NFC Kesh 2 Lisnarick 0

Two goals in the first 11 minutes were enough for Kesh to proceed to the next round of the Mulhern Cup, as they claimed a derby day victory over Lisnarick.

Ryan Campbell and Grant Ellis both found the net early to set up a mouth-watering clash with Strathroy Harps, but Kesh manager Campbell felt their performance was lacking intensity.

“We scored our two goals very early and then we were a bit complacent,” he said.

“Lisnarick battled well but they didn’t really threaten us that much, and we were always comfortable.

“I told them at half time I wanted more from them. We needed to lift our tempo and intensity, but it just wasn’t there, although we just did enough to see out the game. We did what we had to do.

“In fairness to Lisnarick, they battled well, and they held us to 2-0. Their keeper pulled off two or three great saves in the second half, but we did what we had to do to get into the next round and we never looked like losing.”

Lisnarick boss Niall Amos was happy with the efforts of his side against their Division One opponents, and is hoping to take that level of performance into their remaining league matches, as they battle for survival in Division Two.

“They are a decent outfit, so I can’t fault the commitment and effort from our boys, but it is the usual story – we gave ourselves too much to do,” he said.

“We didn’t create much, but after their first two goals they didn’t create much either. Niall Gormley was missing; we had two central midfielders injured, a winger out, but even if we were full strength it would have been difficult to get something out of it.

“I thought we matched them at times. I was frustrated that we can up our game to match teams like that, and then struggle in our own league.

“A lot of people might have been expecting us to have lost by seven or eight, but we were able to go out and give a good account of ourselves.

“Hopefully, we go back into the league games and get two wins back to back and push it to the wire.”

The top-flight side took the lead after nine minutes when Lee Walker’s angled run and pass found Campbell, and the prolific striker cut inside the defender before firing a shot across the keeper into the far corner.

Just two minutes later Kesh made it 2-0 when Ellis headed in from a corner.

The home side were a constant threat from set-pieces, and Ellis almost added to his personal goal tally from another corner, before Lee Walker twice fired over the crossbar in the first half.

Lisnarick were struggling to break through a solid Kesh back line, with Daire Gallagher’s off-target effort the closest they came to scoring.

The home team almost added to their lead late in the game, but both Nathan Cashel and Kyle Malone were denied by good stops from TJ McMulkin as it finished 2-0.

 

New subscription deal - Start your subscription in our end of winter sale. Enjoy your first month for just £1. Or try our best value deal of one year for £41.60. Click here to subscribe