Jordan in full flow as Hoops conquer

Jordan in full flow as Hoops conquer

28 November 2018

DOWNPATRICK’S Jordan McCoubrey was a real bobby dazzler at Bignian Park on Friday night.

The tearaway teenager striker ripped Killough to pieces with a stunning hat-trick as Celtic secured their place in the Christmas showdown with Ballynahinch Olympic seconds.

Young McCoubrey was a revelation out on the left flank where he hugged the line and patiently waited to be brought into the game. When he was included in the play, he was absolutely lethal and too hot for Killough to handle.

Alas, Killough were masters of their own downfall. They had the major share of possession throughout a feisty encounter, but were never going to be as ruthless as Celtic up front with too many chiefs in midfield and not enough Indians up front and any time they did threaten, goalkeeper Nathan Curran was there to deny them.

Celtic started in a hurry and were 1-0 up after only four minutes. Stevie Galbraith, who led the line with distinction, linked up with McCoubrey out on the left before cutting inside Chris Fryer.

He had only one thing on his mind as he entered the box and an angled right-footed curler, that seemed to take a bit of a deflection, beat Gerard Gormley all ends up.

Killough tried desperately to get back on level terms and with seven minutes gone they went close when Fryer let loose from just outside the box. Curran did well to take the sting out of the shot and did even better to retrieve the loose ball ahead of the lurking Tony McIlhone.

Two minutes later at the other end a McCoubrey cross was met at the back post by Sean McMahon, but he failed to get a good connection with his head and the chance was wasted.

With 15 minutes gone the same combination dovetailed perfectly again, but McMahon’s cross hit the crossbar. McCoubrey was back in the thick of things minutes later when he had a shot well saved by Gormley, but Killough continued to threaten at the opposite end as well with McIlhone again being denied by Curran.

Killough were starting to edge midfield and with 35 minutes gone Curran prevented Liam Graham from equalising after a tidy pass from Michael Burns. Just as Killough started to believe they could get back into the game, they shot themselves in the foot.

As they dithered at the back, getting the ball forward, Celtic’s pressing game bore fruit and McCoubrey took full advantage to race away and beat Gormley with a clinical strike.

Four minutes into the second half McCoubrey made it 3-0 after Galbraith picked him out with a delightful pass that split Killough wide open.

The exciting teenager could have added to his tally on a couple of occasions as Killough gamely tried to get back into contention, but he was out of luck with two cheeky efforts that went narrowly wide.

McCoubrey eventually completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute when Celtic again caught Killough napping at the back and there was only going be one outcome when the talented youngster raced through to beat Gormley.

Celtic Bhoys: Nathan Curran, Sean Megahey, Conor Doherty, Matthew Carson, Michael Rice, Jordan Curran, Jordan McCoubrey, Ricky Kerr, Stephen Galbraith, Sean McMahon, Chris Mullan, Subs: Terence  Bell, Caolain Boyd, Andy Baggley. 

Killough: Gerard Gormley, Chris Fryer, Conor Black, Michael Burns, Colm Stranney, Kevin Groves, Liam Graham, Tony McIlhone, Ross Armstrong, Gareth George, Jack McLaughlin. Subs: Jason Clarke, Declan Looney, Daniel Smyth.     

Celtic Bhoys 4

Killough 0

BOBBY DALZELL CUP SEMI-FINAL