FAI Junior Cup (Round 2)
Killarney Celtic 11-0 Shannonside FC
Celtic Park

Defending Kerry league and cup champions Killarney Celtic got their latest FAI Junior Cup adventure off to a remarkable start on Saturday when they put no fewer than 11 goals past West Limerick side Shannonside FC.

Brian Spillane’s men wasted no time in seizing control of this match and strikes by Adam O’Rourke and Danny Roche had them 2-0 up within 13 minutes of the kick-off. The writing was on the wall for Shannonside when Lee Downing made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark and when the youngster doubled his tally just five minutes later, a rout was on the cards.

Veteran defender Stephen O’Mahony headed in a fifth just before half time and the Killarney club already had two feet in the next round of the FAI Junior Cup. Shannonside, who are currently top of Division 1 of the Desmond League, must have feared that worse was to come.

Worse was to come. Two quick-fire Ryan Kelliher goals made it 7-0 by the 59th minute and ten minutes later, Sparling made it eight. Celtic have started the 2019/20 campaign at a ferocious pace and there was certainly no letting up in the final quarter as far as they were concerned. Roche (twice) and Kelliher both found the target to complete their hat-tricks and Celtic ran out utterly comprehensive 11-0 winners.

The next phase of the FAI Junior Cup (Round 3) is scheduled to take place on October 19/20.

Next up for Celtic is another cup fixture as they take on Munster Senior League outfit Everton in the first round of the Munster Champions Trophy. That match will take place in Celtic Park this Saturday at 7.30pm.

Elsewhere, crosstown rivals Killarney Athletic have a tricky away tie in the Munster Junior Cup. The Blues take on last year’s beaten league finalists Castleisland on Saturday at 7pm.