the referee waving for play to continue.

The Bhoys frustration continued and the second goal proved elusive when McCoubrey could only find the gloves of the ‘keeper in a one-on-one scenario and Megahey rattled the bar with a free-kick.

However, McCoubrey finally opened his account after 25 minutes, collecting a bouncing ball to finish with the outside of his foot in the six-yard box.

With a 2-0 lead, the floodgates opened for Celtic and again, it was Megahey producing from corners.

The first was delivered into a dangerous area and with the ‘keeper crowded out, Gargan leapt highest to finish with his head. 

He conjured up an almost identical delivery less than 10 minutes later to find Turley for yet another headed goal.

Celtic were not finished there and with two minutes to go before the interval, they went five goals to the good.

The ‘keeper had set the ball down in his box and was unaware of a lurking McCoubrey as the striker swooped in to steal the ball for an easy finish into an open goal.

It took until the first minute of the second half for Ballysillan to register their first shot on target, but the feeble effort left a lot to be desired.

The Hoops showed them how it is done yet again just two minutes later when Megahey’s free-kick deflected off Gargan and sailed into the bottom corner.

Ballysillan were in for a long afternoon and their woes continued their number one, Kyle McAneney, suffered a broken thumb and midfielder Ryan Garrett was forced to go between the sticks.

McCoubrey secured his hat-trick with a well-placed strike in the 65th minute and it was soon 8-0 when substitute Morrison lifted the ball over the makeshift ‘keeper.

To the immense surprise of those in attendance, the visitors pulled a goal back through Ryan Glover.

The consolation goal did nothing to curtail the Hoops though, and they soon found the back of the net for a ninth time, with Kerr tapping home unmarked at the back post.

Many teams would have been satisfied with a 9-1 lead, but the hosts could smell further blood and continued to go for the jugular. 

Megahey had certainly done his bit in providing chances for his teammates and was rewarded for his efforts with a goal of his own, finding the bottom corner from distance.

Substitute Casey proved age is but a number when he slotted home for his side’s eleventh and final goal of the game, rounding off an emphatic win.

Celtic Bhoys continue to fight on all fronts and they will now turn their focus to the fifth round of the Junior Shield, welcoming Clonduff to Ballyhornan.

Celtic Bhoys: S Moore, S Megahey (captain), B Connolly, P Turley, E Gargan, C McCartan, J Curran, G Collins, C Kerr, J McCoubrey, J Gibney. Subs: P Casey, C Groves, N Morrison.