Cootehill Harps hit poor United for six

Cootehill Harps posted notice of their intention to make a concerted late bid for honours this season with a wholly convincing 6-0 win over Cavan United last weekend. Played at the Harps" rain-sodden Clara Lane ground, the winners played some of their best football of the season to put their fellow countyman firmly to the sword. Both GAA star Paddy McCabe and Liam Henshaw notched a brace as the lights remained stuck on green for the most part for the hosts. Cavan had little to offer in response and were forced to fight a rearguard action but without little luck as goal-crazy Cootehill continued to pummel their opponents" goal. More goals inevitably followed with Lloyd Cochrane and Mark Kelly both netting to round off an outstanding display by the resurgent homesters. Elsewhere in the Premier League, Clones Town showed true grit as they held off hosts Carrick Rovers to win through by 4-3 in a cracking encounter at Carrick"s Shercock Road venue. In what was a surprise result given the formbook, Seamus Quigley was the hero for the winners with a splendidly-taken hat-trick. Quigley and co. hit the ground running by going one-nil ahead early on and while Shane Birdy and JP McNally hit back to help draw Carrick level at 2-2 apiece, Clones continued to force the pace as the game wore on. Barry McNally fired in his second penalty in as many weeks late on for Clones but in between times goals by the aforementioned Quigley and Martin Nugent meant McNally"s spot-kick was a mere consolation. Meanwhile there was a notable goalfest at Oriel Park, Dundalk where "hosts" Inniskeen Spartans hammered six goals past north Monaghan visitors Slieve Beagh without reply. Bernard McSkeane helped himself to two of his side"s goals while Ollie Carroll, Tommy Duff, Fergal McSkean and Pierce McSkeane also made the scoresheet. Goals were also in plenty supply at Beech Hill where homesters Monaghan Colts crashed to a 3-8 defeat to FC Svyturys. Amazingly, the Colts skipped into a 2-0 lead before collapsing with Seamus McCaffrey (8th min) and Edwin McAree (40th) putting the county town side on the frontfoot. The Colts actually should have been home and hosed in the first half and they were made to pay for their profligacy on the restart. A freekick from Julius Butrys cut Monaghan"s lead just four minutes into the second half and when Aurious Rinkutous and Aurious Jacentis conspired to give the visitors the lead by the odd goal in five, the writing was writ large on the wall for the Colts. There was simply no stopping FC Svyturys and while Aidan Leonard did manage to reduce Monaghan"s deficit to 3-4 with 23 minutes left to play, it was a score which was destined to have consolation stamped all over it. And that"s the way things panned out as Vycatauous Palitus helped himself to a double thereafter to see off the Colts" challenge in impressive style. WIth the top-of-the-table clash between Monaghan Town and Drumkill Rovers at Threemilehouse falling victim to ground conditions, the only other game played in the league last weekend was the Killylough versus United LT clash which the former won by 4-1 at Emyvale. Interestingly, the sides were deadlocked at 0-0 until the 40th minute when Ronan Stirrat scored what would be Killylough"s first of three goals scored inside five minutes. Killylough upped the ante after Stirrat"s opener with further goals from Mattie McCague and Peter Campbell but from there to the finish the game proved to be a real nip and tuck affair. Indeed United LT were quickly into their stride in the second half and cut Killylough"s lead to just two goals but thanks, in part, to the outstanding work of Martin Bogue, the chasing team failed to add to their tally. At the other end of the field, Killylough had better luck and good work by Stirrat in the 80th minute was polished off nicely by Mark McQuaid to cap a resounding win for the hosts.