Moate Celtic have too much firepower for Clonbonny

CLONBONNY's exciting season suffered a slightly unexpected blow when bowing out of the Division 3 Cup at the semi-final stage to a rampant Moate Celtic at McCarthy Park on Sunday. With Cha' O'Neill's Clonbonny eagerly poised to achieve promotion from Division 3, they would have fancied their chances of further progression in this divisional cup competition against mid-table Moate Celtic. However, it's Paul Dowling's Moate troops who now deservedly proceed to the final, where they will face Clara Town B, who defeated Dynamo Town in the weekend's other semi-final. Although Clonbonny actually started the game in brighter fashion, Moate were eventually comfortable winners, with James Dolan, Paul McCallon, David Adamson, and Keith Ennis, getting on the scoresheet during a good team performance by Moate. Key for Moate during this success were midfielder Terry Mulready and their strike pairing of James Dolan and David Adamson, who all showed very good levels of skill and know-how throughout the match. Clonbonny, however, will also point to a key moment that could have changed the whole complexion of the game during the second half, when, with 15 minutes remaining, referee Ray Matthews blew his whistle for a foul on Moate 'keeper Mark Rickard as Tamás Lakatos' corner kick found the net via Moate defender Mark Dolan's boot. The Athlone side were very aggrieved by the referee's decision, but it was hugely difficult to clearly ascertain if the impressive Rickard had been fouled in a very crowded goalmouth, but, obviously, the referee saw something he didn't agree with. With that went much of Clonbonny's hopes of a comeback, as Moate were soon 2-0 up and taking Clonbonny's defence apart as the game approached its final stages. Goals from Adamson and Ennis during the final twelve minutes gave a rather flattering look to Moate's margin of success, but there can be no doubt they were the better team for the vast majority of the game, and definitely merit a place in the decider. Clonbonny looked sharp during the opening stages of the game, with front pairing Shane Monaghan and Tamás Lakatos looking a definite threat. On five minutes, the lively David Earl dug out a great cross from the left wing, which picked out Monaghan. His inch-perfect lay-off set up Lakatos, but the ball sat up on the greasy surface, making his half-volley extra difficult, and the Hungarian forward could only shoot straight at Mark Rickard. Lakatos then swung over a good corner kick which Monaghan met with his head, but couldn't direct on-target. Moate's left-back Keith Ennis was showing plenty of ambition going forward, but this urge to join the attack left his side exposed on ten minutes. Lakatos found room in that pocket of the field and really should have done better when trying to pick out Monaghan, but Paul McCallon, a good organising presence at the heart of Moate's defence, cleared the danger. Moate slowly settled into the game though, and carried their first real attacking threat in the 25th minute, when Robbie Moroney forced his way past a couple of Clonbonny tackles before producing a quality centre that caused panic in the Clonbonny defence. During the ensuing scramble, Terry Mulready saw his goalbound attempt blocked by Gearoid O'Neill, and the episode finished with James Dolan's snapshot being easily saved by Chris Doran. Sloppy defending by Clonbonny then allowed David Adamson a shot at goal, but his goalbound strike was headed clear for a corner by Cian McCormack. From the resulting corner, Clonbonny again experienced difficulty in clearing their lines, with both Mulready and Mahon having shots blocked during something of a goalmouth scramble. On 32 minutes, Adamson did well to reach the endline and pull back a great pass into the path of Dolan, but his well-placed side-footed effort rolled agonisingly wide. An opening goal now looked likely in favour of Moate and duly arrived in the 34th minute. Rickard's searching goal-kick was headed into the path of Dolan by Adamson, and Dolan neatly tucked the ball past Doran from just inside the penalty area. It was route-one and very simplistic, but, nonetheless, hugely effective for Moate. Both side's had good opportunities to add to the scoring before half-time, with David Earls firing well over when in a great position to equalise, before Niall Mackey showed an equal amount of wastefulness at the other end after capitalising on dithery defending by O'Neill. Francis Earl headed wide just after half-time as Clonbonny tried to get in the game, but it was still Moate creating the better opportunities. Adamson was desperately unlucky to see his right-footed curler go just wide, before Mackey turned well in the Clonbonny box, but ballooned his effort well over the top. The game went through a rather uneventful spell thereafter, until Paul McCallon bundled home Moate's second goal. After Clonbonny again failed to deal with Moate's height-heavy attack from a set-piece, Moroney's shot goalwards was forced over the line by McCallon. As James Dolan started having more and more impact for Moate, Clonbonny lost their shape and discipline, and it was 3-0 on 78 minutes when the excellent Mulready set up Adamson for a lovely finish. Moate were unfortunate not to add a fourth following a brilliantly worked free kick that saw Paul McKenna head the ball perfectly into Dolan's step, but he shot too close to Doran. Another goal did arrive for Moate with nine minutes remaining, Ennis cutting inside from the left flank before firing home a superb right-footed finish. Clonbonny: Chris Doran; Daine Gilligan, Cian McCormack, Amby Fogarty, Gearoid O'Neill, Francis Earl, Keith Nally, Paul Nally, Shane Monaghan, Tamás Lakatos, David Earl. Subs: Niall Elliott for F Earl (60 mins), Alan Monaghan for O'Neill (84). Moate CELTIC: Mark Rickard; Mark Mahon, Keith Ennis, Paul McCallon, Mark Dolan, Paul McKenna, Robbie Moroney, Terry Mulready, James Dolan, David Adamson, Niall Mackey. Subs: Gavin Thompson for Mackey (87 mins). Referee: Ray Matthews.