After a disappointing end to 2016, in which they lost their last 4 games, Johnstown bounced back with a perfect start to the New Year with a superb 4-2 win over Premier side Rock Celtic in the LMFM Kilmessan Shield on at the MDL Tuesday night.
It took the hosts less than 5 minutes to open the scoring. Vinny Murphy received the ball in space and beat 2 Rock Celtic defenders before unleashing a shot from 25 yards which sailed into the net high above the keeper.
Murphy almost doubled his side’s lead a little over 10 minutes later with an almost carbon copy effort, only to see his wickedly swerving shot thunder back off the crossbar.
With 5 minutes left in the first half, this season’s top goal scorer, Wayne Cahill scored Johnstown’s 2nd of the evening. Having timed his run to perfection, Cahill found himself clear of the defence just inside the area, where he met Kacper Zeberek’s pass with little dink over the keeper.
Rock Celtic began the 2nd half the strongest and, but for a couple of smart saves from Dylan Byrne, they could have pulled one back before, on 54 minutes, a cross from Celtic’s left went through Byrne’s hands and dropped into net.
60 seconds later, the Louth side missed a chance to equalise as they could only send their effort wide.
Johnstown’s next attack was started by Mark Grumley as he played a fantastic ball down Johnstown’s left. Arnold Luco’s powerful run allowed him to reach the goal-line inside the area, from where he pulled the back setting up Zeberek who fired home Johnstown’s 3rd, leaving the visitors to rue their earlier missed opportunity.
With 10 minutes left to play, Zeberek was again on hand to score Johnstown’s 4th. Sean Challenger’s through ball released him into space and into a 1-on-1 with the Celtic keeper, who came off the stronger following Zeberek’s first effort but could do nothing as the Johnstown man finished at the second time of asking.
With the game deep in injury time, Rock Celtic pulled a second goal back, as their player chipped Byrne, amidst appeals for offside, completing the scoring on night, and seeing Johnstown progress the next round by 4 goals to 2.
Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, J. McDermott, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, W. Cahill, D. Grumley, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: M. Grumley for McDermott, D. Bollard for Murphy, S. Ivers for Luco, J. Gaffney for Cahill, E. Donnelly for Zeberek.
