‘The important thing was to get through the game’ - Robinson

Kesh cruised into the next round of the Mulhern Cup as they had too much for their Division Three opponents, Ardstraw Reserves.

Recent signing Mark McCauley bagged himself a hat-trick on the day as Kesh recovered from conceding an early goal to firmly take control of the game.

For Kesh boss, Scott Robinson (pictured right), he knew there is always a potential banana skin in the cup and he was glad his side came through on the right side.

With the wind howling and the rain pouring down, he knew it was a case of his players being in the right frame of mind for the game.

“It was one of them games where you have to go in and be as professional as you can be,” Robinson said.

“I knew they would come out flying the first 15 minutes which is natural and that is exactly what they did.

“But we were comfortable for 75 minutes to be honest.

“The important thing was to get through the game and get through it unscathed.”

Rhythm

Playing with the wind, the home side started with purpose putting Kesh under pressure, not allowing them to settle on the ball and get into any sort of rhythm.

And they got their rewards after 15 minutes when a good move down the left wing caught Kesh out and Aaron Clyde finished well to the net, 1-0.

It seemed to be the jolt Kesh needed and they began to stamp their authority on the game.

Within 10 minutes they were level as Nathan Cashel found the net after Lee Walker’s free kick made its way to Ryan Campbell who played in Cashel.

With 35 minutes played, Kesh went in front as McCauley hit a beauty of a free kick from 30 yards to leave the keeper no chance, 2-1.

Kesh continued to boss the game as the second half got underway and it was soon 3-1.

Danny Wilson with a fine pass send Mark Jones on his way and the striker made no mistake.

On 63 minutes, McCauley had his second, again from a free kick in a promising position.

The Ederney man again gave the keeper no chance to make it 4-1.

And McCauley wrapped up the scoring on the 89th minute when a Jordan Cadden corner was heading towards goal with McCauley on hand to put it over the line to cap a fine performance.

Robinson was full of praise for McCauley and his performance alongside Lee Walker in a game where he was able to give a number of players much needed game time: “He probably stood out on the night him and Walker.

“It was hard to get going for some of the boys and somebody had to take the game by the scruff of the neck and them two did.”

It’s back to league action for Kesh as they welcome Beragh Swifts on Saturday to Connolly Park as he hopes to claim three more points and keep up the pressure on the teams above them in Division One.